Veteran Benefits
The Military and Veteran Student Services team works as the liaison between Florida Tech, our students, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Each semester, we will access your class schedule and Curriculum, Advising, and Program Planning (CAPP) Report to verify that coursework applies to your degree program. Only courses that apply to the degree program will be certified by the VA. The VA will determine education benefits and entitlement.
Veterans and benefit-eligible dependents are encouraged to apply for Federal Student Aid and may be eligible for institutional aid in addition to their VA benefits. We recommend that all students complete a FAFSA application each year, regardless of their VA status, so they may review the aid options available to them. VA benefit eligibility does not impact Federal Aid Eligibility.
Florida Tech does not require eligible students to use their Post-9/11 GI Bill® and/or Yellow Ribbon benefits. VA benefits are only utilized at the student's request.
To apply for benefits, visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' How to Apply webpage.
How to Apply for the GI Bill® and Related Benefits
You may also check your entitlement status through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs eBenefits website or by calling the VA Educations Benefits helpline.
VA Education Benefits Helpline: 1-888-442-4551
GI Bill® Chapters
Montgomery GI Bill® (Chapter 30)
The Montgomery GI Bill® benefit generally applies to Veterans who began active duty service for the first time after June 30, 1985, and received an honorable discharge.
More information about Montgomery GI Bill® Active Duty eligibility
Procedures
Submit the following to Military and Veteran Student Services (MVSS) through mvss@fit.edu:
- Certification of Eligibility or Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Education Award Letter
- 2023-2024 Authorization to Certify
The Military and Veteran Student Services office will access your class schedule and Curriculum, Advising and Program Planning (CAPP) Report each semester to verify that coursework applies to your degree program to submit a certification to the Department of Veterans Affairs. You will only be certified for required courses, as listed on your CAPP Report.
Education Assistance Allowance benefits are paid directly to the Veteran, based on the previous month’s enrollment, for the days you attend class. If your term starts in the middle of August, the payment you receive at the beginning of September will be pro-rated accordingly.
Students are required to verify their attendance on the last day of every month to continue receiving benefits. To submit verification, log in to the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) tool or call (877) 823-2378.
Vocational Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31)
Vocational Readiness and Employment (VR&E) is an employment-oriented program that helps transition servicemembers and Veterans with service-connected disabilities and an employment handicap to prepare for, obtain, and maintain suitable employment. Service may include assistance with tuition, parking passes, books, and supplies.
Procedures
- Apply for Vocational Readiness and Employment through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website.
- After you apply, a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor will reach out to you regarding eligibility.
- Once approved, your Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor sends Florida Tech an approved purchase order.
- Submit your 2023-2024 Authorization to Certify to Military and Veteran Student Services (MVSS) through mvss@fit.edu. The MVSS team will process the purchase order and send approval to Student Accountings.
Melbourne Main Campus Veterans:
Visit the cashier window on the first floor of the L3 Harris Commons Building each semester. Advise the cashier that you are eligible for Vocational Readiness and Employment benefits and need to pick up your parking pass, supplies, and book voucher. Please purchase all your books and supplies together as the voucher is valid for the day issued. If you choose to buy books with personal funds, the university cannot reimburse the cost.
Contacts:
- Department of Veterans Affairs National: 1-800-827-1000
- Vocational Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Orlando office: 1-407-835-5600
Post-9/11 GI-Bill® (Chapter 33)
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® provides up to 36 months of benefits to help pay for school for Veterans, Servicemembers, survivors, and dependents. You might be eligible if you served at least 90 aggregate days of qualifying active service on or after September 11, 2001.
More information about Post-9/11 GI Bill®
Procedures
Submit the following to Military and Veteran Student Services (MVSS) through mvss@fit.edu:
- Certification of Eligibility or Statement of Benefits
- 2023-2024 Authorization to Certify
The Military and Veteran Student Services office will access your class schedule and Curriculum, Advising and Program Planning (CAPP) Report each semester to verify that coursework applies to your degree program to submit a certification to the Department of Veterans Affairs. You will only be certified for required courses, as listed on your CAPP Report.
The VA determines Book and Supply Stipend and Monthly Housing Allowance based on the veteran’s entitlement level and enrollment status. These benefits are paid directly to the student.
The VA is the "last payer"; therefore, the payment is pro-rated by the veteran's length of service percentage based on the remaining tuition and fee balance after other tuition-based aid. The final amount due is subject to change based on your completed Financial Aid. Parking, meals, and housing are not billable fees to the VA and, the veteran will be required to pay those fees.
Changes in registration from a benefit-eligible class will require the student to repay any tuition and fees associated with the courses to both the VA and Florida Tech. Students are responsible for all debts resulting from reductions or terminations of enrollment, even if the payment was submitted directly to the school on your behalf.
Survivors and Dependents Education Assistance (Chapter 35)
The Survivors and Dependents Education Assistance program offers education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of Veterans and survivors of certain Veterans.
Procedures
Submit the following to Military and Veteran Student Services (MVSS) through mvss@fit.edu:
- Certification of Eligibility or Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Education Award Letter
- 2023-2024 Authorization to Certify
The Military and Veteran Student Services office will access your class schedule and Curriculum, Advising and Program Planning (CAPP) Report each semester to verify that coursework applies to your degree program to submit a certification to the Department of Veterans Affairs. You will only be certified for required courses, as listed on your CAPP Report.
Education Assistance Allowance benefits are paid directly to the student, based on the previous month’s enrollment, for the days you attend class. If your term starts in the middle of August, the payment you receive at the beginning of September will be pro-rated accordingly.
Marine Gunnery Sergent John David Fry Scholarship
You may qualify for this benefit if your parent or spouse died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001, while serving in one of the Armed Forces or was a member of the Selected Reserve who died from a service-connected disability.
More information about the Fry Scholarship
Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans (CSDDV).
CSDDV only applies to Florida Residents and provides an award to dependent children or un-remarried spouses of qualified Florida veterans.
Montgomery GI Bill® Select Reserve (MGB-SR) (Chapter 1606)
The MGB-SR program offers up to 36 months of education and training benefits. If you are a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard Reserves, Army National Guard, or Air National Guard, you may be eligible for this benefit.
Procedures
Submit the following to Military and Veteran Student Services (MVSS) through mvss@fit.edu:
- Certification of Eligibility or Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Education Award Letter
- 2023-2024 Authorization to Certify
The Military and Veteran Student Services office will access your class schedule and Curriculum, Advising and Program Planning (CAPP) Report each semester to verify that coursework applies to your degree program to submit a certification to the Department of Veterans Affairs. You will only be certified for required courses, as listed on your CAPP Report.
Education Assistance Allowance benefits are paid directly to the student, based on the previous month’s enrollment, for the days you attend class. If your term starts in the middle of August, the payment you receive at the beginning of September will be pro-rated accordingly.
Students are required to verify their attendance on the last day of every month to continue receiving benefits. To submit verification login to the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) tool, or call 1-877-823-2378. If a beneficiary fails to report for two consecutive months, the VA will withhold any additional payments until verified by the student.
Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship
Veterans enrolled in approved STEM programs may be eligible for up to nine additional months of benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship.
Learn more about the Edith Nourse Rogers Stem Scholarship
Eligibility Requirements
At least one of these must be true:
- You are currently enrolled in an undergraduate STEM degree program or qualifying dual-degree program
- You have earned a post-secondary degree or a graduate degree in an approved STEM degree field and are enrolled in a covered clinical training program for health care professionals
- You have earned a post-secondary degree in an approved STEM degree field and are working toward a teaching certification
Yellow Ribbon Program
Yellow Ribbon is a voluntary agreement between the university and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) designed to assist tuition funding. Florida Tech has chosen to participate in this program and award certain Yellow Ribbon funds to students in selected undergraduate and graduate programs. The Yellow Ribbon Program agreement allows Florida Tech to determine the tuition and fees to contribute, and VA will match that amount.
Learn more about the VA's Yellow Ribbon Program
Students eligible for Chapter 33 benefits at the 100% level, with remaining entitlement, may qualify for Yellow Ribbon funding. Contact for more information.
Note the Yellow Ribbon Program coincides with your entitlement, and no additional application is required. Payments exhaust the same date as your entitlement.
How to use your benefits
New Student Procedures
- Apply for Benefits
- Submit your Certificate of Eligibility and 2023-2024 Authorization to Certify to the university.
- Contact the Military and Veteran Student Services team
Transfer Student Procedures
- Change your program/place of study with the Department of Veterans Affairs: Form 22-1995 for Chapters 30, 33, and 1606 or Form 22-5495 for Chapter 35
- Submit your Certificate of Eligibility and 2023-2024 Authorization to Certify to the university
- Contact the Military and Veteran Student Services team
Current Student Procedures
- Submit your 2023-2024 Authorization to Certify
- Contact the Military and Veteran Student Services team
Student Responsibilities
Veteran students at Florida Tech have ongoing responsibilities to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The VA and the Military and Veteran Student Services office closely monitor each veteran student's enrollment status. The student's entitlement is based upon the number of credit hours for which a student is enrolled.
Expectations and Responsibilities of the student:
- Submit Department of Veterans Affairs benefit documentation, including Certificate of Eligibility, to the Military and Veteran Student Services office.
- Have all official transcripts sent to Florida Tech to be considered for prior credit.
- Notify Military and Veteran Student Services of any changes to course enrollment or degree program. Debts resulting from the reduction or termination of registration are the student's responsibility.
- Be aware that only courses that apply to the degree program will be certified. Repeated courses will only be certified if a satisfactory grade has not previously been earned.
- Check your student billing statement. Students are financially responsible for any tuition or fees not paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Parking fees, meals, and housing are not billable fees that must be covered by the student.
- Keep track of remaining entitlement, anticipate when benefits will exhaust, and plan accordingly. We recommend all students create an account with eBenefits.
- Verify monthly enrollment with the Department of Veterans Affairs if receiving Chapter 30, Chapter 33, or Chapter 1606 benefits. Enrollment verification can be completed each month by the Department of Veterans Affairs toll-free number 877-823-2378 or the WAVE feature on the Department of Veterans Affairs website.
- Contact Military and Veteran Student Services with any questions or concerns related to enrollment certification.