Step 1: Apply for Federal VA Chapter 35 DEA

• Complete VA Form 22-5490 through va.gov. If student cannot create ID.me or Login.gov account, complete the paper application found on VBA-22-5490-ARE.pdf (SECURED)
• Make sure to list the student’s phone number and email on the application. The student will be required to verify attendance with VA each month.  
  • More information can be found on the VA website: Verify School Enrollment For DEA Benefits | Veterans Affairs. 
• Provide Certificate of Eligibility (COE) once it is received (email to veteran@jmu.edu)
  • VA will mail the COE to your home address listed on the application. 
• You can complete Step 2 (based on the timeframes listed below) while waiting on your COE.

• Research the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependent Education Program benefit (VMSDEP)
  • Virginia benefit, provides 8 terms of a tuition/fee waiver
  • Apply as soon as possible to ensure approval is received before the semester starts
  • VMSDEP can be used in conjunction with Federal Chapter 35 DEA
  • JMU does not apply retroactive waivers. You must be approved prior to the last day of the semester or you can start it with the next semester.
  • More information found on the JMU VMSDEP website

• Complete and submit online. 
• Requires student to login with their JMU credentials.
• Completion timeline:
  
  • Incoming JMU students - after you have participated in orientation and your class schedule is set and will not change. 
  • Current JMU students - once upcoming class schedule is set and will not change. 
• If eligible and using both Chapter 35 and VMSDEP, select "Chapter 35 and VMSDEP" on the form; if not eligible for VMSDEP, select "Chapter 35 only"
• Course Applicability: While using Federal VA Chapter 35 benefits: enrollment in courses must meet major, general education, required elective, or degree requirements, or an approved certificate to qualify. All programs must be declared on the transcript. Chapter 35 DEA cannot be applied toward non-required courses for graduation. 

1. Prior Credit: All sources of credit must be evaluated while using a federal VA benefit 
   • Request all Institutions of Higher Learning transcripts be sent directly to JMU if you've taken classes at another college, including dual enrollment. Opened transcripts will not be accepted. (Mainly pertains to undergraduate students; The JMU Graduate School may require certain transcripts too)
     • Helpful website for prior credit: Registrar: Transfer Credit
   • Submit any AP or IB scores directly to JMU (Undergraduate students)
     • Helpful website: Test Credit 
2. Out of State Resident: Notify us if out of state for tuition to see if you qualify for the Choice Act
3. If also using VMSDEP (Virginia benefit): add the upcoming term when it is available:
   • Fall terms: Open 7/1-10/30
   • Spring terms: Open 11/1-3/31
   • Summer terms: Open 4/1-6/30
4. Apply for Financial Aid with the FAFSA application- Financial Aid & Scholarships - JMU

What happens after submitting all required documents for the upcoming semester?

JMU's VA Certifying Official will process a student's request for benefits with Chapter 35 DEA, starting approximately one month prior to the start of the semester/term. The required semester request form and any intiial setup documents must be received in order for the semester enrollment to be submitted.  Federal VA typically takes 4-8 weeks for processing and eligible payment release. 

Monthly payments are direct deposited to the provided bank account in the original application. Monthly payments are paid in arrears. See page 3 for estimated payments; estimates based on fulltime training: Chapter 35 Brochure

Semester bills:

• All JMU charges must be covered upfront by the University deadline each semester. 
  • Financial aid, payment plan, individual payment, 529 plans, scholarships, etc. can be used to help cover the semestser bill.
  • If also eligible for the state VMSDEP benefit, the tuition/fee waiver may be factored in to cover the tuition and comprehensive fee charges only (and any course fees, tuition differential fees and orientation fee). 
  • Room rent, meal plan, honors program fee (if in honors) and internet fee charges must be covered upfront each semester if eligible for both Chapter 35 and VMSDEP. 
  • Reference our JMU Chapter 35 Brochure for stipend estimates

Reference the VA Education Benefits website for more information regarding Chapter 35 DEA.