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Military and Veteran Applicant FAQs
Military and Veteran Applicant FAQs
How do I apply for the GI Bill®?
Log into the VA’s website to begin your application. The VA typically takes around 30 days to process your application and you will be mailed your Certificate of Eligibility if you qualify. Send a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility to veterans@lsus.edu when you get it. You can either take a picture of your physical certificate, scan it, or provide a screenshot. Be sure to include your student ID in the subject line of the email.
*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 .
How do I get my benefits started at LSUS?
Send a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility to veterans@lsus.edu. You can either take a picture of your physical certificate, scan it, or provide a screenshot. Be sure to include your student ID in the subject line of the email.
Send a copy of your curriculum sheet, signed by your academic advisor to veterans@lsus.edu by the end of your first semester. Be sure to include your student ID in the subject line of the email. *If you are in the Online MBA program, you can skip this step.
Every semester, fill out a Request for Certification of Veteran Education Benefits.
To find this form:
- Log in to
- Go to Records
- Go to Forms
- Go to Request for Certification of Veteran Education Benefits
*If qualified for the Louisiana Title 29 tuition exemption, email a copy of your Title 29 certificate to veterans@lsus.edu. Be sure to include your student ID in the subject line of the email. For more information about Title 29, click here.
What if I am a transfer student or used my GI Bill® benefits at a different school?
If LSUS was NOT the last school you used GI Bill® benefits at, you need to fill out a transfer form online.
If you’re a veteran, current service member, or had the GI Bill® transferred to you, fill out the .
If you’re the dependent of a veteran or current service member, fill out the .
Is there a form that I need to fill out each semester?
Yes. If you are using any GI Bill® Benefits (Chapter 30 Montgomery, Chapter 31 Voc Rehab/VR&E, Chapter 33 Post-9/11, Chapter 35/DEA, Chapter 1606/MGIB-SR) or the Title 29 tuition exemption, you must fill out a Request for Certification of Veteran Education Benefits each semester.
To find this form:
- Log in to
- Go to Records
- Go to Forms
- Go to Request for Certification of Veteran Education Benefits
How do I find my Chapter 35/DEA payee number?
Due to new VA requirements, students using Chapter 35/DEA benefits must also provide their payee number in addition to their claim number. The payee number can be found after the slash at the end of the claim number on the Certificate of Eligibility. If you’re a spouse, you should see either a “10” or “W,” and if you’re a dependent, you should see either a “41,42,43…” or “A,B,C…” depending on how many other dependents have used those benefits. See the form below for an example.
How can I replace a lost/missing Certificate of Eligbility?
You can request a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility through AskVA or by calling the GI Bill® hotline at 888-442-4551.
When can I request tuition assistance?
/Space Force – 45 days from class start, NLT 7 days
– 60 days from class start, NLT 1 day
– 60 days from class start
– 120 days from class start, NLT 14 days
– 90 days from class start, NLT 14 days
How does the VA pay monthly benefits?
The VA pays the monthly stipend one month in arrears. For example, you will receive the stipend for January the first week of February. Students receiving Chapter 30, 33 and 1606 benefits are required to “verify” their enrollment status on or after the last day of the month. Students may verify by calling the toll-free number (1-877-823-2378) or by accessing the VA website ( ). Upon verification, the VA will process the payment and send it to the student either by mail or direct deposit. It is highly recommended that students elect the direct deposit option to eliminate lost or stolen checks. In addition, students using direct deposit receive benefits in four or five working days as opposed to seven to ten days by mail.
How much will the VA pay me monthly?
Your monthly payment depends on multiple factors. Two of the biggest are what chapter of VA benefits you are using and how many classes you’re enrolled in. Check the tables below to get an idea of what to expect or call the GI Bill hotline at 888-442-4551.
For Chapter 30/Montgomery GI Bill® Active Duty, click
For Chapter 31/Veteran Readiness and Employment/Voc Rehab, click
For Chapter 33/Post-9/11, click here.
For Chapter 35/DEA, click
For Chapter 1606/MGIB-SR, click
What is considered full time, ¾ time, ½ time or ¼ time for VA benefits?
Undergraduate Traditional
- Full Time = 12+ hours
- ¾ Time = 9-11 hours
- ½ Time = 6-8 hours
- Less than ½ time = 4-5 hours
- Less than ¼ time = 1-3 hours
Undergraduate Accelerated
Full Time = 6 hours
½ Time = 3 hours
Graduate Traditional
Full Time = 9 hours
½ Time = 6-8 hours
Less than ½ time = 3 hours
Graduate Accelerated
Full Time = 6 hours
½ Time = 3 hours
Does VA pay for repeated courses?
VA will pay for repeated courses as long as they are required and the grades previously earned do not meet À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ requirements. Reenrolling in a course from which a student withdrew is not considered repeating a course. If a student declares academic bankruptcy, the VA does not pay for repeated courses unless the student earned an unsatisfactory grade the first time the student attempted the course.
Does the VA pay for remedial courses?
The VA will pay for a remedial course if the student has a deficiency in the subject. The VA will not pay for refresher courses.
What do I do if I change my major?
Send a copy of your new curriculum sheet signed by your appropriate academic advisor to veterans@lsus.edu. Be sure to include your student ID in the subject line of the email.
Can I change my major in the middle of the semester?
Yes. The change will not take effect until the next semester. Once you certify your classes for the semester, this is your major for the semester.
What courses will the VA pay for?
The VA pays for prerequisite courses and courses required by student’s À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ program. Students are responsible for ensuring that the courses apply toward their À¶Ý®ÊÓƵs. If they are not sure, they should consult with their academic advisors. If students wish to take courses that are not required, we will certify only the required courses and report a change in status affecting only those courses.
What if I don’t have enough classes to reach full-time status?
If you are in your last quarter or semester, you can “Round Out.” Rounding Out allows you to take additional classes from your curriculum in order to hit full-time status. For more information, click .
What will happen if I drop a class?
Email veterans@lsus.edu as soon as possible with your student ID in the subject line of the email. This can lead to an overpayment of benefits that you will be responsible for paying back.
What happens if I fail a course?
If you fail a class, you receive a "punitive grade" for that class. A punitive grade is a grade that does not count as earned credit. This means that the grade you receive counts in your overall À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ progress, albeit negatively. Since this grade counts towards your graduation progress you are NOT required to repay any GI Bill® money you received for that class.
You may take the class again to receive credit towards graduation and you may receive GI Bill® payment for the retaking of the class.
I’m in the National Guard. How do I get my tuition exemption?
The LANG sends the university a list of members authorized the LANG Tuition Exemption at the beginning of each semester.
If curious about the status of your LANG tuition exemption, contact Mr. Leonard Acker at leonard.c.acker.civ@army.mil or 504-278-8273.
I’m the dependent of a veteran. What do I need to do to get LA Title 29?
Louisiana’s Title 29 Dependent Educational Assistance is available to surviving spouses of deceased veterans, dependents of veterans with 90%+ service-connected disabilities, and dependents of veterans with 100% service-connected disabilities due to unemployability (individual unemployability/IU).
Contact your parish’s Veterans Service Office (VSO) to apply. Email a copy of your certificate to veterans@lsus.edu.
Bossier VSO – 318-741-8391 or jimmie.williams@la.gov
Caddo VSO – 318-676-7540 or brandi.white@la.gov
All Other Louisiana VSOs -
What fees does LA Title 29 cover?
LA Title 29 can only exempt university-imposed fees.
What happens when a student withdraws from a course or resigns?
If the withdrawal changes the student’s enrollment status, the VA will reduce the student’s rate of pay. If the withdrawal occurs during the drop/add period, as defined by the VA, an adjustment is made on the rate of pay. If the withdrawal occurs after the drop/add period, the reduction may create an overpayment, unless there are mitigating circumstances. If there are mitigating circumstances, the student must submit a “Statement in Support of Claim” to the VA. The statement needs to include the VA file number. If the VA does not approve the claim, the overpayment is applied retroactively to the beginning of the semester. The only exception is the “one-time up to six-hour exclusion” which does not require mitigating circumstances. Contact the VA at 888-GIBill-1 (888.442.4551)
What happens when a student is deployed?
As soon as you can, send a copy of your orders to veteransrc@lsus.edu and let your professors know so they can advise on the best course of action for the class. If you need to drop/withdraw due to your orders, you WILL receive a 100% refund.
What happens if I have an emergency and need to withdraw after the withdrawal period ends?
For information on emergency withdrawals and mitigating circumstances, see the .
What is the 6-credit-hour exclusion?
For an explanation on the 6-credit-hour exclusion, visit the .
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