Receiving financial aid/scholarships and using VA/military TA benefits

What it pays: Up to 100% of in-state tuition/fees (amounts vary based on percentage of eligibility and other criteria). 

How it works with restricted aid: VA only pays what is remaining of tuition/fees after any/all other restricted aid pays. This “last-payer clause” is required by federal law.

How it works with unrestricted aid: you receive unrestricted aid AND VA pays applicable tuition/fees. But your KU Enroll & Pay account will look weird for a bit. By default/timing, all financial aid goes toward tuition/fees first in KU Enroll & Pay. However, there are 2 options to have unrestricted aid pay other items on your account and/or any refunds issued to you.  

• Option 1: To get unrestricted aid while waiting on VA to pay tuition/fees, complete the VA Educational Benefits - Early Release of Funds (EROF)* form each semester. *A link to EROF is embedded in the KU VA benefits request form you complete each semester. Once you complete  EROF, you may see the unrestricted aid pay other items on your KU account that VA doesn't pay (e.g. books, parking, housing, dining) and then any refunds, if applicable, will be disbursed to you within 7-14 business days. Be sure to have direct deposit set up with KU. 
• Option 2: If you don’t complete EROF, you should receive your unrestricted aid once the VA pays tuition/fees a couple of months into the semester. You never lose the money you are entitled to; you may just get it later.  

Once you receive a refund from KU, go back and check your KU Enroll & Pay account to make sure you don't still owe anything. If you have questions regarding your KU account, contact us.

What it pays: Tuition/fees and other expenses approved by your VR&E counselor (e.g. parking, books). 

How it works with restricted aid: VA only pays what is remaining of tuition/fees after any/all other restricted aid pays. This “last-payer clause” is required by federal law.

How it works with unrestricted aid: you receive unrestricted aid AND VA pays applicable tuition/fees. But your KU Enroll & Pay account will look weird for a bit. By default/timing, all financial aid goes toward tuition/fees first in KU Enroll & Pay. However, once we get a 28-1905 from your VR&E counselor for the semester or year, we place a “third party sponsorship” on your KU account each semester. Any unrestricted aid refunds, if applicable, will be disbursed to you. You never lose the money you are entitled to; you may simply receive it later. 

Once you receive a refund from KU, go back and check your KU Enroll & Pay account to make sure you don't still owe anything. If you have charges on your account (i.e. bookstore) that you believe Ch. 31 should be covering, contact us.

VA pays nothing to KU and pays your monthly stipend directly to you.

Since these VA benefits do not pay tuition/fees, there are no unique factors to consider regarding any financial aid. Financial aid will post to your KU Enroll & Pay account. Learn more about financial aid here. 

If you have any questions or concerns about charges on your account, contact us.

What it pays: State TA pays up to 15 credit hours of tuition/fees. When State TA pays, it rounds down to the nearest dollar amount, so you may still owe some for tuition. 

How it works if you also have restricted aid (i.e. federal TA, Post-9/11 GI Bill, tuition waivers, etc.) – the total amount of restricted aid cannot be greater than your tuition/fees. That means you will not receive any refunds if you are ONLY using State TA and other restricted aid.  

• If you have more than one restricted aid, restricted aid is prioritized by: any tuition waivers/restricted scholarships apply first, then any federal military TA, any state TA and/or any Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. 

How it works if you also have unrestricted aid – You will receive other financial aid, like scholarships, loans, grants. But your KU Enroll & Pay account will look weird for a little bit. Because all financial aid goes toward tuition/fees first in KU Enroll & Pay by default, that’s what will happen to your account, too.

State TA payments arrive about a month after the semester begins. Once state TA pays, unrestricted aid may pay on other items not covered by TA and then any refunds, if applicable, will be disbursed to you. You never lose the money you are entitled to; you may simply receive it later. 

Once you get a refund from KU, go back and check your KU Enroll & Pay account to make sure you don't still owe anything. If you have any questions or concerns about charges on your account, contact us.

What it pays: FTA pays up to $250 a credit hour for a certain number of credit hours (varies by branch) in a military fiscal year. 

How it works if you also have restricted aid – If you are receiving any other aid restricted to tuition/fees only (i.e. federal TA, Post-9/11 GI Bill, tuition waivers, etc.), the total amount of restricted aid cannot be greater than your tuition/fees. That means you will not receive any refunds if you are only using State TA and other restricted aid.  

• If/when you have more than one restricted aid, restricted aid is prioritized by: any tuition waivers/restricted scholarships apply first, then any federal military TA, any state military TA and/or any Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. 

How it works if you also have unrestricted aid – You will receive other financial aid, like scholarships, loans, grants. But your KU Enroll & Pay account will look weird for a little bit. Because Enroll & Pay automatically has all financial aid pay tuition/fees first, that’s what will happen to your account, too. Once TA pays, you may see the unrestricted aid pay on other items on your KU account and then any refunds, if applicable, will be disbursed to you. You never lose the money you are entitled to; you may simply receive it later. 

If you have questions, please contact the Military-Affiliated Student Center, 785-864-2458 or masc@ku.edu.  

What is the College Financing Plan (CFP)? 

The CFP is designed help students compare college costs. It is a standardized form used by schools around the nation that is designed to simplify the information prospective students receive about costs and financial aid so that they can easily compare institutions and make informed decisions about where to attend. Learn more at the Department of Education's website. This is not the same as a financial aid award letter or offer. 

The Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, MD, Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 added requirements for schools with VA benefits users starting in 2021. Many of the requirements are consistent with the requirements of the Principles of Excellence (Executive Order 13607); however, the law added additional requirements for schools maintain approval for GI Bill participation. To ensure compliance, schools now include VA benefits information in the CFP.

Who gets it/where do I find it?

Students who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year will receive one. Students who submit a VA benefits request will receive VA benefits information each year in the CFP.

To find your CFP:

• Log in to Enroll & Pay
• Find "Financial Aid"
• Select "College Financing Plan"

What is listed in “Veterans Education Benefits?” 

Expected benefit estimates under VA chapters 30, 31, 33, or 35 of title 38, U.S.C., or chapter 1606 of title 10, U.S.C. 

Estimates are based on a student’s full-time/part-time status using data from the GI Bill Comparison Tool. Note: Rates may be pulled before the annual VA monthly allowance increases (Aug. 1 for Ch. 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill; Oct. 1 for all other VA chapters).

For Post-9/11 GI Bill users: rates assume benefits at the 100% benefit level. Contact us if you would like to see adjusted rates based on your benefit level. 

Do VA benefits listed on the CFP impact my FAFSA eligibility for grants/loans?

No. The FAFSA does not pull any info from the CFP.

You report VA benefits information separately in the FAFSA as a resource/asset (VA benefits are not considered income). 

Why do I see the VA benefits in my KU Enroll & Pay financial aid awards? 

You may see a VA benefits estimate in Enroll & Pay, listed as a "bursary" award, because of how the CFP pulls/shares data. Seeing these VA benefits estimates does not mean you are using VA benefits in any given semester and it is not an actual VA benefits award/payment. To use your VA benefits, you must complete a VA benefits request each semester.  

The VA benefits listed in Enroll & Pay also do not impact your FAFSA offers/awards. 

Are the VA amounts listed in the CFP and/or Enroll & Pay sent directly to the school? 

• VA benefits estimates in the CFP/that are part of Enroll & Pay financial aid awards are not actual awards/payments from VA.
• Ch. 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill - VA pays tuition/fees to the school. You are responsible for paying all other charges. Your VA estimates on the CFP also factor in the monthly housing allowance/book stipend, which are sent directly to you.
• Ch. 31 Veterans Readiness and Employment - VA pays what your VR&E counselor approves. You are responsible for paying any other charges. Your VA estimates on the CFP also factor in the monthly housing allowance, which is sent directly to you.
• All other VA chapters - VA pays nothing to the school. VA sends you the monthly allowance. You are responsible for 100% of your charges, even if you see a VA award in Enroll & Pay.

Why are veterans education benefits included in the total Net Price?

All benefits, including VA Benefits should be reflected in the Net Price as required by the Department of Education. The CFP is meant to reflect a student’s individual financial situation. If the student is a VA benefits user, then it should reflect any benefits that they will receive. 

Can I get VA benefits removed from the CFP?

In general, no. We are required to include VA benefits info for current VA benefits users and cannot remove them. 

The only time you can get VA benefits removed is if you are not using VA benefits for the current semester/year. Contact us if you are not using VA benefits and want that information removed from the CFP. 

If you need financial aid documentation that does not show VA benefits, e.g. for an outside scholarship application, your financial aid counselor can do a "general needs analysis," which would outline your cost of attendance and your financial aid. You can ask them to not include VA benefits in this document.