Financial Aid and Veteran Services

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers education benefits to eligible Service members, Veterans and their dependents. GI Bill^® benefits help you pay for school and cover expenses while you’re attending classes for an approved education program.

Consider each chapter carefully before selecting one. A description and application process is included on each of the benefit information summaries. If you have questions, please contact our Veterans Coordinator.

Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty (Chapter 30)

The Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD) Chapter 30 program provides up to 36 months of education benefits to service members on active duty or separated from the military with an honorable discharge. The VA will pay a monthly benefit directly to the student and the student is responsible for paying any tuition and fees to the school.

Application Process

Veterans or service members can Apply for GI Bill benefits online at VA.gov.

Payment Information

The VA will pay you a monthly rate based on how many courses your taking. You can access current Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (Chapter 30) rates at VA.gov.

Students are required to verify their attendance each month to receive their MGIB-AD Chapter 30 benefit payment. The VA will process your benefit payment after you verify your enrollment, which could take up to 5 days after your monthly verification. The VA won’t send your monthly benefit payment if you don’t verify your enrollment at the end of each month you’re enrolled in classes.

You can verify your enrollment online at VA.gov.

Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606)

The Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) Chapter 1606 program provides up to 36 months of benefit to eligible members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard, or Air National Guard. The VA will pay a monthly stipend directly to the service member.

Application Process

Service members can apply for GI Bill benefits online at VA.gov.

Payment Information

The VA will pay you a monthly rate based on how many courses you are taking. You can access current Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606) rates at VA.gov.

Students are required to verify their attendance each month to receive their MGIB-SR Chapter 1606 benefit payment. The VA will process your benefit payment after you verify your enrollment, which could take up to 5 days after your monthly verification. The VA won’t send your monthly benefit payment if you don’t verify your enrollment at the end of each month you’re enrolled in classes.

You can verify your enrollment online at VA.gov.

The Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33)

The Post 9/11 GI Bill® (PGIB), or Chapter 33, program provides up to 36 months of benefit to eligible veterans to help pay for school or cover expenses while you are enrolled in classes. If you’ve served on active duty after September 10, 2001, you may qualify for the The Post 9/11 GI Bill®.

Some of the benefits the Post 9/11 GI Bill® will pay may include:

• Tuition and fees coverage up to 100% of in-state tuition
• Money for housing (if you’re in school more than half time)
• Money for books and supplies
• Fees for national standardized tests 
• Fees for licensing and certifications
• Additional entitlement under the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

Application Process

Veterans or service members can Apply for GI Bill benefits online through VA.gov.

Payment Information

Tuition is paid directly to the school. The book stipend is paid directly to you, ideally at the beginning of the semester. The housing stipend is also paid directly to you the following month (example: September’s payment arrives in October). Use the GI Bill® Comparison Tool to discover what your benefits payments could be.

Students are required to verify their attendance each month to receive their Post 9/11 GI Bill® Chapter 33 monthly housing allowance payment. The VA will pause your monthly benefit payments after 2 consecutive months of not verifying your enrollment.

You can verify your enrollment online at VA.gov.

Transferred Post 9/11 GI Bill (Dependents)

The Post 9/11 GI Bill® allows eligible service members to transfer education benefits to a dependent family member. The service member must have completed at least six years of service on the date your request is approved, and you agree to add four additional years of service. The person getting benefits must be enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).

If you received a Purple Heart, you don’t need to meet a service requirement. But you’ll need to request to transfer your benefits while you’re still on active duty. 

Your dependents may be able to get money to pay for these expenses:

• Tuition
• Housing
• Books and supplies
• Fees for national standardized tests 
• Fees for licensing and certifications

Eligibility for the Service Member

The Department of Defense determines whether or not you can transfer benefits to your family members. The service member must have completed at least six years of service on the date your request is approved, and you agree to add four additional years of service. The person getting benefits must be enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).

While you’re still on active duty, you’ll need to request a Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB) from the DOD through milConnect. Request a transfer of benefits through milConnect

Application Process for Dependent

The eligible dependent must Apply for transferred education benefits online at VA.gov.

Payment Information

Tuition is paid directly to the school. The book stipend is paid directly to you, ideally at the beginning of the semester. The housing stipend is also paid directly to you the following month (example: September’s payment arrives in October). Use the GI Bill® Comparison Tool to discover what your benefits payments could be.

Students are required to verify their attendance each month to receive their Post 9/11 GI Bill® Chapter 33 monthly housing allowance payment. The VA will pause your monthly benefit payments after 2 consecutive months of not verifying your enrollment.

You can verify your enrollment online at VA.gov.

Veteran Readiness & Employment (Chapter 31)

If you’re a service member or Veteran and have a disability that was caused—or made worse—by your active-duty service and that limits your ability to work or prevents you from working, you may be able to get employment support or services to help you live as independently as possible.

Application Process

Option 1: You can Apply online for VR&E benefits at VA.gov.

Option 2: You can apply by mail by downloading VA Form 28-1900. Send your completed application here:

Department of Veterans Affairs
VR&E Intake Center
PO Box 5210
Janesville, WI 53547-5210

Option 3: Go to a regional VA office and have a VA representative assist you. Find a VA regional office near you.

Payment Information

Students using VR&E Chapter 31 benefits don’t need to complete the monthly enrollment verification. The school certifying official and your VR&E counselor will handle your enrollment and payment processing. Use the GI Bill® Comparison Tool to discover what your benefits payments could be.

Survivors’ & Dependents’ Educational Assistance (Chapter 35)

The Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA)) Chapter 35 program provides up to 36 months of education benefits to eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition.

Application Process

Apply for DEA benefits online at VA.gov.

Payment Information

The VA will pay you a monthly rate based on how many courses you are taking. Use the GI Bill® Comparison Tool to discover what your benefits payments could be.

Students receiving the Chapter 35 DEA benefit are required to verify their enrollment at the end of each month with the VA after school starts. The VA will process your benefit payment after you verify your enrollment, which could take up to 5 days after your monthly verification. The VA won’t send your monthly benefit payment if you don’t verify your enrollment at the end of each month you’re enrolled in classes.

You can verify your enrollment online at VA.gov.

federal Tuition Assistance

Federal Tuition Assistance (TA) is a Department of Defense (DoD) program that provides financial assistance for eligible service members. Service members could be eligible for a maximum of $250 per credit and up to $4,500 a year annually in tuition assistance. Each service has its own eligibility criteria and application process.

Application Process

All service members MUST speak with their Educational Service Officer (ESO) or counselor at your local instillation’s education center. All TA must be requested and approved by the service members military branch prior to the start date of courses, generally no later than 12 business days. Use the links below to get branch specific policies and procedures for eligibility and application processes:

• Army
• Marine Corps
• Navy
• Air Force
• Space Force
• Coast Guard

Payment Information

Your service branch pays your tuition directly to the school. The DoD has directed a uniform per semester hour cap of $250 for TA and an annual ceiling of $4,500.

DoD mou compliance

The University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point has entered into an agreement with the Department of Defense (DoD) Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and agrees to abide by the Principles of Excellence. The Principles of Excellence protect service members from predatory and misleading behavior from educational institutions.

UW-Stevens Point agrees to ensure that the institution refrains from providing commission, bonus, or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on securing enrollments or federal financial aid (including Tuition Assistance funds) to any persons or entities engaged in any student recruiting, admission activities, or making decisions regarding the award of student financial assistance.  Furthermore, UW-Stevens Point agrees to refrain from high-pressure recruitment tactics such as making multiple unsolicited contacts (3 or more), including contacts by phone, email, or in-person, or engage in same-day recruitment and registration for the purpose of securing service member enrollments.

UW-Stevens Point agrees to readmit service members with the same academic standing they achieved prior to serving on active duty. Students whose enrollment is interrupted due to active-duty service should contact the Financial Aid and Veteran Services office as soon as possible to discuss withdrawal options, necessary documentation, refunds and other concerns with the Veteran Coordinator’s. Please review UW-Stevens Point full Military Withdrawal and Leave Policy.

GI Bill^® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

The State of Wisconsin provides a number of educational programs for veterans. State benefits can affect your federal veteran benefits and your Federal financial aid (FAFSA) award. A description and application process are included on each of the benefit information pages. If you have questions, please contact the Veterans Coordinator in the Office of Financial Aid and Veteran Services at UW-Stevens Point.

You can find more information on state education benefit programs at http://dva.state.wi.us/pages/educationemployment/education.aspx.

Wisconsin GI Bill – Eligible Veterans

The Wisconsin GI Bill provides provides tuition remission for up to 128 credits or 8 semesters, whichever is longer, to eligible Wisconsin veterans. It can be used at any University of Wisconsin school or Wisconsin Technical College. There is no time limit to use the benefit, so you can continue using it until you run out. This is a state-funded program and is separate from the federal GI Bill®

An eligible veteran must be a current Wisconsin resident and currently living in Wisconsin at time of applying who was either: 

• A Wisconsin resident at time of entry into active-duty service (Home of Record WI), or
• A Wisconsin resident for at least three consecutive years preceding the beginning of any semester or session for which he or she registers at a qualifying institution 

Application Process

Applying for the Wisconsin GI Bill is a two-part process:

1. The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) only certifies the Veteran is eligible. Veterans can complete the WDVA’s application at MyWisVets.com
2. The university will approve the student for the tuition remission whether you are a Veteran or an eligible dependent. Download the WDVA 2029 Educational Institution Application, complete it, and return it to our office along with a copy of your DD-214
   • If you are eligible based on three consecutive years of residency download the WI GI Bill Residency Affidavit, complete it, and have it notarized
   • You will need to return the completed and notarized form to our office

Payment Information

The Wisconsin GI Bill is a remission of tuition and most segregated fees. It is applied to the eligible student’s account at the start of the semester.

The Wisconsin GI Bill will cover:

• In-state tuition for any UW-Stevens Point undergraduate, graduate, or professional program
• Most Segregated fees
• Distance Education fees

The Wisconsin GI Bill will not cover (not an exhaustive list):

• New Student fee
• Registration fee
• Special Course fees
• Text Book Rental Seg fee
• Meal Plans
• Housing and Residence Charges

Wisconsin GI Bill – Eligible dependents

The Wisconsin GI Bill provides full tuition and segregated fee remission for eligible veterans and their dependents for up to eight semesters or 128 credits, whichever is greater, at any University of Wisconsin System or Wisconsin Technical College System school. This is a state-funded program and is separate from the federal GI Bill®.

In order to be a eligible dependent, the veteran must have:

• Served honorably in the armed forces during a qualifying period of service outlined on the WDVA website
• Entered service as a Wisconsin resident or resided in Wisconsin for at least three consecutive years immediately preceding the beginning of the semester
• A service-connected disability rating of at least a 30%

The child of an eligible veteran must be at least 17 but not yet 26 years old

The spouse or child must meet the school’s “residency for tuition purposes” requirements

Application Process

Applying for the Wisconsin GI Bill is a two-part process:

1. The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) only certifies the Veteran is eligible. Veterans can complete the WDVA’s application at MyWisVets.com
2. The university will approve the student for the tuition remission whether you are a Veteran or an eligible dependent. Download the WDVA 2029 Educational Institution Application, complete it, and return it to our office along with a copy of your DD-214
   • If you are eligible based on three consecutive years of residency download the WI GI Bill Residency Affidavit, complete it, and have it notarized
   • You will need to return the completed and notarized form to our office

Payment Information

The Wisconsin GI Bill is a remission of tuition and most segregated fees. It is applied to the eligible student’s account at the start of the semester.

The Wisconsin GI Bill will cover:

• In-state tuition for any UW-Stevens Point undergraduate, graduate, or professional program
• Most Segregated fees
• Distance Education fees

The Wisconsin GI Bill will not cover (not an exhaustive list):

• New Student fee
• Registration fee
• Special Course fees
• Text Book Rental Seg fee
• Meal Plans
• Housing and Residence Charges

Wisconsin National Guard Tuition Grant

The Wisconsin National Guard Tuition Grant is a grant program for enlisted members of the Wisconsin National Guard. The grant covers up to 100% of in-state tuition (not including segregated fees) for a students first bachelors degree. 

Student’s must be an actively drilling member of the Wisconsin National Guard, must be in good standing with the Wisconsin National Guard, and must be meeting the university’s Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements at the time of application and the end of the academic term.

Application Process

A new grant application must be submitted to the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) for every semester. Paper applications are no longer accepted! Tuition grant applications must be submitted no earlier that 90 days before the start of an academic and no later than 90 days after an academic term ends.

Apply for the Wisconsin National Guard Tuition Grant

Payment Information

The DMA is required to issue a payment to the university within 30 days of receiving enrollment and tuition verification from the univeristy.

UW-Stevens Point’s Office of Financial Aid and Veteran Services is committed to helping students and their families meet the rising cost of education. Our staff administers a variety of financial aid funding services, from federal, state, and private sources. Experienced staff can assist you in the process of applying for financial aid and provide you with information to help you make thoughtful decisions. For more information, visit the Office of Financial Aid and Veteran Services.

Please note, you are required to inform the Office of Financial Aid and Veteran Services of any outside scholarship assistance and certain veteran’s benefits. Please complete the Scholarship/Outside Resource reporting form on our scholarships webpage to notify our office of any outside resources. This includes any names, amounts, and what term you are expecting the aid. Failure to notify the financial aid of outside educational assistance may result in total loss of aid from the University.

Fulfillment of Wellness General Education Program Requirement:
If you have completed Basic Training in any branch of the U.S. military, you may provide your DD214, NOBE or Joint Services Transcript to veteran.services@uwsp.edu. Upon satisfactory review, credit will be granted for the following UW-Stevens Point courses:

• Wellness, 2 credits. Meets General Education Program requirement for Wellness (GEP: WLN).
• Elective, 2 credits.

If you have completed Basic Training and also meet the following criteria, you may receive additional credit as indicated below:

• For completion of Basic Life Support Training and possession of current CPR certification, credit will be granted for HS 123: Standard First Aid and CPR, 1 credit. You must submit your current CPR card as well as your DD 214, NOBE or Joint Services Transcript.

Also,

• For completion of Basic Life Support Training, possession of current CPR certification and completion of Combat Lifesaver Training, credit will be granted for P ED 101: Responding to Emergencies – CPR/First Aid, 1 credit and HS 123: CPR for the Professional Rescuer – Instructor, 1 credit, HS 124. You must submit your Combat Lifesaver training certificate and current CPR card as well as your DD 214, NOBE or Joint Services Transcript.

Credit for Other Military Course Work:

You may submit your military transcripts (JST, AARTS or SMART) to the UW-Stevens Point Admissions Office. Request your JST transcripts here: https://jst.doded.mil/official.html

Wisconsin Act 59

36.31 (title) Coordination with other educational agencies; credit for military education.

SECTION 623m. 36.31 (4) of the statutes is created to read:

36.31 (4) Upon receiving from the federal department of defense a student’s official joint services transcripts or Community College of the Air Force transcripts, the institution or college campus in which the student is enrolled shall do the following:

1. Accept all American Council on Education credit recommendations included in the official joint services transcript and award academic credit to the student in accordance with these recommendations.
2. Accept all credits included in the Community College of the Air Force transcript and award academic credit to the student accordingly.

Institutions will award credit according to these guidelines:

• The educational quality of the learning experience the student seeks to transfer;
• The comparability of the nature, content and level of the learning experience to that offered by the receiving Institutions; and
• The appropriateness and applicability of the learning experience to the programs offered by the receiving institution, in light of the student’s educational goals.

2019 WI Act 147

Students should be aware that you have a choice whether or not to accept the credits from your Joint Service Transcript (JST) or your Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) transcript offered to you by UW-Stevens Point.  The 2019 WI Act 147 provides flexibility to veterans in determining whether they would like their credits transferred from military transcripts to the University of Wisconsin System or technical colleges. Specifically, it contains this language:

SECTION 2.  36.31 (4) (bm) of the statutes is created to read: 36.31 (4) (bm)  An institution or college campus may not award academic credit to a student under par. (am) for each course for which the student, upon consultation with the institution’s or college campus’s staff, objects to the awarding of credit for that course.

Students who are given credits that may not pertain directly to their program could be disadvantaged for financial aid purposes or other professional groups or designations.

It is important to make your determination regarding acceptance of these credits, in consultation with your advisor, in your first semester.

Experiential Learning for Veteran Students

Veteran students may satisfy the Experiential Learning requirement by working with an ELA Mentor to reflect upon the connections between their military service and their coursework at UW-Stevens Point. To satisfy the Experiential Learning requirement in this way, veterans must:

• have earned at least 24 credits from UW-Stevens Point;
• meet their ELA Mentor at least once before formally reflecting upon the connections between their military service and their coursework at UW-Stevens Point; and
• reflect upon the connections between their military service and their coursework at UW-Stevens Point through written communication with their ELA Mentor.

Military Call-Up Instructions for Students

Cancellations of Enrollment:

If the student is called up before the start of the semester, a cancellation form must be filled out or a letter sent notifying us of the cancellation with the reason indicated. If the semester has already started, a withdrawal form must be filled out by the student. The withdrawal form must indicate the current date as the “date of withdrawal”. The reason for the withdrawal or cancellation must state “called to active military duty for wartime service” OR “withdrawing from the university due to active training requirement with the military”. NOTE: The student must officially withdraw from the university.

If you are living in a residence hall, you will need to notify the Residential Living Office at 715-346-3511. If you are receiving financial aid, let our Veterans Coordinator know in the Office of Financial Aid and Veteran Services at 715-346-4771.

You will need to provide UW-Stevens Point with a copy of the orders. We will cancel any benefits you were receiving while attending class.  If the orders are not available at the time of the withdrawal, they may be faxed to 715-346-3526 at a later date.

Individual Course Options

If called up early in the semester, students may choose to withdraw and re-enter when their obligation is completed. In such cases, the students would receive a full refund of their tuition and a prorated refund of any housing and food service charges. If called mid-to-late-semester, students might prefer to drop some courses and/or receive a refund for the courses dropped and a prorated refund of any housing and food service charges.

If called late in the semester, students could request incompletes or instructors might be able to consider their courses complete and assign grades.

• A grade of “incomplete” may be awarded at the discretion of the instructor. It may be possible for you to be granted an extension of time allowed to complete the work in the course. If you are gone for an extended period of time, the department chair of the course would need to notify the Registrar’s Office of the extended time allowed.
• In some instances, an instructor may determine that a sufficient amount of course work has been completed and therefore may choose to award a final grade. You must consult with the instructor to determine whether these requirements have been met.

We encourage all students in this situation to discuss the matter with their instructors and to be clear about their status before departing. In the event that any students have to leave abruptly and don’t have an opportunity to discuss the situation with their instructors, we will notify the instructors and appropriate officials if you ask us to do so. If students are called up due to “active military duty for wartime service”, and we have a copy of the orders to that effect, we will maintain students’ email account. This will enable the student to continued use of their university e-mail account, continue to have appointed registration times, and maintain ties to the university to ease their re-entry upon return.

• The university will add the Veterans Coordinator as an advisor in order to better assist your return to UW-Stevens Point.
• When returning to the university, bring a copy of your most recent DD-214 to the Veterans Coordinator in the Office of Financial Aid and Veteran Services, 103 Student Services Center. You can also contact the Office of the Registrar at 715-346-4301 to get information on how/when to register for classes.

Short Term Leave Policy

As stated in the UWSP Catalog:

Students shall not be penalized for class absence due to unavoidable or legitimate required military obligations, or medical appointments at a VA facility, not to exceed two (2) weeks unless special permission is granted by the instructor. Students are responsible for notifying faculty members of such circumstances as far in advance as possible and for providing documentation to the Office of the Dean of Students to verify the reason for the absence. The faculty member is responsible to provide reasonable accommodations or opportunities to make up exams or other course assignments that have an impact on the course grade. For absences due to a student being deployed for active duty, please refer to the Military Call-Up instructions for students.

Veteran-Related Campus Policies

• Credit for Military Service (build new page)
• Short-term Leave Policy
• Military Call-Up Guidelines
• Veterans Access, Choice & Accountability Act of 2014-Section 702
• Residency

Veteran Health Resources

• Military Connection (Employment, scholarships, loans)
• Military One Source
• National Center for PTSD
• Physical & Mental Needs of Veterans
• Project Welcome Home
• Student Veterans of America
• Team Rubicon
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Troops to Teachers Program
• Wisconsin Department of Veteran Affairs
• Women’s Veteran Health Care

Campus Departments

Whether you need support inside or outside of the classroom, these departments will provide assistance.

• Career Services
• Counseling Center
• Dean of Students
• Disability and Assistive Technology Center
• Non-Traditional Student Services
• Student Academic Advising Center
• Tutoring & Learning Center
• UWSP Veterans Club

Other

• Portage County Veterans Service Office
• Marathon County Veterans Service Office
• Wood County Veterans Service Office

Cost and Income Estimates 

A Financial Aid Shopping Sheet is available upon request for undergraduate and graduate service members, veterans, military spouses, and other military family members. The Shopping Sheet is a consumer tool that is designed to simplify information that prospective students can receive about costs and financial aid so that they may make informed decisions about which postsecondary institution to attend. It is an easy-to-read form that enables students to compare institutions in terms of grant and scholarship amounts, net costs, graduation rates, loan default rates, median borrowing, and estimated monthly loan payments after graduation. Contact the Office of Financial Aid and Veteran Services if you’ve completed a FAFSA and would like to receive a Shopping Sheet. Be sure to list your name, UWSP student ID, current address and contact information on the request.

• Annual Estimation of Income – GI Bill ®
• Educational Costs
• Financial Calculator

Consumer Planning Tools

The consumer planning websites below provide resources and school information including tuition and fees, use of financial aid, and retention and graduation rates.

• College Scorecard
• College Navigator
• Paying for College

Quick Links

Veterans Wisconsin UW System Education Portal

WI Department of Veteran Affairs

Wisconsin National Guard Tuition Grant Application Form

Web Automated Verification
of Enrollment (WAVE)

U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs

Troops to Teachers

UWSP’s Request for Military Benefits Form

Military-affiliated students on our campus may include veterans, current members of the National Guard or Reserves, active duty personnel, and dependents of military service members.  Veteran students may be apprehensive about college and experience adjustment challenges to civilian and academic life.

If you have questions or concerns about a student with a military background, you are encouraged to contact Veteran Services.  You can reach us at 715-346-4771 or veteran.services@uwsp.edu for general information, please start with Supporting Student Veterans, a brochure that was created specifically for faculty and staff on campus.

Campus Policies

• Short-term Leave Policy
• Military Call-Up Guidelines

Learn more about the ROTC program in the Department of Military Science.