A-to-Z Index

What's Covered UNDER Post-9/11 GI Bill

If you are currently serving on Active Duty

As of March 5, 2011, VA's payment amount of tuition/fees will be directly linked to the service member's eligibility tier.  For more information about the amount that will be paid by VA, please see the tuition/fees section below. 

As of October 1, 2011, active duty service members qualify for the books and supplies stipend.  The allowance is $41.67 per credit hour, paid up to $1000/academic year, and subject to your applicable eligibility tier.   

Monthly Housing Allowance (BAH) is NOT payable to active duty service members.

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If you are NOT on Active Duty

Please note all payments described below are based on the applicable eligibility percentage, which is determined by active duty service after 9/10/01.

Tuition/Fees

In-state Residency Questions

 Please contact to the Office of Admissions at 540-568-5681 if you are a prospective/in-coming student or Linda Combs in the Business Office at 540-568-3745 or combslc@jmu.edu if you are a current student. 

Scholarships:

 click here if you will be receiving any scholarships while using Post 9/11

Please notify the JMU School Certifying Officials if you are receiving any scholarships. They will need documentation of the intent of the money from the scholarship organization 

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In-State Undergrad and Graduate

Effective August 1, 2011 - In-state, public tuition and fees for undergrad and graduate students will be paid based on service member/veteran's eligibility tier.  Assuming 100% eligible and Virginia resident, all in-state tuition/fees will be paid by VA to JMU.  If eligibility tier is less than 100%, you will be responsible for the difference between actual JMU tuition/fee charges and VA payment.

For information about JMU charges and payment options, please see the University Business Office website.

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Out-of-State Undergrad

 JMU will NOT be participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program for the 2013-2014 academic year.

Effective August 1, 2011 - VA can only pay the in-state, public tuition/fees for undergrad students, based on eligibility tier percentage.  If you are classified as out-of-state, you are responsible for the difference between the in-state and out-of-state charges, subject to eligibility %.

For undergrad, 2013-2014 school year, with an eligibility tier of 100%:

JMU out-of-state tuition/fee charges:      $11,827.00
(-) JMU in-state tuition/fee charges:        $  4,588.00
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                             Balance for you:   $   7,239.00^

^Balance will be greater if eligibility tier is less than 100%.

If you have any scholarships, please contact your JMU Certifying Official.

For information about JMU charges and payment options, please see the University Business Office website.

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Out-of-State Graduate

JMU will NOT be participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program for the 2013-2014 academic year.

Effective August 1, 2011, VA can only pay the in-state, public tuition/fees for graduate students, based on eligibility tier percentage.  If you are classified as out-of-state, you are responsible for the difference between in-state and out-of-state per credit rate, subject to eligibility %.

For graduate students, JMU charges tuition and fees based on the number of credit hours. 

For graduate, 2013-2014 school year, with an eligibility tier of 100%:

JMU out-of-state tuition/fee charges per credit hour:  $1,095.00

  (-) JMU in-state tuition/fee charges per credit hour:  $  410.00
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                       Per credit hour balance for you:   $  685.00^

^Balance will be greater if eligibility tier is less than 100%.

If you have any scholarships, please contact your JMU Certifying Official.

For information about JMU charges and payment options, please see the University Business Office website.

Books/Supplies Stipend

$41.67 per credit hour, up to $1000/annually
Paid to you at the beginning of each semester.

Ex - $41.67 x 15 credits for Fall semester = $625.50; $374.50 is available for the next semester

Monthly Housing Allowance (BAH) (Paid in arrears)

Based on a pay grade of E-5 with dependents and JMU's zip code.  For the '13-'14 school year, BAH is equal to $1,152 and is paid to you.

Effective August 1, 2011 - housing allowance benefits are prorated based upon training time, rounded to the nearest multiple of 10.  Example: If you are enrolled in 7 credits when 12 credits are full time, your training time is .58 and you will receive 60% of the applicable BAH rate.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The housing allowance is NOT payable to individuals on active duty OR to those pursuing training at half time or less.

Typically at JMU, full time status is:

  • Undergraduate = 12 semester credits
  • Graduate = 9 semester credits

*Atypical enrollments do exist at JMU and will not conform to the above, including: 8-week block enrollments, summer sessions, and some graduate programs.

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Distance Learning

As of October 1, 2011, housing allowance is NOW payable to students enrolled solely in distance learning (online) courses.  The housing allowance payable is equal to 1/2 the national average BAH for an E-5 with dependents.  ($684.00 for 2012 academic year and 714.50 for the 2013-2014 academic year).

Break/Interval Pay

Effective August 1, 2011, break/interval pay is NO longer payable under any VA education benefit program unless under Executive Order of the President or due to an emergency situation such as a natural disaster or strike.  Entitlement which previously would have been used for break pay will be available for use during a future enrollment.

Example: Your semester ends December 15th.  Your housing allowance is paid for the first 15 days of December only.  Your next semester begins January 10th.  Your next BAH payment will be for January 10th-January 30th, payable on or after February 1st.

Showing Proof of your GI Bill Housing Allowance

If you need to show proof of your VA housing allowance to a landlord or reality company, here are a few things that may work:

  • The "term verification letter" that VA sends once they have processed your enrollment each semester.  It lists credit hours, tuition and fees, book stipend and the monthly housing allowance amount. 
  • Print out a copy of the BAH rates for JMU's zip code (22807) and pay grade (E-5) from this link
  • Provide a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility for your Post 9/11 Benefits. You may request a new copy from VA by calling 888-442-4551.
  • Print out information from the GI Bill website. 
  • Print this page where it states the BAH monthly rate (above).

For non-standard enrollments (such as certificate programs) or special circumstances not addressed on the website, please contact one of JMU's VA Certifying Officials.