The Iowa State University Military-Affiliated Student Center is a great place to start and get connected with other student veterans and Military-Affiliated students.

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Visit Current VA Education Benefit Rates for more information about the current pay rate for your benefit. You can also find an estimate of benefits through the VA's GI Bill® Comparison Tool.

You can calculate your benefits and compare schools by using the VA's comparison tool.

A Joint Services Transcript (JST) is required upon admission and transfer credits are evaluated at that time. Most generally military credit counts as career/technical credits (a maximum of 16.0 credits of career/technical coursework apply to some undergraduate programs as electives at Iowa State.)  If you have taken coursework that is the same content as an academic requirement in your program of study, confer with your academic advisor for additional evaluation of your transfer work and a possible course substitution.

The International Perspective requirement will be waived for U.S. military veterans who have completed at least 3 months of service stationed outside of the United States. This waiver is not automatic and requires a copy of your DD214 be brought to the School Certifying Officers (SCOs) in room 214 of the Enrollment Services Center for verification of months abroad.

The payment processing timeline is determined by the VA. Typically, students will receive their first payment around the first day of the following month (Example: For the Fall semester, you will receive your August payment in September).

If you have questions about the payment timeline, please call the VA GI Bill® Hotline at 888-442-4551.

For students using Chapter 1606, Chapter 35, and Chapter 31 benefits, certifications can be submitted no earlier than 60 days before the start of the semester and no later than 30 days after the first day of the semester.

Chapter 33 students can be certified as soon as tuition and fees have been assessed onto the student's account. Certifications will be submitted no later than 30 days after the first day of the semester.

Students who want to be certified for benefit usage later than 30 days after the start of the term can reach out to the VA Certifying Officials at vacertofficials@iastate.edu.

Please contact the VA at 888-442-4551 to update any information with the VA. 

"GI Bill®” is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.