The VA's Education Services provides detailed information about benefit programs, education news, electronic application forms, and enrollment verification. Please visit their GI Bill® website.
If claiming your VA benefits for the first time. Start by setting up an eBenefits account and applying for your Veterans Benefits Administration education benefits. Your online eBenefits account will be an easy way to see your disability claims and other related veteran's education and healthcare information.
Policy on students entitled to educational assistance under Chapter 31 or 33.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Our office no longer requires you to submit a form in person or by email to apply for your VA Benefits.
All you have to do is open your Student Center and select Veterans Benefit to apply. View our student guide for more information, or log in to your Student Center to get started.
Educational Benefits
To access a version of this flowchart with clickable links, view the PDF below.
Having been found eligible for benefits means that you shall not be charged mandatory system-wide tuition or fees while attending a California Community College, a campus of the California State University system, or a campus of the University of California system.
Submit Through Your Veterans Benefits Portal:
- College Tuition Fee Waiver Authorization Letter
Things to Note
- The authorization is valid only for the Academic Year listed on the letter
- You must re-establish eligibility for each subsequent Academic Year you plan on attending college
- You must meet the California residency requirements of your college to receive these benefits
- Many colleges and universities have campus-based and extension programs and other fees (such as parking, health, insurance, etc.) that cannot be waived.
- The CalVet Fee Waiver cannot be used to cover course fees for courses taken through the College of Professional & Global Education (formerly College of Extended Learning).
- NOTE: Be sure to double check your Summer and Winter enrollments as the course fees might not be covered.
For a breakdown of tuition and local fees, please refer to the Bursar's Office "Student Home" website. For the list of campus fees (typically not covered by the CalVet Fee Waiver), please refer to the Bursar's Office "Summary of Campus Fees" website.
California VA Websites
- Fee Waiver Information & Application (Please submit to your local county VA office)
- California VA offices to submit your application
Active Duty and Reserve service members (Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force) should speak with their Educational Services Officer (ESO) or counselor within their Military Service before enrolling for San Francisco State University admission.
Submit Through Your Veterans Benefits Portal:
- Authorization Form –submit to the Veteran Services Coordinator
- Submit 2 weeks before the fee payment deadline to allow for proper coding on your student account
Websites for Information
Policy on the return of unearned TA funds to the government
When a student withdraws, the Bursar or CEL must calculate the amount of DoD TA the recipient has earned based on the withdrawal date. Any DoD TA over the earned amount is considered unearned. Unearned aid must be returned to the respective Federal Aid programs.
Non-DoD TA aid programs (Cal Grant A, Cal Grant B Fee, and State University Grant) are not part of the Return of DoD TA aid calculation. However, they will still be subject to proration based on the date of withdrawal. The portion to be returned is determined by the percentage of DoD TA not earned by the student.
The percentage of unearned aid is calculated using the following formula:
Total # of Calendar Days in the semester Not Completed by the Student
Divide by The Total Number of Calendar Days in the Semester
During the first 60% of the enrollment period, a student "earns" DoD TA funds in direct proportion to the length of time they remain enrolled. A student who remains enrolled beyond the 60% point earns all aid for the period.
Return of Fees vs. Return of DoD TA Aid:
In almost every instance, the fee refund will be less than the total return of the aid amount. As a result, when a student withdraws, a balance is created on the student account for the difference between the fee refund and the Return of aid amount. The student is responsible for paying this balance.
Our institution's schedule for the return of unearned TA funds to the government
16-week Course Withdraw submitted:
- Before the first day of the semester: 100% return
- During first 3 weeks: Partial refund from full time to part-time
- Starting the First day of the semester: 0.9% pro-rata charged per day until fully withdrawn from the University up to the 60% point of the semester, within weeks 9-16. 0% return after 60% point of the semester
Unearned TA funds will be returned no more than 30 days from notification that the student has withdrawn.
Please note: Invoices will be produced and mailed within 2-3 weeks after the census as long as the student is registered and has submitted a current authorization letter.
Billing information regarding Tuition:
Bursar’s Office Contact
- Phone: 415.338.1281
- Tuition Information: https://bursar.sfsu.edu/inquiries/students
TUITION ASSISTANCE
To access your Tuition Assistance benefits:
- Determine your eligibility and apply for Tuition Assistance (TA) by visiting your local installation education center or online education center.
- NOTE: Before your course enrollment, you may be required to develop an education plan or complete TA orientation. Your service's education center must approve your military tuition assistance for the term.
- After your approval to use TA, you will be provided with a Tuition Assistance Authorization Form. Submit a copy of your authorization form to the university Veterans Office.
- Once the Tuition Assistance Authorization Form is submitted, your TA will appear on your student account within 5 to 7 business days.
- Pay for your tuition and fees through your Student Center before the payment deadline. Deadlines must be followed even if waiting for TA Authorization from a branch. For TA tuition fee coverage information, please refer to the Bursar's Office website.
- NOTE: You will be responsible for the campus-based (local) fees.
Submit Through Your Veterans Benefits Portal:
- Transfer students will also have to provide VA Form 22-1995 (To the best of your ability, if you have a copy of your online app, you can bring that instead)
- Your VR&E Counselor should provide you with one or two Purchase Order numbers. Please be sure that your counselor has successfully submitted the PO(s) through the Tungsten Network.
Books/Parking Passes
- If your VR&E Counselor issued a PO for your books (and, if authorized, supplies) through the Tungsten Network, you should contact the bookstore for access to ordering your books. (email: sfsu@bkstr.com | phone: 415.727.9203)
- If your counselor also authorized payment for a parking permit, please contact parking@sfsu.edu for assistance.
What do I do if the bookstore or Parking Office does not see my PO?
- Confirm with your VR&E Counselor that the PO(s) was successfully submitted through Tungsten.
- Email veterans@sfsu.edu and request if we can see your PO in Tungsten.
NOTE: Most often PO issues in Tungsten occur because the VR&E Counselor adds a "02" to the end of our Tungsten ID.
VA Reference Site
For specific information about your benefits and to apply for benefits, create an account with eBenefits
Submit Through Your Veterans Benefits Portal:
- DD-214 (if you have it)
- Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
- Transfer students will have to provide either a:
- VA Form 22-1995 (To the best of your ability, if you have a copy of your online app, you can bring that instead)
- VA Form 22-5495 For Dependents (To the best of your ability, if you have a copy of your online app, you can bring that instead)
If the VA payment doesn’t match the anticipated funding, your Student Account will be adjusted to reflect the changes to your coverage.
VA Reference Site
For specific information about your benefits and to apply for benefits, please refer to THIS VA.gov webpage.
Monthly Enrollment Verifications needed for Post 9/11 GI Bill® Recipients
Be sure you verify your enrollment with the VA each month to get paid if you are using Post 9/11 benefits. Below are links to instructions from the VA.
Post 9/11 GI Bill® Beneficiaries - Monthly Housing Allowance
MHA a.k.a. BAH
More information about how the Monthly Housing Allowance is calculated:
Submit Through Your Veterans Benefits Portal:
- DD-214
- Certificate of Eligibility
- Transfer students will also have to provide VA Form 22-1995 (To the best of your ability, if you have a copy of your online app, you can bring that instead)
VA Reference Site
For specific information about your benefits and to apply for the CH 30 benefits, navigate to THIS webpage.
Submit Through Your Veterans Benefits Portal:
- Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
- Benefit Sponsor's SSN/File Number
- Transfer students will also have to provide VA Form 22-1995 (To the best of your ability, if you have a copy of your online app, you can bring that instead)
VA Reference Site
Submit Through Your Veterans Benefits Portal:
- DD-214
- Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE) - This would be provided by your S1 in your unit or command
- Transfer students will also have to provide VA Form 22-1995 (To the best of your ability, if you have a copy of your online app, you can bring that instead)
VA Reference Site
For specific information about your benefits and to apply for benefits, navigate to THIS webpage.