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Veteran Benefits

California Baptist University (CBU) supports veterans, active-duty service members, reservists, and eligible dependents who utilize educational benefits administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The Financial Aid Office serves as the University’s School Certifying Official (SCO) office and is responsible for certifying eligible student enrollments to the VA.

Students who plan to use VA education benefits must apply for benefits directly through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and provide the required documentation to the University in order to initiate certification.

Students requesting the use of VA education benefits at CBU must submit the University’s required certification request form for each term in which they plan to use benefits. Certification requests allow the University to review enrollment and determine eligibility for certification to the VA.

California Baptist University certifies enrollment to the VA only for courses that apply toward a student’s declared program of study in accordance with VA regulations.

Students receiving VA education benefits must remain in good academic standing with the University. Students who are placed on academic suspension, academic failure, or who are dismissed from the University will not be eligible for continued certification of VA education benefits.

California Baptist University maintains records for students receiving VA education benefits and reports enrollment certifications, enrollment changes, and academic progress to the Department of Veterans Affairs as required. These records may be reviewed by the Department of Veterans Affairs or the State Approving Agency as part of compliance surveys or program reviews.

Students are responsible for promptly notifying the School Certifying Official of any changes to their enrollment, including adds, drops, withdrawals, or changes in program of study, as these changes may affect VA educational benefits.

California Baptist University evaluates prior military education and training for possible academic credit in accordance with the recommendations of the American Council on Education (ACE). Applicable credit may be awarded in accordance with institutional transfer credit policies.

To support student veterans and service members, California Baptist University offers priority registration to eligible veterans and active-duty service members when registering for courses.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). For additional information regarding VA educational benefits, visit www.va.gov/education.

Military Tuition Assistance

California Baptist University participates in the Department of Defense (DoD) Military Tuition Assistance (TA) program for eligible active-duty service members of the United States Armed Forces.

Through this program, eligible service members may receive tuition assistance from their branch of service to help pay for educational expenses.

Students must request and receive approval for Tuition Assistance through their military branch prior to the start of the course or enrollment period. Each branch of the Armed Forces establishes its own eligibility requirements, application procedures, and funding limits for Tuition Assistance.

Students using Military Tuition Assistance are responsible for complying with all Department of Defense regulations and service branch policies related to the use of TA benefits.

Additional information regarding Military Tuition Assistance is available through the student’s military education center or the CBU Financial Aid Office.

VA Yellow Ribbon Program Scholarship

Description

  • California Baptist University participates in the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program, a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008.

    The Yellow Ribbon Program allows institutions of higher education to voluntarily enter into an agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs to fund tuition and fee expenses that exceed the annual maximum benefit payable under the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33). Under this agreement, the Department of Veterans Affairs matches the University’s contribution toward eligible tuition and fees.

Eligibility

  • Students must qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® at the 100% benefit level through Veterans Affairs and elect to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill® program.

  • Students must qualify for Yellow Ribbon Program benefits as defined by the Post-9/11 GI Bill® and Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program.

Award

  • Recipients may receive varying amounts to be determined by semester enrollment, tuition, and fee charges. CBU's portion of the Yellow Ribbon may not exceed $5,000 per year for graduate students.

  • Yellow Ribbon Scholarships are offered in lieu of CBU funded aid, including previously offered CBU funded academic or other institutional scholarships. However, Yellow Ribbon recipients will remain eligible to receive specific participation scholarships, in addition to the Yellow Ribbon Scholarship. The specific participation scholarships are as follows: Athletics, Music, Theater, Speech/Debate, Bachelor of Applied Theology program. The combination of these specific participation scholarships and Yellow Ribbon scholarships will only be funded up to direct charges and books and will not be refundable. If veteran benefits expire prior to graduation, academic or other institutional scholarships may be reinstated as long as academic renewal requirements have been met.

Procedure

  • CBU will offer Yellow Ribbon Scholarship to students who qualify at the 100% benefit level for the Post- 9/11 GI Bill® and the Yellow Ribbon Program as determined by their VA Certificate of Eligibility.

Policy

  • Students who utilize VA Chapter Benefits for tuition and fees at CBU may have their institutional scholarship aid reduced to direct costs. Institutional aid is not refundable and VA Chapter Benefits will be applied to tuition and fees first.

Pending VA Payment Compliance (38 U.S.C. § 3679)

In accordance with the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, California Baptist University permits students using VA education benefits under Chapter 31 (Veteran Readiness and Employment) or Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill®) to attend or participate in courses while payment to the institution is pending from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

To qualify for this provision, students must provide the University with a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) or other documentation verifying eligibility for VA education benefits and must submit any required institutional certification requests.

For a period of up to ninety (90) days from the first day of the term, the University will not:

  • Prevent the student from attending classes

  • Assess late fees related to delayed VA payments

  • Deny access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities

  • Require the student to secure alternative funding to cover tuition and fee balances that the VA will otherwise cover resulting from delayed VA payment

Students remain responsible for submitting required documentation and completing the institutional certification process. Students are also responsible for any tuition and fee balances not paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

If the Department of Veterans Affairs determines that a student received an overpayment of benefits or reduces payment after certification due to changes in enrollment or eligibility, any resulting balance owed to the University is the responsibility of the student.