Veteran and Military Benefits

There are many different benefits described below that are available to active duty, guard, reserve, and veteran students and/or their dependents. For more detailed information or to get questions answered, contact our Registrar.

Federal Benefits

If you register in courses of different lengths you should be aware that your pay rates may vary if you receive federal benefits.

Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33)

If you have 90 days or more of aggregate active duty after September 11, 2001, and are still on active duty, or if you are an honorably discharged veteran or were discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days, you may be eligible for this benefit.

The post 9/11 GI Bill® will provide:

• A tuition and fee payment directly to your school
• A books and supply payment directly to you
• A monthly housing allowance payment

All payments will be prorated according to the number of credits you are registered for in combination with the amount of active duty you have completed.

You will receive 36 months of entitlement and be eligible to use the benefit for 15 years from the date of your discharge. For Post 9/11 GI Bill® information, please visit Post 9/11 GI Bill®.

Montgomery GI Bill®

Important Note for Montgomery GI Bill® Recipients

All students receiving either the Montgomery GI Bill® Active Duty or Selected Reserve benefits MUST verify their enrollments monthly to receive payments.

This verification can be done either by using the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) OR by calling 1-877-823-2378 FREE (IVR) and following the prompts.

Note: Generally, your VA claim number is your Social Security number. If classes start in September, you would use this on September 30 (last day of the month) or early October to verify your September enrollment.

Chapter 30

Active duty members who enroll and contribute $100/month for 12 months will be entitled to receive a monthly education benefit once you have completed at least two years of active duty. This benefit is payable for 36 months with a delimiting date of 10 years following your honorable discharge. For Chapter 30 GI Bill® information, please visit: Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill®.

Selected Reserve

This program provides education benefits to eligible members of the Selected Reserve, including the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve and the Army National Guard and Air National Guard. Generally, 36 months of benefits are payable to those with a six-year obligation to serve, have completed basic and advanced training, are actively drilling, and remain in good standing. For Montgomery GI Selected Reserve information, please visit: Montgomery GI Selected Reserve.

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Chapter 31

Veterans may be eligible for this program if you have a service-connected disability rating of at least 10% from the VA, your discharge is other than dishonorable, and you apply for benefits. Services included in this benefit include a comprehensive evaluation to determine abilities, skills, and interest for employment, education benefits that cover tuition and fees, books and supplies, and a monthly stipend (more details here). For additional services and eligibility details of the VR&E Program, please visit: Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment.

Yellow Ribbon Program

Simpson College has entered into a limited Yellow Ribbon contract with the Department of Veteran Affairs for the 2018-19 academic year. The criteria for participation in the Yellow Ribbon program are as follows:

• Eligible for the Post 9/11 (Chapter 33) GI Bill® education benefits at the 100% level
• Maintain good academic standing at Simpson College
• Be admitted as a degree seeking student with net tuition and fee charges above the VA’s annual maximum rate as posted at www.gibill.va.gov

The Yellow Ribbon Program is available to qualified undergraduate students in all degree programs offered at Simpson College. The campus will fund 50% of the tuition and fee charges not paid under the Post 9/11 GI Bill® with the remainder being paid by the Veterans Administration.

For additional information about the Post 9/11 GI Bill® and the Yellow Ribbon program, please see the GI Bill® website at www.gibill.va.gov.

More State of Iowa benefits for Veterans

• State Approving Agency 
• Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds Scholarship Fund

War Orphans Tuition Assistance

• Information
• Application
• National Guard Tuition Benefits
• Operation Recognition High School
• AccreditedOnlineColleges.org Continuing Education Resources for Veterans
• MoneyGeek Scholarships and Grants Resource

Educational Assistance for Veteran Dependents

There are three federal GI Bill programs that provide educational assistance to survivors and dependents of veterans:

The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship

The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship is available for children and spouses of Service members who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001. For more details on this scholarship, please visit: Fry Scholarship.

Survivor’s and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (Chapter 35)

Survivor’s and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition or of veterans who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition. For more details on this program, please visit: Dependents Education Assistance Program.

Transfer of Post 9/11 GI Bill® to Spouse and Dependents

Transfer of Post 9/11 GI Bill® to Spouse and Dependents allows service members to transfer all or some of their unused benefits to their spouse or dependent children. There are several criteria that determine eligibility for transferring this benefit to dependents, please visit: Transfer Post-9/11 Bill to Spouse and Dependents.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)