If you are already a Concordia student, click here to certify your VA enrollment.
Concordia University Ann Arbor proudly accepts all of the following:
Service members wishing to utilize Tuition Assistance (TA) must first to speak with their Educational Services Officer (ESO) or counselor within their Military Service prior to enrolling the student in the institution.
Active Military Tuition Assistance (TA) Policy:
Active-Duty Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is a distinct source of financial aid offered by the federal government that may be available to eligible service members. Each service branch administrates award amounts, eligibility, restrictions, and application process.
Applying for Tuition Assistance:
The general process for requesting Tuition Assistance is the same for all branches of the military, however, each military branch uses a different educational portal, which you can find additional information on TA. It’s also important to check with your military branch to understand the time frame in which you can request your TA.
Instructions to apply:
- Speak with your Educational Services Officer (ESO) or counselor within your military branch to ensure your TA eligibility prior to enrolling in courses.
- Follow your ESO or counselor’s instructions for how to request TA for your course(s). Complete your TA request online through your military branch’s educational portal.
- You may be required to submit an educational degree plan, which you can get from your school’s Registrar’s Office.
- If you are required to provide a cost verification as part of your application, you can print your charges from your student account.
- Select Concordia University as your academic institution. Note, each Concordia University, Wisconsin and Ann Arbor has a different OPE-ID, so make sure you select the correct Concordia University.
- After your TA funding is approved by your military branch, send your tuition assistance approval to your financial aid office and they will add anticipated aid to your student account as a placeholder until your benefit payment is received.
The Tuition Assistance funding will be applied to your balance due for the term as the first source of payment. For questions regarding TA eligibility or the process for applying for TA, speak with your Educational Services Office or counselor within your specific military branch.
Additional information on utilizing Military Tuition Assistance can also be found online at the Military Tuition Assistance website.
Dropping courses or withdrawing:
If a student drops a course(s) covered by TA funds during the drop-for-full tuition refund period, all TA funds will be returned to the appropriate military service branch. After the full refund period, if a student with TA funding withdraws from a course(s) within a term, Concordia University will be required to return a portion of the TA funds to the appropriate military service branch based on when the student ceases attendance. Per Department of Defense policy, when a student ceases attendance in a term, TA funds must be retuned on a proportional basis up to the 60 percent point in the term.
Please visit Military.com for details and to start the application process.
Military Tuition Assistance (TA) refund policy and schedule
Policy statement:
Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When a student withdraws, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of TA funds originally awarded. To comply with the Department of Defense (DOD) policy, Concordia University Ann Arbor will return any unearned TA funds on a prorated basis through at least the 60% portion of the period for which the funds were provided. TA funds are earned proportionally during an enrollment period, with unearned funds returned based upon when a student stops attending. In instances when a Service member stops attending due to a military service obligation, Concordia University Ann Arbor will work with the affected service member to identify solutions that will not result in a student debt for the returned portion in compliance with the DOD policy.
Rational or purpose:
This policy serves to fully inform students receiving military tuition assistance of the required actions the College must take to comply with the DOD Memorandum of Understanding Return Policy for Military Tuition Assistance funds rules and align with the return of unearned student aid rules applicable to the Federal Student Aid as required under section 484B of the Department of Education Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
Scope:
This policy applies only to students receiving Military Tuition Assistance. This tuition assistance is a benefit that is available only while the student is in the service. This policy does not apply to Veterans or Veterans benefits.
Procedures:
To remain in compliance with the Department of Defense’s policy, Concordia University Ann Arbor will return any unearned TA funds through at least 60% of the semester on a prorated basis. The amount of unearned TA that is returned is based on the date of withdrawal from the course. After 60% of the semester has passed, TA will not be evaluated for a return to the DOD.
Concordia University Ann Arbor will bill the DOD after 60% of the semester has passed to reduce the amount of incorrect TA funds being disbursed by the DOD. Concordia University Ann Arbor will bill for the amount the student earned given their enrollment.
Schedule for returning unearned TA:
Anything that is in bold text identifies the 60% Completion point
6-Week Course: withdrawal submitted
- before or during week 1 = 100% refund
- during week 2 = 75% refund
- during week 3 = 50% refund
- during week 4 = 40% refund
- during weeks 5-6 = no refund
8-Week Course: withdrawal submitted
- before or during week 1 = 100% refund
- during week 2 = 75% refund
- during week 3-4 = 50% refund
- during week 5 = 40% refund
- during weeks 6-8 = no refund
14-Week Course: withdrawal submitted
- before or during week 1-2 = 100% refund
- during week 3-4 = 75% refund
- during week 5-7 = 50% refund
- during week 8-9 = 40% refund
- during weeks 10-14 = no refund
16-Week Course: withdrawal submitted
- before or during week 1-2 = 100% refund
- during week 3-4 = 75% refund
- during week 5-8 = 50% refund
- during week 9-10 = 40% refund
- during weeks 11-16 = no refund
For courses that have durations differing from those listed above:
Unearned TA funds will be returned on a prorated basis, depending on the length of the course. To determine the amount of TA that needs to be returned, the institution will determine the date the withdrawal was submitted, and then divide that by the number of days in the term to determine the percentage of TA that was earned by the student. Example: The student enrolled in a course that’s duration is 30 days. The withdrawal was submitted on the 14th day. The institution would perform the calculation to determine how much TA was earned by the student’s attendance: (14 divided by 30 equals 46.6%. 47% of the TA authorized was earned by the student, which means 53% of what was authorized will be returned to the DOD).
The Montgomery GI Bill® - Active Duty Educational Assistance Program, also known as MGIB-AD or Chapter 30, provides education benefits to Veterans and Service members who have at least two years of active duty. These benefits are, typically, paid to students on a monthly basis.
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.
Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31) provides assistance to veterans who have a service-connected disability of at least 10 percent and are in need of vocational rehabilitation. Eligible veterans may be allowed up to 48 months of full-time benefits.
Chapter 33 (Post 9/11 Veterans Benefits) Depending on the student's situation, chapter 33 benefits can include payment of tuition and fees, a monthly housing allowance, a stipend for books and supplies, college fund (―kicker) payments, a rural benefit payment, and a Yellow Ribbon Program benefit.
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.
Allowing Veterans to attend or participate in courses pending VA payment
Background: Section 103 of Public Law (PL) 115-407, ‘Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018,’ amends Title 38 US Code 3679 by adding a new subsection (e) that requires disapproval of courses of education, beginning August 1, 2019, at any educational institution that does not have a policy in place that will allow an individual to attend or participate in a course of education, pending VA payment, providing the individual submits a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under Chapter 31 or 33.
Pending payment compliance: In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679(e), Concordia University Wisconsin/Ann Arbor adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post-9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch. 33) or Vocational Readiness & Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from VA. Concordia University Wisconsin/Ann Arbor will not:
- Prevent the student’s enrollment;
- Assess a late penalty fee to the student;
- Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding;
- Deny the student access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution.
However, to qualify for this provision, such students may be required to:
- Produce the VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by the first day of class;
- Provide a written request to be certified;
- Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies
If you’re a dependent spouse or child—or the surviving spouse or child—of a Veteran, you may qualify for Chapter 35 benefits or job training through a GI Bill program.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill allows Service members to transfer unused education benefits to immediate family members. Qualifying immediate family members are spouses and children. The Service member must have at least six years of service and commit to an additional four years in order to transfer benefits.
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.
The Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR, Chapter 1606) is an education program. It provides up to 36 months of education benefits to members of the Selected Reserve. This includes the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard Reserves.
For eligible Soldiers, FTA funds up to $250 per semester hour for up to 16 semester hours each fiscal year—all towards tuition to advance your education.
The My Career Advancement Account, or MyCAA, is a scholarship program sponsored by the Department of Defense. MyCAA provides education benefits for military spouses. Receive up to $4,000 of financial assistance to help pursue career training opportunities.
The Forever GI Bill STEM Extension was created to encourage veterans to pursue fields that often require more resources than the 36 months of benefits the Post-9/11 GI Bill allocates. This extension will pay eligible students up to nine additional months of benefits or a maximum lump sum of $30,000.
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.
The Children of Veterans Tuition Grant (CVTG) provides undergraduate tuition assistance to the children of qualified Michigan veterans who are deceased, totally and permanently disabled, or missing in action (MIA), due to a service-connected injury or illness.
Awards are for an academic year with the amount determined by the student’s enrollment status.
- Full-time students can receive up to a maximum of $2,800.
- Three-quarter time students can receive up to a maximum of $2,100.
- Half-time students can receive up to a maximum of $1,400.
- Students may receive scholarship assistance for up to four academic years and a total of up to $11,200, whichever occurs first. Current and future awards are subject to available and approved funding.
Public Act 259 of 2014 established the Michigan National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program (MINGSTAP) to provide tuition assistance to members of the Michigan National Guard who are attending any public or private college, university, vocational school, technical school or trade school located in Michigan. For more information about the program, please call 517-481-7640 or email MINGSTAP@michigan.gov.
- Training Programs - up to $6000
- Certificate Programs - up to $6000
- Master's Degree - up to $6000
- Associate Degree - up to $14,400
- Baccalaureate Degree - up to $14,400