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Veterans Education Benefits

Getting Started with Your Benefits

You may be able to use your veterans education benefits to help pay for your education at UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies. Our staff can provide you with information and answer questions about your VA education benefits and other financial resources, certify your enrollment in qualifying courses, and help you locate additional resources and support when needed.

Download our VA Registration Packet for detailed instructions on how to begin using and maintaining your VA Education Benefits while attending UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies.
 
For best results, please submit a complete registration packet and documentation at least 20 business days before the quarter begins to allow us time to review, approve, and process enrollment requests. Students are accepted on a rolling basis, although we recommend completing the intake process before the beginning of the quarter, as that is when most courses will begin. 

Please note that we are a separate institution from UC San Diego main campus. We have our own facility code and vendor information that is different from theirs. For questions about using your benefits at our main campus, please visit here. 

Please review our frequently asked questions document here or at the bottom of this webpage.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION – PLEASE READ BEFORE ENROLLING IN COURSES OR MAKING DEPOSIT PAYMENTS.
In accordance with the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, Section 103, students who are eligible for VA Education Benefits (Chapter 31—Veteran Readiness and Employment Program (VR&E) and Chapter 33—Post 9/11 GI Bill®) should not enroll and pay for courses prior to submitting a Certificate of Eligibility to the institution. Please complete the steps below to open a VA file and one of our VA Education Benefits Coordinators (VAEBCs) will assist you with enrollment.

Any student who enrolls in courses and submits a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) after the term begins will not be eligible for VA Certification/Benefits for that term. Should you enroll and pay for courses out of pocket before determining your eligibility with the VA, and before completing the registration process with one of our VAEBCs, please be aware that you will not be reimbursed for the costs paid out of pocket.

If you are interested in the Lactation Consultant - Pathway 2 program or any Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) courses held outside of California, please contact the VA Education Benefits Coordinator at unex-veterans@ucsd.edu before you apply.

Approved Programs

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) only pays for courses that are part of an approved certificate or study program. Courses that are not required for your certificate or program will not be covered and cannot be counted toward your enrollment status.

Search for "UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies," under the Non College Degree program type, on the WEAMS Institution Search application for a list of approved programs.

Who to Contact

If you have questions about your eligibility or need help deciding which VA Education Benefit is right for you, contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at (888) GI-Bill-1 to discuss your specific situation.

If you have questions about how your benefits will work at UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies, contact us at unex-veterans@ucsd.edu.

Send completed forms and information to:

  • By fax: (858) 534-8527 or (858) 246-1031
  • In person, by appointment only, or by mail to our Student Services location, attn: Veterans Education Benefits Coordinator​

For specific questions about certificate programs, such as upcoming schedule of classes, course information, etc, please contact the program manager directly. Their contact information is provided on the certificate program website. 

Applying for Benefits

Step 1: Identify the VA Education Benefits that you are eligible for and select the benefit that best suits you. 

You may use any of the following VA Education Benefits at UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies:

Use the GI Bill Comparison Tool to determine which benefits you are eligible for and get information such as how much of your tuition and fees will be paid, how much your housing allowance will be and what your book stipend will be.

Step 2: Apply for Veterans Education Benefits

      Or

The VA will determine your eligibility and notify you by mail about your entitlement.

Step 3: Download, complete and submit your VA Education Benefit Registration Packet.

Step 4: The VA Education Benefits Coordinator will contact you to begin the enrollment and VA certification process.

Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) Scholarship 

MyCAA is a program offered by the U.S. Department of Defense that provides up to $4,000 of tuition assistance (up to $2,000 per fiscal year) to eligible military spouses.

The MyCAA Scholarship can be applied toward programs at UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies with a duration of 18 months or less, which leads to a recognized license or certification with a specified concentration or major. MyCAA will not pay for general studies or interdisciplinary programs that do not have a specific concentration, nor will they pay for courses that are not included in your education or training plan or courses that have been started or completed.

How to apply for a MyCAA Scholarship:

  1. Visit MyCAA to login.
  2. Select University of California, San Diego - Division of Extended Studies- CA as your designated school.
  3. Contact the Veterans Education Benefits Coordinator at unex-veterans@ucsd.edu for assistance in creating your Education & Training Plan (E&TP). Upload your completed E&TP to MyCAA.
  4. Request financial assistance through MyCAA for each course. You must submit your request between 15 and 60 days prior to your course's start date. Please check the course schedule for the exact dates of your courses.
  5. Submit your approved MyCAA financial assistance (FA) voucher to our Veterans Education Benefits Coordinator at unex-veterans@ucsd.edu.

Student Responsibilities

You are responsible for adhering to the UC San Diego Standards of Student Conduct. Violations of these standards are taken seriously and may result in suspension or dismissal from the university.
 

Enrollment status changes
You are responsible for notifying our Veterans Education Benefits Coordinator immediately of any changes affecting your enrollment, including adding and dropping courses or changing your grading options. Failure to do so may result in termination of your benefits. 

Satisfactory academic progress
As a student receiving Veterans Education Benefits, the law requires that your benefits be discontinued when you cease to make satisfactory progress toward the completion of your stated program of study.

Per UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies Financial Assistance/Veterans Benefits policy, you must maintain a cumulative and term grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale to meet our minimum satisfactory academic progress standard.

You will be placed on financial assistance probation if your cumulative or term GPA falls below 2.0.

Your financial assistance will be terminated if your cumulative or term GPA remains under 2.0 for a second consecutive term.

Reinstatement of your benefits
Your benefits may be resumed after the end of a term in which you successfully raise both your cumulative and term GPAs to 2.0 or higher. You will be required to pay your tuition and fees for each term until you have raised both GPAs to 2.0 or higher.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions for Active Students

Additional Resources for Veterans and Service 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 https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.