VMSDEP: What is Covered?

WHAT IS COVERED:

Tuition Benefits (Tier 1 and Tier 2)

Eligible students, as confirmed by DVS, are guaranteed a waiver of all tuition and mandatory fees for eight semesters at a Virginia public college or university and Eastern Virginia Medical School.

JMU Note - this benefit does not cover room rent or meal plan charges at JMU. It only covers the tuition, comprehensive fee, orientation fee (one-time charge) and any course fees. It takes 6-8 weeks to post to student accounts as it involves multiple offices to apply the waiver. The student's name must be in the portal for the current term in order for JMU to wait on the charges to be covered by the waiver. 

Stipend (Tier 2 only)

Eligible students may receive a stipend to offset educational expenses such as room, board, books, and supplies. SCHEV works with DVS and the public colleges and universities in disbursing funds. The amount of the stipend is determined annually by SCHEV and is dependent on the student’s enrollment status, the number of participating students, and the available funding. The stipend is not guaranteed each semester. 

JMU Note - if eligible at Tier 2, the stipend does not cover the room/board costs. You must cover these charges upfront to JMU (financial aid, payment plan, 529, scholarships, etc) by the payment deadline. It is paid directly to JMU, roughly 8-12 weeks into each semester, and is refunded to the student if their semester account is clear. 

VMSDEP and Financial Aid Impact

As a state veterans’ benefit, the VMSDEP will be included as a financial resource in your overall financial aid package (does not mean it will appear on the College Financing Plan) and may reduce state grants, university grants or scholarships, federal loans, federal work-study, and private loans. Each financial aid offer type is different, so the benefit may affect each person's offer differently. Contact the JMU Financial Aid office with any questions: fin_aid@jmu.edu or 540-568-7820.