Veteran Education Benefits | UT Austin Executive Education

Veteran education benefits offer a way for veterans and service members to afford their graduate education at The University of Texas at Austin: one of the best colleges for veterans in the U.S. There are a variety of education benefits available for Texas Engineers, and we encourage prospective students to take full advantage of any benefits they earned while in service.

VA Education Benefits

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers several education benefit programs, the most popular being the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. VA education benefits may cover some or all of the cost of your education, and depending on eligibility, you may qualify for more than one benefit program. Choose the category that applies best to you below for more information on your benefit options:

Post-9/11 G.I. Bill: Veterans who served on active duty after September 10, 2001, may be eligible for up to 36 months of benefits, including funding for tuition, housing, books and supplies. If a veteran qualifies for 100% of the maximum benefit, the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill will cover the full cost of tuition while paying a housing allowance based on 50% of the national average.

Montgomery G.I. Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD): Veterans and active-duty service members who served at least two years on active duty may be eligible for up to 36 months of education benefits, which are paid directly to students on a monthly basis. Additionally, veterans who took place in the $600 Montgomery G.I. Bill Buy-Up program will receive larger monthly G.I. Bill payments; however, Buy-Up only applies to the MGIB-AD program.

Montgomery G.I. Bill Selective Reserve (MGIB-SR) program: Members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard or Air National Guard may be eligible for up to 36 months of tuition assistance. Eligibility ends the day an individual leaves the Selected Reserve, although there are exceptions.

VA education benefits can help cover the cost of tuition, housing, books and supplies for survivors and dependents of a veteran or service member who is missing in action, has sustained a service-connected disability, or who died or was captured while in the line of duty. A dependent or surviving spouse or child may be eligible for:

Students who qualify for both the Fry Scholarship and DEA program can only choose one and will be unable to switch once they’ve applied.

Choosing VA Education Benefits

Students who are eligible for more than one VA education benefit can only receive benefits under one program at a time for a maximum of 48 months of combined benefits. Benefit amounts depend on a student’s chosen program, credit hours and amount of time served, among other factors—all of which can make it a challenge to pick the right program.

We encourage you to use the G.I. Bill Comparison Tool to estimate your benefits and pick the G.I. Bill program that’s right for you. Additional support can be found by contacting Texas One Stop via email at gibill@austin.utexas.edu, via phone at 512-475-7540, or via Zoom meeting by request.

Applying for VA Education Benefits

Students can apply for G.I. Bill benefits once they have been admitted to UT Austin and have registered for courses. To apply:

Complete the G.I. Bill Questionnaire.
Submit supporting documents using G.I. Bill Document Uploads.
Verify attendance with the V.A. (Montgomery G.I. Bill benefits applicants only).

Tuition Assistance

Available to active duty, National Guard and Reserve Component service members in all four service branches and the U.S. Coast Guard, the Department of Defense (DOD) Tuition Assistance program is another resource that may help cover the cost of your education. Tuition assistance covers up to $250 per credit hour ($4,500 per fiscal year) and is paid directly to the University.

To apply:

Contact Veteran and Military Affiliated Services to ensure your program and courses are sent to your respective service branch.
Request and obtain approval from your service’s education center. Click on the link to your respective branch for eligibility requirements:
Email a copy of your approved tuition assistance authorization form to Veteran and Military Affiliated Services.

Tuition Assistance Top-Up

If your tuition costs exceed what’s covered by the DoD Tuition Assistance program, additional funding can be obtained through the Tuition Assistance Top-Up program. Top-Up is available to veterans and service members who qualify for Post-9/11 G.I. Bill or MGIB-AD benefits. Consequently, Top-Up will affect the amount of funding available to service members, so we recommend that students use the G.I. Bill Comparison Tool to ensure their G.I. Bill benefits will cover their financial needs once they leave the military. Students can apply for Top-Up through the VA website.

Additional Guidance

Veteran education benefits can empower you to pursue the education you deserve. The number and complexity of available options can, however, make it challenging to apply for and receive all of the benefits you’re entitled to. For guidance, please contact Texas One Stop. Our Veteran Certification Team is available to discuss the education benefits available to you and walk you through any application processes.