Military Educational Benefits

The University of Virginia is proud to serve military-affiliated students in accessing federal educational benefits, including: 

  • Ch. 33 / Post-9/11 GI Bill®
  • Ch. 35 / Dependents Education Assistance
  • Ch. 31 / Veteran Readiness and Employment
  • Ch. 30 / 1606 Montgomery GI Bill®

For more information on how to utilize your benefits, in-state residency via the Choice Act*, or Military Priority Enrollment, please contact the Military Educational Benefits (MEB) team in the Office of the University Registrar (UREG) at @email or (434) 982-5300.

Please note: Military educational benefits will impact certain financial aid eligibility. They will be included as a financial resource in your financial aid offer and may reduce Virginia state grants, University grants, and private loans. Each financial aid offer type is different, so the military education benefit may affect each person’s offer differently. Before using benefits, please contact Student Financial Services for questions about how your military education benefits may impact your financial aid at @email or (434) 982-5300.

*Veteran and Active Duty students should work with the Office of Virginia Status first to determine eligibility for in-state status. Dependents may work with the Military Educational Benefits team for in-status via the Choice Act.

**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.

Helpful Resources:

  • For questions about using your benefits at UVA School of Law, please contact Matt Wakeman, Assistant Dean of Financial Aid:  @email or 434-924-7805.
  • In addition to the information listed below, you may also visit the University's VA resource page.
  • For more information on in-state privileges, domicile requirements, and other information for active duty, retired, and discharged military members, please see the Office of Virginia Status eligibility page.
In-state Tuition Rates & Veterans Choice Act

Through the Veterans Choice Act, all veterans and active-duty military personnel (including LL.M. students) using military benefits will qualify for in-state tuition and fee rates even if they haven't lived in Virginia prior to attending UVA. 

Once students have established a physical address in Virginia, non-residents of Virginia should submit the Virginia Student Status Application and include a copy of their DD-214 or a copy of their orders to Charlottesville if active duty. 

Dependents using transferred GI Bill benefits may also be eligible for in-state tuition via the Veterans Choice Act. When submitting the Military Education Benefits Request Form, dependents should indicate their intent to use the Choice Act on the form. Proof of a Virginia address and a copy of the veteran's DD-214 or a copy of active military orders will also be required. 

Virginia Military Survivors & Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP)

The Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) is a Commonwealth of Virginia program that provides education benefits to spouses and children of qualifying Veterans (domiciled in Virginia) who have been rated by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (USDVA) as totally and permanently disabled or at least 90 percent permanently disabled as a result of military service or qualifying Military Service Members killed, missing in action, taken prisoner, or who have been rated by the USDVA as totally and permanently disabled or at least 90 percent permanently disabled as a direct result of involvement in covered military combat. Military service includes the United States Armed Forces, United States Armed Forces Reserves, or the Virginia National Guard.

As part of our ongoing commitment to the VMSDEP program, UVA Law agrees to waive all tuition and mandatory fees for eligible students. 

Additional details and application information can be found on the University's Military Benefits website.

Note:  To ensure scholarship opportunities are provided to the greatest number of students, recipients of VMSDEP tuition and fee waivers at UVA Law are not eligible for additional scholarship funds provided by the Law School. This includes but is not limited to scholarships offered during the admissions process. 

Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E) or Chapter 31

This program assists veterans with service-connected disabilities to obtain and maintain employment. VR&E, also known as Chapter 31 or Voc Rehab, helps those eligible with job training, employment accommodations, resume development, and pursuing education if it is deemed necessary as part of the retraining process. In order to be eligible for VR&E benefits you need have a service connected disability rating of at least 10% from the VA.

The benefits pays tuition, a monthly housing stipend and typically covers required books and supplies.

Please see more details on the VA’s website.

Yellow Ribbon Program

The VA determines the amount your Post 9/11 GI Bill® will pay based on whether you attend a public school or a private school. 

  • Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits cover all public school in-state tuition and fees. UVA Law is a public school. 
  • Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits are limited to an annual cap when students attend a private school.
    • The Yellow Ribbon Program is applicable to students with 100% eligibility who attend private schools that cost more than the annual cap. 

Because the University of Virginia is a public school and not limited by an annual cap (all in-state tuition and fees are covered by Post 9/11 benefits), the Yellow Ribbon Program is not needed.