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.