Veterans Affairs

A Certificate of Eligibility (COE) verifies a student’s eligibility for Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits. Students planning to use these benefits must obtain a COE and submit it to the Office of the Registrar, VA Education Services, before the first day of the semester.

Credit for Previous Education and Training

Veterans and other eligible beneficiaries must provide official transcripts of previous education and training to UH Mānoa. The Department of Veterans Affairs requires official transcripts from all previous institutions be evaluated by UH Mānoa for prior credit, including transcripts for military education and training. UH Mānoa will review prior credit and grant credit as appropriate to students’ educational programs. This is found in Title 38, Code of Federal Regulations, Sections 21.4253(d)(3) and 21.4254 (C)(4).

Students are notified of their prior credit evaluations through STAR. All records of previous education and training will be kept with the with students’ records and provided to the VA or Hawaiʻi State Approving Agency upon request.

Credit Equivalency Tables for Graduate VA Students

Students must be enrolled in at least one degree related graduate-level course in order to use the credit equivalency tables below.

Graduate Fall & Spring Semesters

*One credit of 700F or 800 is considered full-time enrollment.

Graduate Law Fall & Spring Semesters

Graduate Assistant Fall & Spring Semesters

Graduate Summer Sessions

Two Consecutive Term Academic Progress

This policy is specific only to VA education benefit recipients. Students are limited to two consecutive semesters on academic probation. A probationary status for a third consecutive term will result in VA education benefits being discontinued until good academic standing is achieved.

Public Law 115-407, Sections 103 and 104

In accordance with the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, section 3679(e) of title 38 (Public Law 115-407), a student who is entitled to educational assistance under Chapter 31, Veteran Readiness and Employment Services, or Chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits shall be permitted to attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to the educational institution a Certificate of Eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under Chapter 31 or 33 (a “Certificate of Eligibility” can also include a “Statement of Benefits”, or an e-Authorization form for Chapter 31) and ending on the earlier of the following dates:

• The date on which payment from VA is made to the institution.
• 90 days after the date the institution certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the Certificate of Eligibility.

The university shall not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or require the student to borrow additional funds, in order to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement funding from VA under Chapter 31 or 33.

Public Law 116-315, Section 1005

Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30), Veteran Readiness & Employment (Chapter 31), Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 35), and the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship recipients will be charged the in-state resident rate, regardless of the length of time passed since they were discharged.

Public Law 116-315, Section 1015

Accredited institutions must be eligible for and participate in the Federal Student Aid program under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to be eligible to receive GI Bill funds. This is found in Chapter 36 of Title 38 U.S.C. § 3672(b) (2)(A) and 3675(b)(4).

Public Law 116-315, Section 1018

VA education benefit recipients are provided a VA Shopping Sheet by the Office of the Registrar displaying an estimated cost for their chosen educational program. The shopping sheet provides an estimated net price for students based on their cost of attendance minus estimated grants and scholarships, other aid programs, and VA award. Cost of attendance, financial aid availability, and VA awards may change year to year.

“GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.”