Whether you are an active-duty service member using Military Tuition Assistance, a Veteran using VA education benefits, or a dependent utilizing transferred benefits, CBU's School Certifying Officials in the Financial Aid Office are here to support you!

We are committed to helping you successfully use your education benefits, from your first term through graduation. Whether you are applying for the first time or continuing your benefits, you’ll find the next steps below.

New Students (and those switching benefit types)

CBU's School Certifying Officials (SCOs) need a few documents from you to get started and determine your eligibility for benefits:

1. Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and, if you are the Veteran, your DD-214 uploaded to our secure upload portal.
2. Completed Certification Request Form.
3. Complete a FAFSA! (Not required but highly recommended, many students are eligible for financial aid.)

Current Students

Using Your VA Education Benefits Each Semester

If you are currently using VA education benefits or Military Tuition Assistance, you must complete a few required steps each term to ensure your enrollment is certified and your benefits are processed on time.

1. Register for Courses - Enroll in all required courses for your program.
2. Submit the VA Certification Request Form - Required each term for VA benefits to be certified.
3. Monitor Your Student Account for balances the VA may not cover.
4. Verify Enrollment with the VA - Some students may be required to verify enrollment monthly through the VA.

CBU's VA Certification Request Form

Students using VA education benefits must submit to us a VA Certification Request Form each semester after registering for classes.

• Certifications will not be submitted to the VA without this form being completed. This is to ensure that you want to use your benefits for that semester and you want us to certify your courses to the VA.
• Delays in submitting this form may delay your VA payments.

Submit your Certification Request Form

TImeline for VA Benefits

Using your VA education benefits is a multi-step process that occurs over time. The timeline below outlines what to expect each term:

• Step 1: Register for Classes
  Enroll in degree applicable courses for the upcoming semester for your program.

• Step 2: Submit Certification Request Form
  Submit your VA Certification Request Form as soon as you are registered and have your schedule finalized. Please do not submit this form until you are registered for all of the classes you plan on taking for the semester. 

• Step 3: CBU Processes & Submits Certification
  CBU's SCO's verify you are in degree applicable classes and submits your enrollment certification to the VA.

• Step 4: VA Reviews & Processes Certification
  The VA processes certifications in the order received. Processing times may vary.

• Step 5: Payments Issued by the VA

  • Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA): Paid at the end of each month for the previous month of enrollment. Payments are prorated for partial months, so your first and last month of each term may be lower than the standard monthly rate. Please plan accordingly.

  • Book Stipend: Typically issued near the beginning of the term.

  • Tuition & Fees: Paid directly to California Baptist University (if applicable). You will see a balance on your student account until the VA pays, this is normal and our Student Accounts team is aware that the VA pays later in the semester.

Understanding How Your Enrollment Affects Your Benefits

Your VA education benefits are based on your enrollment. It is important to understand how course selection, modality (online or in person), and enrollment level may impact your benefits.

Courses Must Apply to Your Program

The VA only allows certification for courses that apply toward your declared degree program.

• Courses must be required for your program
• Courses not applicable to your degree cannot be certified
• This may impact your enrollment level and benefit eligibility

Enrollment Level and Full-TIme Status

Your benefit eligibility, including Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA), is based on your enrollment level (also referred to as rate of pursuit).

• Full-time enrollment is determined by your program and term structure
• Enrollment below full-time may result in reduced benefits
• The VA calculates payment based on your rate of pursuit

Students must be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible for the Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA).

Online vs. In-Person Courses

Course format may impact your housing allowance:

• Students enrolled in all online courses receive a reduced MHA rate
• Students with at least one in-person course spanning the full semester may qualify for the full MHA rate (if otherwise eligible)

Repeating Courses

The VA may allow certification of repeated courses only under certain conditions:

• If a course is required and a passing grade was not previously earned

Changes to Your Enrollment

Changes to your schedule can impact your VA benefits:

• Adding, dropping, or withdrawing from courses must be reported
• Changes may result in adjustments to your benefits
• In some cases, this may create a debt with the VA

Students should notify the School Certifying Official (SCO) of any enrollment changes as soon as possible after the change is made, and are encouraged to speakl with the SCO before to know the impact that that change may have.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I need to submit a Certification Request Form every semester?
  • Yes. Enrollment is not automatically certified. Students must submit a VA Certification Request Form each semester after registering for classes.
• When will I receive my Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA)?
  • MHA is paid at the end of each month for the previous month of enrollment. Payments are issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs and may vary based on processing times. Feel free to reach out to the VA at 888-GIBILL-1 to inquire with the VA.
• Why is my first (or last) MHA payment lower than expected?
  • The VA prorates payments for partial months of enrollment. Your first and last month of each term may be lower than the standard monthly rate because classes may not have started on the first day of the month or ended on the last day of the month. 
• Why haven’t I received my VA payment yet?

  • There are several factors that may impact payment timing, including:

    • Certification Request Form has not been submitted
    • Certification is still being processed
    • VA processing delays

    Students should allow time for both school and VA processing before inquiring about payment status.

• What is “rate of pursuit” and how does it affect me?
  • Rate of pursuit is how the VA measures your enrollment level. It determines your eligibility for benefits, including your Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA). Enrollment below full-time may result in reduced payments.
• Do online classes affect my housing allowance?
  • Yes. Students enrolled in fully online courses only receive a reduced MHA rate. Students with at least one in-person course that spans accross the full semester may qualify for the full MHA rate (if otherwise eligible).
• Can I take classes that are not required for my degree?
  • No. The VA only allows certification for courses that apply toward your declared degree program. Courses that do not apply cannot be certified, however, many degrees have room for elective classes that may be taken and certified. 
• What happens if I drop or withdraw from a course?

  • Changes to your enrollment may:

    • Reduce your Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA)
    • Impact your overall benefit eligibility
    • Result in a debt with the VA in some cases

    Students should notify the SCO of any changes as soon as possible to discuss.

• Who should I contact if I have questions about my benefits?

  • For questions about certification or enrollment, contact the School Certifying Official (SCO) at vabenefits@calbaptist.edu or 951-343-4236.

  • For questions about payments, eligibility, or benefit amounts, you may need to contact the VA directly at 888-GIBILL-1

Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E) – Chapter 31

Using VR&E Benefits at CBU

Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E), also known as Chapter 31, is a VA program that assists eligible veterans with education and employment services.

Students approved for VR&E benefits will work directly with a VA Counselor to determine eligibility, program approval, and authorized benefits.

For CBU to certify your enrollment under Chapter 31 (VR&E) benefits, your VR&E counselor must submit an authorization through the VA’s internal system, which notifies our office directly that you are eligible for this benefit.

Once the authorization is received, it will be maintained on file and serves as confirmation that your program has been approved under VR&E. At that point, CBU can certify your enrollment and invoice eligible charges to the VA.

Each Semester Requirements

Students using VR&E must:

• Register for approved courses that align with their VR&E education plan
• Ensure updated authorization is submitted to CBU each term
• Maintain communication with their VR&E counselor regarding enrollment and progress
• Complete CBU's VA Certification Request Form. 

Payment & Coverage

Depending on your approved VR&E plan, benefits may include:

• Tuition and fees paid directly to CBU
• Books and required supplies
• Monthly subsistence allowance (paid by the VA to you)
• VR&E follows a different process than other VA education benefits and requires approval and authorization from a VA counselor each term.

Using Military Tuition Assistance at CBU

Speak with your education officer, career counselor, or benefits specialist to confirm eligibility. Gain command approval before enrolling, follow your service branch’s TA instructions, and submit your approved request to vabenefits@calbaptist.edu. The Financial Aid Office will process your request and coordinate payment with Student Accounts.

Steps to Apply for Tuition Assistance

1. Speak with your education officer, career counselor, or benefits incentive specialist to ensure you are eligible for Tuition Assistance.
2. Gain approval from your command to attend classes at CBU prior to enrollment.
3. See your base Education Services Officer (ESO) prior to enrolling for classes at CBU.
4. Follow the military service branch and component-specific instructions on how to request Tuition Assistance for your course(s). Take note of the TA application instructions/deadlines specific to your branch and CBU’s academic calendar.
5. Submit your approved TA request to vabenefits@calbaptist.edu in PDF format.
6. The Financial Aid Office will process your approved TA request and post the credit to your student account. Please ensure you review your student account to confirm your TA is posted online.

Tuition Assistance (TA) Request Timeframes

Military Tuition Assistance Recipients

Military Tuition Assistance is awarded under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When a student withdraws, they may no longer be eligible for the full amount of TA funds originally awarded. To comply with U.S. Department of Defense policy, CBU will return TA funds on a proportional basis through at least 60% of the course period. If a service member stops attending due to a military service obligation, CBU will work with the student to identify solutions that avoid unnecessary debt.

Withdrawals

A student’s official withdrawal date is used to calculate earned TA funds. The last date of attendance (LDA) is provided by the instructor and determines the earned percentage of TA. TA funds are earned proportionally during the course period; unearned funds are returned based on the withdrawal week.