Frequently Asked Veteran Questions

UB also strongly recommends one letter of recommendation. While only one is recommended, you may choose to submit up to three.

You may also want to request transcripts that address your military training and their applicability to the UB Curriculum.

• Community College of the AIR FORCE
• Joint Services Transcript (Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy: Active Duty, Reserve and Veterans.)

All of these documents can be uploaded through the UB Documentation Upload Center.

New students are required to complete the orientation process, detailed in the steps below.

In most instances, a tuition deposit is required to enroll. If you are eligible for 100% under the GI Bill, any deposit you pay will be refunded once your benefits are paid.

Effective Fall 2024, UB will discontinue the domestic health insurance plan offered by the university to our students. Additionally, we will no longer mandate health insurance for domestic students attending the University at Buffalo. Health-related  programs may require students to have health insurance. Please check with your academic program about specific health insurance requirements. Learn more about the change. 

Note: During the application process you may need to decide on one of the following benefits to apply for:

 Chapter 30- Montgomery GI Bill (Active Duty)

Chapter 30 provides up to 36 months of education benefits to eligible veterans. If you are currently in service, you may be eligible after two years of active duty. Those who entered active duty for the first time after June 30, 1985, received a high school diploma or equivalent before the end of your first obligated period of service and received an honorable discharge may also be eligible. The amount awarded is based on the type of training you take, length of service, your category, and if DOD put extra money in your MGIB fund. You have about 10 years to use these benefits. 

Chapter 31 is a program designed to help veterans with service-connected disabilities become suitably employed, maintain employment, or achieve independence in daily living. Services generally last up to 48 months and include counseling, education and training, financial aid, assistance, and, if needed, medical treatment. Eligibility is available for those who served on or after September 16, 1940, those with service-connected disabilities are rated at least 10% by the VA, you need Vocational Rehabilitation to overcome an employment handicap, and it has been less than 12 years since the VA notified you of your qualified SCD.

Chapter 32 is available if you elected to make contributions from your military pay to participate in this education benefit program. The government matches your contributions on a 2-for-1 basis. You must have entered service for the first time between Jan. 1, 1977, and June 30, 1985.

Chapter 33 provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service after Sept. 10, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for Chapter 33. This benefit provides up to 36 months of education benefits, and benefits can be transferred to dependents. Some of the benefits of the Post- 9/11 GI Bill go towards tuition and fees, a monthly housing allowance, books and supplies, and a one-time rural benefit payment. Individuals must have served  an aggregate period of active duty after Sept. 10, 2001.

VA's Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) program provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents and survivors of certain Veterans.

Any person who enlists, re-enlists, or extends an enlistment in the Selective Reserve for not less than 6 years, in addition to any other period of obligation after June 30, 1985, and completed high school or GED, IADT, 180 days of service in the selective reserve and is satisfactorily participating in require training in the selective reserve.

• Provisions in the Veterans Access to Care Through Choice, Accountability Act of 2014 require all public universities to offer in-state tuition to veterans and their dependents.

Veterans Tuition Award

Eligibility

An applicant must:

• be a legal resident of NYS and have resided in NYS for 12 continuous months prior to the beginning of the term;
• be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen;
• have graduated from high school in the United States, earned a high school equivalency diploma by passing a Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) formally known as a GED, or passed a federally approved "Ability to Benefit" test as defined by the Commissioner of the State Education Department;
• be matriculated full or part- time at an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting institution in New York State or in an approved vocational training program in New York State;
• meet good academic standing requirements;
• be charged at least $200 tuition per year;
• have applied for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) for all undergraduate or graduate study;
• be in a non-default status on a student loan made under any NYS or federal education loan program or repayment of any state award;
• be in compliance with the terms of any service condition imposed by a state award;
• be discharged under honorable conditions from the U.S. Armed Forces and:
  • a Vietnam Veteran who served in Indochina between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975; or
  • a Persian Gulf Veteran who served in the Persian Gulf on or after August 2, 1990; or
  • an Afghanistan Veteran who served in Afghanistan during hostilities on or after September 11, 2001, or
  • a Veteran of the United States Armed Forces who served in hostilities that occurred after February 28, 1961, as evidenced by receipt of an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal or a Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal.

Award Amounts

For full-time study, a recipient receives an award of up to undergraduate tuition for NYS residents at the State University of New York (SUNY), or actual tuition charged, whichever is less. Full-time study is defined as 12 or more credits per semester (or the equivalent) in an approved program at a degree-granting institution, or 24 or more hours per week in a vocational training program.

For part-time study, awards will be prorated by credit hour. Part-time study is defined as at least three but fewer than 12 credits per semester (or the equivalent) in an approved program at a degree-granting institution, or six to 23 hours per week in a vocational training program.

NOTE: Tuition payments received by a veteran under the Chapter 33 Program and Yellow Ribbon component will be considered duplicative of any VTA award a student may have received. However, payments received under the Montgomery GI bill do not duplicate the VTA award.

Combined tuition benefits available to a student cannot exceed the actual tuition. Students attending high tuition schools may be eligible to receive the federal and state benefits. Additionally, students whose “Percentage of Maximum Benefit Payable” under the Chapter 33 Program is less than 100% of tuition may also receive both federal and State benefits.

Duration

Full-time Study

• Approved Undergraduate Degree-Granting Programs– A recipient is entitled to an award for up to eight semesters (four years) of undergraduate study. Awards can be made available for up to 10 semesters of undergraduate study for enrollment in an approved five-year program or for enrollment in an approved program of remedial study.
• Approved Graduate Degree-Granting Programs– A recipient is entitled to an award for up to six semesters (three years) of graduate study.
• Approved Vocational Training Programs– A recipient is entitled to an award for up to a maximum of four semesters (two years) of study in an approved vocational training program.

Part-time Study

• Approved Undergraduate Degree-Granting Programs– A recipient is entitled to an award for up to the equivalent of 16 semesters (eight years) of part-time undergraduate study in a four-year program. Awards can be made available for up to the equivalent of twenty semesters (10 years) of part-time study for enrollment in an approved five-year undergraduate program or for enrollment in an approved program of remedial study.
• Approved Graduate Degree-Granting Programs – A recipient is entitled to an award for up to the equivalent of 12 semesters (six years) of part-time graduate study.
• Approved Vocational Training Programs– A recipient is entitled to an award for up to a maximum of eight semesters (four years) of part-time study in an approved vocational training program.
• Approved programs are defined as: undergraduate degree, graduate degree, diploma, and certificate programs at degree-granting institutions, or non-credit vocational training programs of at least 320 clock hours specifically approved by the NYS Education Department Office of College and University Evaluation. Contact your Financial Aid Office to determine if your program is approved for this award.

NOTE: Students previously approved for this award must apply for payment each year. 

Military Enhanced Recognition Incentive and Tribute – MERIT Scholarship

MERIT provides financial aid to children, spouses and financial dependents of members of the United States Armed Forces or state organized militia who provided eligible military service on or after Aug. 2, 1990, while New York State residents and who:

• Died or became severely and permanently disabled as a result of injury or illness suffered or incurred while performing their military duties, whether in combat or not; or are classified as missing in action; 
• A member of the United States Armed Forces or state organized militia who provided eligible military service on or after Aug. 2, 1990, is considered severely and permanently disabled when a doctor of medicine or osteopathy, licensed to practice in a state, has determined that such person is unable to engage in any occupation for remuneration or profit due to a physical or mental impairment.

MERIT is also available to members of the United States Armed Forces or state organized militia who provided eligible military service at any time on or after Aug. 2, 1990, while New York State residents, and who became severely and permanently disabled as a result of injury or illness suffered or incurred while performing their military duties, whether in combat or not.

Eligibility

Students must:

• Study at an approved postsecondary institution in New York State.
• Have graduated from high school in the United States, or have a high school equivalency diploma earned through passing the Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC), formally known as the GED, or passed a federally approved "Ability to Benefit" test as defined by the Commissioner of the State Education Department.

• Be enrolled as a full-time student taking 12 or more credits per semester.
• Be matriculated in an approved program of study.
• Be in good academic standing.
• Not be in default on any State or federal student loan or on any repayment of state awards.

After enrollment at UB, students may be awarded credit toward their university degree through methods other than completing UB course work. Examples are proficiency examinations and military training. For more information regarding alternative credit, refer to the Undergraduate Catalog.  Credit awarded for transfer coursework earned before or after matriculation at UB is evaluated according to UB’s transfer credit policy.

Students may use the Credit Declination/Recovery Form (PDF) at any time to decline exam or military credit that has been awarded by UB, or may recover previously declined alternative exam credit if that credit can be utilized to fulfill a degree requirement. Only military credit earned through the submission of your Joint Services Transcript may be declined.  Credit derived from regionally accredited two or four year degree granting institutions cannot be declined.  Students receiving financial aid should see a financial aid advisor prior to submitting this form.

Yes, UB offers the following scholarships for Veterans:

Established in 1950 by the Jewish War Veterans of America Buffalo Post 25.  Must be a junior or senior, preferably a Jewish war veteran, son or daughter of a Jewish war veteran or a Jewish student.  Up to $2,000 available.  Qualifying students should complete the general application process on UB’s centralized scholarship portal. This scholarship is generally awarded in the fall. 

Established anonymously in 2008, in honor of General Myer and Private Baird’s values and public service. Supports veterans enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Must complete the FAFSA and have financial need. Renewable.

UB has established a new scholarship portal to assist you.

Yes, many offices on campus hire student assistants to help with various duties in their units. These opportunities can be found using the Bullseye application found on the Career Services website. In addition, you may be eligible for work-study positions.

Work-Study Opportunities

• Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program – availability based on income
• VA Work-Study Program – available to those using the GI Bill.

The university should be notified if anything changes to your schedule, status or personal information, including:

• Changing your name, address or phone number
• Adding a class
• Dropping a class
• Any changes that result in less than full-time enrollment
• Changing your major
• Changing from on-campus to online classes
• Repeating a course
• Withdrawing from classes or taking a leave of absence, even after the semester is completed

Changes should be reported as soon as possible; in many cases, they must legally be reported within 30 days. You can report changes by completing and submitting the appropriate form. If you need assistance, please contact Veteran Services. 

You must notify Veteran Services if you are notified by the VA about a change in your benefits, if you exhaust your benefits, or if you receive a debt letter from the VA.

If you receive notice that you are activated, contact your instructors and let them know, and cc Veteran Services on this email as well. In some instances, you may be able to continue some of your work remotely. In other cases, the instructor will work with you to provide you the opportunity to complete the work in a mutually agreeable time frame.  You should also contact your academic advisor who can talk with you about impacts for the current and future semesters, and guide you through Academic Withdrawal and Leave of Absence if those avenues are appropriate for your situation.

Veterans Benefits Rights and Responsibilities Activity Guide – when we receive an enrollment form from a student, that triggers this to get added to your to-do list; you need to complete this each semester when it goes up on your to-do. It will turn to “completed” when our system picks up that it’s been done; which should only take a few days max. You can do it online or click here and print it out and upload it.