Veteran Affairs Educational Benefits

After completing medical school, Bryant Nieto was commissioned into the Navy during a ceremony held in May 2016.
After completing medical school, Bryant Nieto was commissioned into the Navy at a ceremony held at Baylor on the day of his graduation.

Benefit Offerings

The Office of the Registrar assists active duty service members, veterans, and their eligible dependents and spouses in obtaining their education benefits. We act as a liaison to the regional Veteran Affairs office to process enrollment verifications. A student must be admitted to the college and/or registered for courses in a degree-seeking program in order to be certified.

Before You Are Accepted

If you have not applied for your benefit, you must complete the benefits application through the VA. If you are the Veteran, complete the 1990. If you are a dependent using Chapter 35, complete the 5490. If you are using your parents’ Post 9/11 benefit, complete the 1990e.

When you apply for admission, submit all transcripts from previous institutions. Be sure to include military transcripts. You can request your transcript through the following links:

Once You Are Accepted

Submit following REQUIRED documents to the School Certifying Official.

  • BCM’s Enrollment Certification Request (This must be completed every semester)
  • DD-214 (May be requested from the National Archives
  • Certificate of Eligibility from the Department of Veteran Affairs
  • If you have used your benefit before, complete the VA Form 1995, for veteran or 22-5495, for dependents (if you complete this form online, print the confirmation page and submit this to the BCM SCO)
  • BCM Program Degree Plan
  • Confirm copies of all transcripts from previous institutions including your military transcript have been received by the SCO and the Office of the Registrar

***If not needed, opt out of the University Health Insurance. Health Insurance Fees will not be reported to the VA and will need to be paid out of pocket by you the student if not waived. (This process occurs every academic year with the BCM Benefits Office.)

Baylor College of Medicine's Certification Process

Certifications are completed on a semester basis (i.e. Fall semester and Spring semester).

VA Education Benefit students must submit an Enrollment Certification Request to Baylor College of Medicine’s (BCM) School Certifying Official (SCO) at least six weeks before the start of the next semester so that there is little to no delay in payment.

Once all documents are received and you are enrolled in the classes required for your degree, we will certify your enrollment to transmit to the Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA).

All payments are controlled by the DVA, not by Baylor College of Medicine.

Chapter 30 – Montgomery GI Bill® Active Duty

The Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) is available to those who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces. There are two main programs:

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 Web site at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

CHAPTER 31 – Veteran Readiness and Employment

The Veteran Readiness and Employment is for veterans with a service-connected disability that limits your ability to work or prevents you from working. The VR&E Long Term Services track provides assistance in vocational training and education. If you have a disability that was caused - or made worse - by your active-duty service and that limits your ability to work or prevents you from working, you may be able to get employment support or services to help you live as independently as possible.

CHAPTER 32 - VETERANS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (VEAP)

Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) is available if you elected to make contributions from your military pay before April 1, 1987 to participate in this education benefit program. The government matches your contributions on a 2-for-1 basis.

Benefit entitlement is for one to 36 months depending on the number of monthly contributions. You have 10 years from your release from active duty to use VEAP benefits. If the entitlement is not used after the 10-year period, your portion remaining in the fund will be automatically refunded.

Chapter 33 – POST 9/11 GI BILL®

If you have at least 90 days of aggregate active duty service after Sept. 10, 2001 and are still on active duty, or, if you are an honorably discharged Veteran or were discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days, you may be eligible for this VA-administered program.

Whether you want to apply your GI Bill benefits to college classes or an on-the-job training program, the GI Bill Comparison Tool will help you make the most of these benefits. You can also review Post 9/11 GI BILL Program Pamphlet.

For approved programs, the Post-9/11 GI Bill provides up to 36 months of education benefits, generally payable for 15 years following your release from active duty. The following payments may also be available:

  • Monthly housing allowance
  • Annual books and supplies stipend
  • One-time rural benefit payment

View the current payment rates for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Some Service members may also transfer unused GI Bill benefits to their dependents.

Baylor College of Medicine DOES NOT participate in the Post 9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon Program.

The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Fry Scholarship) provides Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to the children and surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty while on active duty after September 10, 2001. Eligible beneficiaries attending school may receive up to 36 months of benefits at the 100% level. Find out more information on payment rates.

The net cost of tuition and fees are assessed at Baylor College of Medicine after the application of any waiver of, or reduction in, tuition and fees; and any scholarship, or other Federal, State, institutional, or employer-based aid or assistance (excluding loans). These regulations are outlined in Public Law 111-377.

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 Web site at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Chapter 35 – Survivors'/Dependents' Education Assistance

The Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) program offers education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of Veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, or, of Veterans who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition.

Texas Veterans Hazlewood Act

Baylor College of Medicine is not a public institution and therefore is not eligible for participation in this Texas Program.

Benefits Payments

Your tuition (paid to Baylor College of Medicine) and stipends (paid to you) are generally dispersed at the same time, approximately 4 to 6 weeks after submission of your enrollment to the DVA. All payments are controlled by the DVA, not by Baylor College of Medicine. It may take additional time for payments to post to your student account.

You may be eligible for several types of VA education and training benefits, but there are many things to consider before you apply. The VA Comparison Tools make it easier to decide which education and training benefits are best for you.

Students receiving Chapter 30 and1606 must verify their enrollment monthly. Students can do so by going to the VA Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) or by calling the Monthly Verification of Enrollment and Interactive Voice Response System (IVR) 1-877-823-2378. The monthly verification of enrollment has not been added to Chapter 33 and Chapter 35, however, Chapter 35 students are mailed a monthly verification form (VA Form 22-8979).

Telephone and Online VA Education Benefit Resources

School Certifying Officials

Primary School Certifying Official

Additional School Certifying Officials

Additional Resources That May Be Helpful

Baylor College of Medicine Resources

Helpful Links