Veterans Engagement Services

The Veterans Engagement Services (VES) team serves as the direct point of contact for all military-affiliated students who hold the following military status' Active Duty servicemember, a National Guard member, a Select Reservist, a retired veteran, a spouse, a dependent, or any member of the ROTC Cadet Command. 

The Veterans Engagement Services (VES) team manages funding under the following GI Bill and DoD Educational Benefits and funding programs:

• Chapter 33: Post 9/11
• Chapter 31: Veterans Readiness & Employment Program
• Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill (AD)
• Chapter 1606: Montgomery BI Bill (SR)
• Chapter 35: Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA)
• Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship
• Federal Tuition Assistance Programs (all branches)
• Maryland National Guard State Tuition Waiver Program/STAR Program
• Tuition Assistance Top-up
• National Call to Service Program
• Yellow Ribbon Program
• VA Work-Study Program

Chapter 33: Post 9/11 - The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 provides educational assistance to individuals who served on active duty on or after September 10, 2001. These individuals must have served at least 90 aggregate days or have been discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. Recipients entitled to this benefit can receive up to 36 months of education benefits, which can be increased to 48 eligible months determined by the Department of Veterans Affairs on a case-by-case basis. For more information visit the www.va.gov.  Students eligible for Post 9/11 benefits at the 100% entitlement rate could also have an opportunity to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which may make additional funding options available to a non-resident or out-of-state student, as long as the institution of higher learning attended is a participating university. To apply for benefits or get benefit assistance go to www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/

Chapter 31: Veterans Readiness & Employment Program - Veteran Readiness and Employment Service (VR&E) also known as Chapter 31: VR&E, assists veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 20 percent, and need vocational rehabilitation services for employment. Eligible veterans entitled to this benefit: have received, or will receive an honorable or other than dishonorable discharge, have a VA service-connected disability rating of 10% with a serious employment handicap or 20% or more with an employment handicap, and must apply for VR&E services. For additional information go to www.benefits.va.gov/vocrehab/ 

Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB-AD) - Soldiers who have served on Active Duty for at least 2 years may qualify for this entitlement. There are four eligibility categories for those honorably discharged and who meet the criteria under at least one of the categories. Select the Category titles below view the requirements and determine where you fall.  Category I, Category II, Category III, or Category IV.  Eligible recipients could have up to 10 years to utilize the Chapter 30 entitlement at the discretion of the Department of Defense. For more information or to apply for this entitlement go to www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/montgomery-active-duty/

Chapter 1606: Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB- SR) - Any selected reserve servicemember of the Army, Army National Guard, AirForce, Air National Guard, Marine Corps, Navy or Coast Guard Reserve could be eligible to receive educational/training benefit entitlement under this GI Bill for up to 36 months. Each applicant MUST have at least a 6-year service obligation in the Selected Reserve or be an officer in the Selected Reserve and agree to serve an additional 6 years outside of your original service obligation. For benefit eligibility information and how to apply go to www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/montgomery-selected-reserve/

Chapter 35: Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) - This entitlement was created to provide educational assistance to eligible spouses, dependents, and survivors of any military service member who has died in the line of duty, is captured or missing, or has a been identified as having a service-connected disability. Additional eligibility requirements may apply and are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. To determine if you are eligible for this entitlement and to get information about the application process go to www.va.gov/education/survivor-dependent-benefits/dependents-education-assistance/

Edith Nourse Rogers Stem Scholarship - The Edith Nourse Rogers (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) scholarship is an extension benefit of Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill and the Fry Scholarship. This scholarship is only available to eligible recipients pursuing educational training in the STEM field and are close to exhaustion of their current benefits. Veterans entitled to Post 9/11 and dependent recipients of the Fry Scholarship could receive up to 9 months or $30,000.00 of added benefits (whichever comes first). For additional eligibility and application details go to https://www.va.gov/education/other-va-education-benefits/stem-scholarship/

Federal Tuition Assistance Program (FTA) - Federal Tuition Assistance is an additional educational benefit available to all uniformed service members. Each branch of service has eligibility criteria including obligated service time, the application process, and funding restrictions. This funding pays for tuition costs and certain course-specific fees directly required for enrollment into that course. These funds are paid directly to the institution the soldier is attending and are managed by the Education Office which can assist soldiers with getting started, applications, and TA requests.

Active Duty service members may use the "MGIB - Top-Up" and their service-provided FTA to cover high-cost courses. For additional information on the Top-Up program go to Tuition Assistance Top-Up.

Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) or (TA) is not a loan; and should be considered as funds you have earned, similarly to your base pay. This funding can be used with any GI Bill funding and State Assistance. Morgan State University's Federal Tuition Assistance Program funding is managed by the Office of the Bursar and the Veterans Engagement Services team. For information about reporting requirements, documentation submission, course or class withdrawals, grades, military leave, refunds or the return of funds go to VES Resource Hub. Specific branch information about FTA requirements and TAR submissions can be found on the Military Once Source - Tuition Assistance Program website.

Maryland National Guard State Tuition Waiver (STW) - The Maryland National Guard State Tuition Waiver reduces the tuition cost by up to 50% off of tuition costs for Guard members taking undergraduate, or graduate courses at any Maryland partner school. To see if your school participates go to https://military.maryland.gov/NG/Pages/Partner-Schools.aspx. National Guard waivers are managed via a mobile app and are available to National Guard members with at least two years of service time remaining, are in good military standing, are not flagged, and are participating regularly in drilling.

For assistance with applying for the waiver and access information personnel at the Education Office can be reached by calling 667-296-4132. Applications for waiver assistance must be submitted and approved at least 10 days before the start of class for the semester intended. For additional information about Army Guard applications email ng.md.mdarng.list.education-services@mail.mil. For information about Air Guard applications email usaf.md.175-wg.mbx.tuition-assistance@mail.mil. Scan the QR codes below for more assistance with this process. 

Maryland National Guard service members are eligible to utilize the State Tuition Assistance Reimbursement Program (STAR). This program is currently only available for Army personnel who apply for the STW and will reimburse MDNG service members' tuition and fees up to 100%. The annual fiscal year cap for STAR reimbursement is $8500.00. The same eligibility requirements for MD NG State Tuition Waiver apply in addition to committing to a 2-4 year service commitment contingent upon the degree program selected. Additional educational programs include Certificate, Associate, Bachelor, Graduate, and Doctoral Programs, however, they can only be used at a participating school. To see a list of partner schools go to https://military.maryland.gov/NG/Pages/Partner-Schools.aspx.

All applications must be started at least 10 days before the course begins to participate. At the close of each semester, to be eligible for reimbursement, the service member must submit documentation including transcripts with grades C or better, the final university bills showing all funding requested during the semester, and the signed STAR application. All document submissions must be in PDF format and submitted after the term's last day of the course. Additional eligibility determinations can be made through the Company Commander's memorandum requests on a case-by-case basis. Funding priority may also be provided to E1 - E4 service members obtaining their first degree. For more information or to apply the MD NG Education Officer can be reached by emailing MDNGSTAR@army.mil or MDNGEDUCATION@army.mil or by calling 667-296-4132.

National Call to Service Program - The National Call to Service Program became effective on October 1, 2003, to those service members who perform a period of national service that allows you to choose an education benefit as an alternative to the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB).  For more information and eligibility requirements go to https://www.va.gov/education/other-va-education-benefits/national-call-to-service-program/.

Yellow Ribbon Program - The Yellow Ribbon Program is a benefit implemented by the Post 9/11 Veterans Educations Assistance Act of 2008. This program allows colleges and institutions of Higher Learning to partner with the VA to cover costs exceeding the 100% entitlement amount of the (uncovered costs) of out-of-state tuition for eligible Post 9/11 G.I. Bill recipients. Participating institutions contribute a set amount for the student's out-of-state tuition expense and the VA will match that amount, up to 50% of the difference. Amounts payable under the Yellow Ribbon Program vary based on the participating school, degree type, and academic program sought.  To determine if you qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program and to see the list of participating schools go to https://www.va.gov/education/yellow-ribbon-participating-schools/

VA Work Study Program - The VA Work Study Program was established to offer service members, spouses, and dependents the opportunity to gain valuable work experience and supplement their income while matriculating. Eligible participants must be utilizing Chapter 30: MGIB (AD), Chapter 31: VR&E, Chapter 33: Post 9/11, Chapter 1606: MGIB (SR), Chapter 35:DEA, Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship, Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship or a National Call to Service participant.

Additional eligibility requirements include: students must be enrolled in at least 9 cr semester hours or more to participate. Students must be certified using the VA Form 22-1999 in Enrollment Manager, and have an active enrollment in the school system for the semester they intend to work. New applications must be submitted for each term and upon approval of the site supervisor, extension contracts are allowed for an additional 30-day period beyond the contract end date. The extension approval is also pending the participant has remaining hours on the contract. All work-study participants must be accepted to an approved Work Study site before applying. All sites must have approved participants complete the VA Form 22-8691 Application for Work-Study Allowance.

Each VA Work Study site has a cap on how many eligible students can participate in the program during any given term. Participating schools have a designated Site Supervisor who approves and manages the work-study site and application process. Students can work up to 400 hours during a typical semester based on the term start date. Approved participants should not begin work under this program until an application is submitted and approved. VA Work Study contracts are initiated and processed by the Department of Veterans Affairs and forwarded to the Site Supervisors for signature and return. All schedules, and timesheet due dates are coordinated between the Site Supervisor and the accepted participant. For more specific information about the VA Work Study program, COVID provisions, and particular benefit instructions go to the VES VA Work Study Program information page.

The Veterans Engagement Services (VES) team and its university partners offer additional services to student veterans during their matriculation at Morgan.

• Military-specific Orientations
• Military-specific Information Sessions
• Military-specific Internal scholarships
• Military-specific benefits advising
• Military-specific Residency Reclassifications
• Military-specific Leave policy
• Priority Registration
• Veteran Student Association
• Disability Support Services
• Counseling Center Services
• Tutoring Services - (CASA)
• Writing Center Services
• Military Credit Evaluations
• Military Appreciation Day events
• Veterans Hiring Fair Events
• Veterans Graduation Reception
• Veterans Advisory Committee
• Online and In-person one-to-one consultations

The Veteran Shopping Sheet is a consumer tool that students and parents can use to make comparisons of the Cost of Attendance when making a college acceptance decision. Using a basic format, the Cost of Attendance (COA) budget presents information about the estimated cost of educational and living expenses for one academic year. (Fall & Spring).

At Morgan State University (MSU), the Office of Financial Aid will make available to all student veterans the consumer information that's reported on the Shopping Sheet as Direct Costs that a student will incur. for more information about the cost details go to the Financial Aid Cost of Attendance webpage. The Cost of Attendance information provided is not a bill.

To estimate the overall cost of attendance to include your Department of Veterans Affairs VA Educational Benefits, or to get an estimate of your anticipated Department of Defense allotments you can use the Interactive VA MSU Direct Campus Cost/Resources Worksheet.