First year and Transfer Students

Steps to Establish VA Educational Benefits at Utah Tech

Use the steps below to ensure you obtain all the documentation needed to establish VA education benefits while attending Utah Tech. Not all steps may apply to your benefit. Steps 3 and 4 apply to those who have served in the military. Step 5 applies to those who have CH 35 - Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits. Step 6 is for students who are not receiving the in-state tuition rate while attending Utah Tech.
1

Apply to Utah Tech University

Everyone must accomplish this step.

Apply to Utah Tech
2

Apply for your VA Educational Benefit

Everyone must accomplish this step.

Apply for VA Education Benefits
3

DD 214 or Leave and Earnings Statement (LES)

If you did not serve in the military, please skip this step.

Obtain a copy of your DD214 or recent LES.

4

Joint Service Transcript (JST)

If you did not serve in the military, please skip this step.

This is for non-Air Force service members. If you served in the US Air Force, you may please obtain your Community College of the Air Force transcripts and submit them to Utah Tech Admissions.

Generally speaking, you can receive one general elective credit for each semester hour on your official JST transcript. If you submit your JSTs to our office, they must be evaluated for credit. In many cases credits given from JSTs only count as general electives, which is not usually beneficial to your degree plan. Many students in the past have found that it is more beneficial to not have their JSTs evaluated for credit so they can receive additional VA benefits and have flexibility in establishing class schedules that can be certified.

Please thoughtfully consider if you would like to submit JST transcripts to be evaluated for credit. Contact Veteran and Military Services if you are unsure.

Request your JSTs
5

Obtain Information to Establish CH 35 - DEA Benefits

Students using CH 35 – DEA benefits will need to provide the social security number and the first and last name of the veteran under which they are entitled to benefits so we can enroll and certify them with the VA.

6

Apply for In-State Tuition Based Upon Military Service Exceptions

Your VA education benefit qualifies you to receive the in-state tuition rate even if you are not a resident of Utah. It is important to apply for in-state tuition because it lowers the tuition bill significantly. To apply for In-state Tuition based upon Military Exception, go to the link below and click on the “Residency Form” link. Click yes on the radio button for “Are you applying for a military exception.”

Students who do not qualify for the top four reasons to qualify for this benefit should select the bottom reason: “Eligible person entitled to benefits under 38 U.S.C.”

There has been a very recent change to the law which permits students using VA education benefits to attend Utah Tech at the in-state tuition rate without having to establish a residence in the state. Our forms have not been updated yet to adjust for this change.

When filling out the form, please upload your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) as your “Evidence of Eligibility” to show that you are eligible for VA education benefits. We ask that you upload the COE again in the “Objective Evidence Documentation” section so that you can fill out the form completely and submit it.

Applications are only accepted until the first two weeks of the semester. Contact the Registrar if you have questions: 435-652-7708 or residency@utahtech.edu.

Apply for the In-State Tuition Rate
7

Establish VA Educational Benefits at Utah Tech

To establish your VA Educational Benefits here at Utah Tech, go to the link below and complete the online Statement of Understanding (SOU), Procedure, and Release Form.

Pay attention to the SOU and procedure topics. They review the rules you need to know to have your classes certified for VA benefits.

Establish VA Benefits

VA Benefits Information and Resources

Helpful Forms

Semester Certification Request: Use this form to request certification of your class schedule for VA education benefits.

Joint Service Transcript (JST) Request: You may receive one general elective credit for each semester hour on your official transcript. Login with existing credentials or create an account and send an official transcript to Utah Tech. Transcripts are not evaluated until after the drop date of the semester after the request is received.  See the Utah Tech academic calendar for the current semester’s drop date.

CH 33, Post 9/11, GI Bill® Hardship: Request payment of your chapter 33, Post 9/11, GI Bill® tuition and fees in order to receive your UT financial aid benefits on the first week of school due to the financial hardship annotated on the Semester Certification Request.

Purple Heart Waiver: Waive Utah Tech tuition if you received a purple heart and are a resident of Utah.

Veterans Tuition Gap Program:  The Veterans Tuition Gap Program is a State supplemental grant to provide tuition assistance to Veterans who are recipients of Chapter 1606, 30, 31, 32, or Chapter 33 GI Bill® educational assistance and whose benefits have been exhausted. This award covers the cost of tuition, and if additional funds are available, may cover fees. See the form’s details to know if you qualify for this grant.

Yellow Ribbon

The Yellow Ribbon program is used for non-resident students for the requested semester. In order to be eligible students must be using Chapter 33 Post 9/11 or Chapter 33 Transfer of
Entitlement (TOE) benefits at the 100% rate as determined by the VA. Students who are eligible to receive the in-state tuition rate are disqualified from using the Yellow Ribbon benefits.

Utah Tech will waive not to exceed half of the difference between the nonresident and in-state tuition rates. The VA will match Utah Tech’s yellow ribbon rate. Students are responsible for any balance which is not covered by the Yellow Ribbon program or by the VA.

VA policy mandates that students who are eligible to receive the in-state tuition rate must apply for it. If you are residing in Utah, you are eligible for the in-state tuition rate based on military exception. Applying for this option should be the first priority before applying for yellow ribbon.

If you qualify to use the yellow ribbon program you must apply for it every semester you have classes.

Yellow Ribbon Application link

Other Education Benefits

GI Bill and other education benefit eligibility

Tuition Assistance Top-Up Program

CHAMP-VA

Utah National Guard Benefits:

Call the Utah National Guard at 801-432-4400 Option 6 for personalized help. Use the links below to learn more about National Guard benefits.

Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA)

State Tuition Assistance

State Tuition Waiver

Contact

Karl Watters

Email: Karl.Watters@utahtech.edu

Phone: 435-879-4688

Office: BROWN 115

Schedule Appointment

Dan Haddox

Email: dan.haddox@utahtech.edu

Phone: 435-879-4771

Office: BROWN 115

Schedule Appointment