Veterans Benefits FAQ

Veterans Benefits FAQ

Go to the VA application website and follow applicable directions. 

During each summer term you should complete the VA Benefits Request form to notify Cornell how you would like to use your VA benefit for the upcoming year. If this form is not completed, you would not be certified for the upcoming year. This needs to be completed each academic year you plan on using VA benefits at Cornell.

Visit the VA eBenefits page to manage several aspects and follow the login instructions. 

Yes. Go to the VA payment history page and follow the login instructions.

Funding can be expected anywhere between 2-5 weeks after certification by Cornell. Cornell certifies your enrollment and/or tuition to the VA within the first 4-6 weeks of each semester.

Housing allowances begin the first of the month following the start of classes. Cornell begins certifying courses and credits prior to each semester and well into each semester.

Students who need assistance can request an advance on funding by contacting the Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment via email at finaid@cornell.edu or by calling 607-255-5145. Funds will be deposited in your bank account 2-3 business days from the date of the application. 

Debt letters are most often created due to changes in credit hours or changes to class dates during the semester. Forward all letters to vaedben@cornell.edu

You can use your stipend to cover any charges that your VA benefits do not cover. 

Chapter 33, as of Fall 2021, does cover regular tuition and fees for study abroad programs. Study abroad fees cannot be paid by the VA unless the study abroad experience is a mandatory requirement for completion of the approved program of education. 

Students in one of Cornell's four Contract Colleges (Agriculture and Life Sciences, Human Ecology, Industrial and Labor Relations, Veterinary Medicine) do receive the in-state tuition rate when eligible for VA benefits.

Fees are mandatory charges (other than tuition, room, and board) applied by the school for pursuit of an approved program of education. Current Cornell fees covered by the VA are any required course/program fees and the student health plan fee. Fees do not include study abroad fees unless the study abroad experience is a mandatory requirement for completion of the approved program of education. 

For certification questions, contact Cornell's School Certifying Official at vaedben@cornell.edu.

There are two ways you can contact the VA, via the AskVA and via telephone at 1-888-442-4551.

VA pays education benefits for non-standard enrollment periods based on credit equivalents for each day of enrollment. Schools report the actual number of credits and the VA makes the conversion. When enrollment periods overlap, credit hour equivalents for the period of overlap are combined. For non-standard terms, the equivalent credit hours will be determined before computing the rate of pursuit. For determining the monthly housing allowance, the rate of pursuit will be rounded to the nearest 10%.

For housing payments, the VA calculates your rate of pursuit (quarter time, half time, full time) based on how many credits you are enrolled in on each day of the semester. For students enrolled in the Executive MBA Americas Program, any classes based in New York State are eligible for the full BAH for the specific course locations while any boardroom classes based outside of New York State are eligible for 50% of the national BAH average. 

For all other students, any classes based in New York State are eligible for the full BAH for the specific course locations. Any classes based outside of New York State are not eligible to be certified to the VA.