Benefits Certification for Veterans, Service Members, Reservists, & Family Members

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

 

VA Chapter Benefits (Post-9/11 GI Bill®, VR&E, or Montgomery GI Bill - AD/Selected Reserve)

Using your VA education benefits:

First time using benefits:

  1. Determine your eligibility and apply for VA education benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). 
  2. After processing, VA will provide you with   Certificate of Eligibility (COE).
  3. Please submit a Student Intake Form.Opens in new window The intake form will allow you to securely attach a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility (COE)   and   DD 214 - Member 4 Copy   or Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE) - DD Form 2384 as well. 
  4. Register for classes. If you have holds on your account preventing course registration, please contact the originating party or reach out ot us at the VRC.
  5. Submit a Certification Request through your Student Homepage. Please refer to our How-To Guide.Opens in new window
  6. Pay for your tuition and fees through before the   payment deadline. (Note: Chapter 31 and 33 students are will receive a "No Enrollment Cancellation" hold to prevent cancellation of courses due to nonpayment while we wait on the VA to pay the school. This hold is processed as soon as the VRC receives the initial Certification Request Form)
  7. Attend classes and maintain enrollment throughout the semester!

 

Continuing students:

  1. Register for classes. If you have holds on your account preventing course registration, please contact the originating party or reach out ot us at the VRC.
  2. Submit a  certification request through your student portal (to process your benefits every semester and any time you make changes to your course schedule/enrollment. (Change of Program Form also required if any changes to major, minor, or concentration occur). Plese refer to our How-To Guide.Opens in new window
  3. Pay for your tuition and fees through before the   payment deadline. (Note:   Chapter 31 and 33 students are will receive a "No Enrollment Cancellation" hold to prevent cancellation of courses due to nonpayment while we wait on the VA to pay the school. This hold is processed as soon as the VRC receives the initial Certification Request Form)
  4. Attend classes and maintain enrollment throughout the semester!

VA CHAPTER BENEFITS (Post 9/11 GI Bill® or Dependents' Educational Assistance)

Using your VA education benefits:

First time using benefits:

  1. Determine your eligibility and   apply for VA education benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). 
  2. After processing, VA will provide you with   Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for either Chapter 33 or Chapter 35.
  3. Submit a Student Intake FormOpens in new window . You will be able to attach your COE to the intake form.
  4. Register for classes. If you have holds on your account preventing course registration, please contact the originating party or reach out ot us at the VRC.
  5. Submit a certification request through your student homepage to process your benefits every semester and any time you make changes to your course schedule/enrollment.  Please refer to our   How-To Guide.Opens in new window
  6. Pay for your tuition and fees through before the   payment deadline. (Note: Chapter 33 students will receive a "No Enrollment Cancellation" hold to prevent cancellation of courses due to nonpayment while we wait on the VA to pay the school. This hold is processed as soon as the VRC receives the initial Certification Request Form)
  7. Attend classes and maintain enrollment throughout the semester!

Continuing students:

  1. Register for classes. If you have holds on your account preventing course registration, please contact the originating party or reach out ot us at the VRC.
  2. Submit a certification request through your student portal to process your benefits every semester and any time you make changes to your course schedule/enrollment. (Change of Program Form also required if any changes to major, minor, or concentration occur). Please refer to our   How-To Guide.Opens in new window
  3. Pay for your tuition and fees through before the  payment deadline. (Note: Chapter  33 students will receive a "No Enrollment Cancellation" hold to prevent cancellation of courses due to nonpayment while we wait on the VA to pay the school. This hold is processed as soon as the VRC receives the initial Certification Request Form)
  4. Attend classes and maintain enrollment throughout the semester!

Tuition Assistance (DoD)

 

 

Using your DoD Tuition Assistance benefits:
  1. Determine your eligibility and apply for Tuition Assistance (TA) by visiting your local installation education center, Educational Service Officer (ESO) or online virtual education center.  Each service branch has a its own application form and procedures (i.e. GoArmyEd, AF Virtual Education Center).
  2. Submit a Student Intake FormOpens in new window to the VRC via Adobe Sign.

    IMPORTANT:  It is essential that you receive approval from your military branch to use TA prior to enrolling in courses. If you enroll in coursework without prior authorization it could result in you owing the full balance for tuition and fees for that semester.
  3. Submit request through Veterans Benefit System in your CSUF Student Portal. Steps for accessing / using the system can be found hereOpens in new window . Requests for DoD TA must be submitted to our office at least 10 days prior to the start of the semester for which you are requesting funding. 
    • Air Force: Please include official authorization from the AF Virtual Education Center as an attachment when submitting the request. 
    • Army:  Ensure that you have declared an educational path or objective in Army Ignited.Opens in new window Once your request is received, we will intitate the process in Army Ignited and notify you when you can go in and request authorization course funding.
    • Other branches: Please contact veterans@bearinterestgroup.com for additional guidance. In your email, please ensure that you include your CWID and the type of funding you plan to use so that we may better assist you. 
    • Note: The cost per unit breakdown (bottom of this section) can be used when entering course costs in your branch portal. 
  4. Once the request has been processed and your official TA authorizaiton has been received, your TA funding will post to your student account balance (typically within 2-3 business days) so that you can pay any remaining balances as applicable. Please note that TA can only cover the "tuition" charges and cannot be applied toward campus-based fees. 
  5. Pay for your remaining tuition and fees before the   payment deadline. If you have submitted your authorization and a payment deadline is approaching, please contact the Veterans Resource Center at 657-278-8660 to allow us to protect your account while the authorizations are processed in CSUF system. 
  6. Attend classes and maintain enrollment throughout the semester!

 

 Cost per credit hour breakdown (TA Recipients only): Cost Per Credit Hour Breakdown (DoD TA at CSUF)PDF File Opens in new window

 

CALVET FEE WAIVER (California College Fee Waiver for Veteran Dependents)

Using your CalVet Fee Waiver:
  1. Find your local   County Veterans Services OfficeOpens in new window   (CVSO) to   apply for the CalVet Fee WaiverPDF File Opens in new window  each academic year you plan to use the waiver.  Only the CVSO can approve your eligibility for the CalVet Fee Waiver.

    NOTE:  All applicants must meet California residency requirements.
  2. After the approval, you will receive an award letter from Cal Vet stating your eligibility for the CalVet Fee Waiver for the academic year.  The approved academic year will be stated on the top of your award letter (e.g. Academic Year 2021-2022).

    NOTE: The CalVet Fee Waiver runs from Fall semester through the Summer term of the following year.  The CalVet Fee Waiver will only waive state-supported courses and programs.  All Winter/Intersession and most Summer classes are not state-supported.
  3. Submit a Student Intake FormOpens in new window and attach a copy of your CalVet Fee Waiver award letter. The Veterans Resource Center (VRC) to apply the waiver to your student account at least 2-3 business days prior to your registration.
  4. Review the   CalVet Fee Waiver information sheetPDF File Opens in new window  to understand how to use the fee waiver during the academic year.
  5. Register for classes on your enrollment date as listed on your Student Center.
  6. Pay for your tuition and fees through before the   payment deadlineOpens in new window . If there are delays in the processing of your waiver and you are approaching your assigned payment deadline, please contact the VRC

    NOTE:  The CalVet Fee Waiver waives the mandatory systemwide tuition only (listed as "Tuition Fee" on your student portal).  It is your responsiblity to pay for the campus-based fees and other fees not covered by the CalVet Fee Waiver before the payment deadline to prevent cancellation of courses due to nonpayment.
  7. Attend classes and maintain enrollment throughout the semester!

 

Priority Registration Only (not using VA/DoD Benefits)

 

 

To get priority registration for the first time:
  1. Complete Student Intake FormOpens in new window and attach a copy of your   DD 214 - Member 4 Copy, DD 2384 - Notice of Basic Eligibility, or   current military orders.  VRC staff will review your paperwork to determine your eligibility for priority registration.
  2. Once priority registration is applied to your account, your registration date will be visible in your student homepage.
  3. Register for classes on the earliest date and time listed on your Student Portal. (You will be assigned multiple dates; refer to the earliest date)
  4. Pay for your tuition and fees through before the   payment deadlineOpens in new window .
  5. Attend classes and maintain enrollment throughout the semester!

NOTE: You only have to be coded for priority registration once. You will automatically be assigned the priority window for subsequent terms.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSOpens in new window

Have more questions? Email: veterans@bearinterestgroup.com 

 

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.