Veterans Affairs

The Chapter 35 program provides educational assistance allowance to qualifying spouses, surviving spouses, and children of certain veterans who died while on active duty or as a result of a service related condition or who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition.

If you are uncertain as to your Chapter 35 eligibility, please visit the Department of Veteran Affairs web site which provides detailed information on the categories in which you can qualify for benefits.

A person who wishes to apply for Chapter 35 benefits will need to have completed the following:

1. Provided Official Transcripts of all prior accredited institutions of higher education attended/attending currently to the Cameron University Undergraduate Admissions Office. (This is a requirement for all students using veterans benefits, even if the Admissions Office does not need them for your admission to the university. The reason for this requirement is the Department of Veteran Affairs requires the CU-VA Office to officially report all prior credits completed at other higher educational institutions.) For additional information, visit Cameron's Undergraduate Admission's web site .

   *Graduate students would need to provide official transcripts to Cameron Graduate Admissions Office. (See Graduate Studies for more information.)

   Students must be admitted to Cameron University before the CU-VA will proceed with processing a student's paperwork for veterans benefits.

2. Either an Application for educational benefits VA Form 22-5490 or a Change of Program/Place Form, VA Form 22-5495 - completed. Students may also complete an application online . IMPORTANT: The CU-VA office is required to maintain a student file for everyone using veterans benefits. Any VA form processed through the CU-VA Office will be reviewed for submission to the Department of Veteran Affairs, and will provide the CU-VA with basic information if a problem should arise. All students must contact the CU-VA office to initiate VA educational benefits.

***Note: We always recommend copies of: Marriage licenses for present marriage, Birth certificates for all children under 18 years and attending school, and (if appropriate) Death certificate, be sent with the application in case it is not on file with the Department of Veteran Affairs. (It will significantly slow down processing the application if the VA does not have immediate access to all needed verifying information.) A copy of a letter from VA declaring spouse/dependents are eligible for Chapter 35 is also helpful to speed up processing per the Muskogee VA Regional Office.

Special Tips & Information for Chapter 35 students

• A change in your class schedule may affect your VA benefits. Frequent changes often can cause a student to have an overpayment of benefits. Frequent changes of schedule may also delay your certification process, especially if non-required courses for your approved VA Educational Objective are taken. Please notify the CU-VA Office of any changes in your class schedule to ensure your VA benefits are paid out accurately.
  
• See Current Rate Tables