College is expensive. There is no easy way to say it, but there are ways to help. Financial Aid is available for nearly every student to ease the burden of your education. From VA Benefits to scholarships, we are here to help you. 

• Many of our students qualify for in-state tuition and don’t realize it. We can help you apply to be reclassified as a resident student and save. 
• The Veterans Support Center has partnered with several groups on campus and in the community to be able to offer you several scholarships for both the fall and spring semesters. Some of our partners include the U Alumni Association, the University Union, and the Larry H. and Gail Miller Foundation, just to name a few. 
• Not quite sure what you are eligible for with your VA Education Benefits. Come talk with our team and we can make sure you are taking advantage of everything you have earned. 
• Do you just need a little help to better manage your finances? We have a specialized military financial counsellor in the U’s Financial Wellness Center to help you sort things out and answer any questions you may have. 

These are just a few of the things we can do to help and would love to share all of our programs with you. 

If you have not already applied for admission to the University of Utah, click here to complete the online application.

The following items need to be addressed EVERY semester to keep your benefits running smoothly:

Request for Benefits Form

This form needs to be filled out by every student planning on using VA education benefits. You can fill out up to 3 semesters at a time, so you’ll only need to complete one each academic year. This form is used to let us know which semester you want to use your benefits for. We do not assume every students wants to use their benefits every semester, some students wish to conserve their benefits.

The first time you fill out this form, you will need to turn in a paper copy to our office. The PDF can be found here. Once you have completed your first one, future copies can be completed via CIS: once logged in, click on the tile for your "Student Homepage" then the "Tuition and Loans" tile. On the left hand menu, select "Request VA Benefits".

Checking your UMail Regularly

UMail is our primary means of communication with students. We DO NOT send emails to personal email accounts (i.e. Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo, etc.). If you are not checking your UMail regularly, you may not get paid on time, or at all. The emails we send out are to help you keep your benefits going as smoothly as possible. We do not send out junk mail.

Changing Majors

If you have changed your major with the University, you will also need to fill out a new “Request for benefits” form with our office to change it with the VA. Your major needs to match with the University and VA.

“Schedule Set” Emails

Thirty days before each semester, our office will send out an email to every student explaining how they can get their enrollment certifications sent to the VA as early as possible (meaning you get paid as early as possible). Be sure to check your UMail account regularly so that you do not miss this important email. The email roughly states that you will need to email us stating your schedule for the semester is set and that you do not plan to add/drop any more classes for that semester. Once we receive your response, we will send everything to VA to get your benefits moving for that semester. If we do not receive a response, we will wait until the last day to add/drop courses for the semester (which is usually 2-3 weeks after the semester has already started) and we will automatically submit everything for you at that time.

Your Benefits are Your Responsibility

Be proactive; don’t wait until the last minute. We will do our best to help you keep them running smoothly by sending out notifications if there are things you need to do (such as filling out a new request for benefits, or if you have registered for courses the VA will not pay for) but it is your responsibility to make sure you have done everything you need to do and that nothing else is required each semester. DO NOT wait until the first day of classes to check with us about what else you need to do. It can take the VA up to 8 weeks to process enrollment certifications each semester. If you are dependent on the funds for rent, living expenses, etc., then it is in your best interest to take care of things as early as possible.

Attending Classes

The VA pays you for attendance, not just registering for a class. If you stop attending you may receive an EU grade (an unofficial withdraw) which may create a debt with the VA.

Student Forms

Request for Benefits: To keep your benefits going every semester, you will need to make sure you fill out the “Request for Benefits” form for every semester you want to use your benefits. We do not assume you want to use them every semester. If we do not have a Request for Benefits form submitted, we will not send anything to VA. This form is required for all students using VA education benefits.

Military Service Credit Request: By completing this form and supplying a copy of your most recent DD-214 or LES statement showing at least 181 days of active duty time, the University of Utah will grant you 4 credits towards your degree to meet the minimum 122 credits required to graduate with an undergraduate degree. This will count as a general 4 credits and not fulfill or replace any required course that you need to take. It only counts towards the 122 credits required to graduate. (This benefit does not apply to graduate level students.)

Yellow Ribbon Program: In order to qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program, you need to be using the Post 911 GI Bill® and be at the 100% rating. The Yellow Ribbon Program is only necessary if you are being charged non-resident tuition. If you are a resident, and at the 100% rating, you will not need it. To apply for Yellow Ribbon: Fill out the “Yellow Ribbon Request Form” and provide us with a copy of your certificate of eligibility showing you at the 100% rating under the Post 911 GI Bill®.

Primary School Letter Request: If you are planning on attending two different colleges to complete requirements for your degree at the University of Utah. You will need to complete a “Primary School Letter Request Form” to have your courses certified at the other school.

Change of Program or Place of Training: This form is used to transfer your veteran benefits from one school to another, or to reactivate you benefits after a year of not using them.