FAQ

To get the most out of your GI Bill® and benefits, it is helpful to consider where to attend college and how to use your benefits to best suit your needs. We want the University of Idaho to be the right fit for you, a place where you will thrive and succeed.

Questions to Consider

• What do I want to do? What are my goals?
• Will you need to be in close proximity to your support network of friends and family?
• Does the University of Idaho have the right program for me? Explore our degrees, majors and colleges.
• Can I afford it? The GI Bill® covers a wide range of educational opportunities, including on-the-job training, internships and apprenticeships and more.
• Do you need to be in close proximity to a VA hospital and services? Moscow is close to four facilities.
• Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane, WA – 85 miles from Moscow
• North Idaho Community Based Outpatient Clinic (offered by the Spokane center) in Coeur d'Alene, ID – 84 miles from Moscow
• Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center in Walla Walla, WA – 130 miles from Moscow
• The Lewiston Community Based Outpatient Clinic (offered by the Walla Walla center) in Lewiston, ID – 30 miles from Moscow

Additional VA Resources
Know before you go. Learn more about the factors to consider when choosing a school. Continue reading »

Prospective students can apply online for admission to the University of Idaho.

Admission requirements differ by student type:

• First-year students
• Transfer students
• Graduate students
• Law students

Questions? Contact the Office of Admissions at 208-885-6326 or email admissions@uidaho.edu.

After You've Applied
Benefits application details are broken down by service sector.View application process details.

The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

• It can be filled out online, and it can be filled out at any time.
• To receive priority consideration for aid, the FAFSA must be received by the U.S. Department of Education Federal Processor by 11:59 p.m. EST on Feb. 15.
• Students can file their FAFSA after the priority date, but some types of aid will be limited after that date.

Scholarships & Costs
Learn about your options for student financial aid, including scholarships, grants, loans, assistantships, employment as well as university costs. View scholarships and costs.

Both Idaho residents and out-of-state students can attend U of I under the GI Bill®, but the process is different for each type of applicant.

Out-of-State Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Ch 33) Recipients
If you are an out-of-state applicant, you need to qualify and apply for the Yellow Ribbon tuition assistance program or the Isakson and Roe Act.

Out-of-State Montgomery GI Bill® Chapter 30 Recipients
If you are an out-of-state applicant, you need to qualify and apply for the Isakson and Roe Act. Out-of-state Montgomery GI Bill® Chapter 30 students do not qualify for the Yellow Ribbon tuition assistance program

Out-of-State Montgomery GI Bill® Chapter 1606 Recipients Currently Serving in the Idaho National Guard
Students who are drilling with an Idaho National Guard Unit are considered Idaho residents for tuition purposes. There is no requirement to live in Idaho. U of I Admissions or Registrar's offices will make this determination.

Out-of-State VR&E (Ch 31) Recipients
Contact your VR&E counselor.

Out-of-State Dependents Educational Assistance Program (Ch 35 DEA) Recipients
If you do not qualify as an Idaho resident, you will be charged out-of-state tuition unless you qualify for any other university waivers.

Gaining Residency Upon Separation
A veteran may qualify for Idaho residency if ALL of the following requirements are met:

• He/she is separated from the Armed Forces under honorable conditions after at least two years of service.
• At the time of separation, he/she designated the state of Idaho as his/her intended domicile or home of record of service.
• He/she will be entering the university within one year of the date of separation or who moves to Idaho for the purpose of establishing domicile.

To maintain status as a resident student, a qualifying Idaho resident must actively establish domicile in Idaho within one year of matriculation in a public institution of higher education in Idaho. Dependents of a qualifying Idaho resident student, who receives at least 50 percent support from such person, shall also be considered a resident student.

Idaho Residents
In-state applicants must identify their anticipated start date. An anticipated start date is when you expect to start attending U of I. This can depend on when your expiration of active service ends; the time required to complete your application, gather the necessary materials — transcripts if you qualify as a transfer student, SAT/ACT scores if you are a new student — and relocation time.

Unsure of your residency status?
Determine if you are an Idaho State resident and learn how to become a resident at the Office of the Registrar.

If you are attending college for the first time, and are not a transfer student, you will need to present ACT or SAT scores. New first-year students entering in 2021 who are unable to sit for an ACT or SAT exam due to COVID-19 will automatically be considered for admission if their cumulative unweighted GPA is 2.60-4.00. Learn more.

If you have not taken the ACT or SAT, you can take these tests at U of I and at many locations in the U.S. and internationally. Explore off-campus locations on the ACT and SAT websites.

The ACT and SAT are administered by the Testing Center on select Saturdays. Register for tests online:

• ACT
• SAT

Schedule a Testing Appointment on Campus
Once registered, schedule an appointment to take the test on campus. Contact Testing Center Testing Services at 208-885-5138. Requests via email are not accepted.

Test Fee Reimbursement
Fees for approved required tests can be reimbursed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

After taking the approved test, fill out a reimbursement form and submit it to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Transfer Students
If you are a transfer student with a certified GPA from another college or university, then you do not need to submit ACT or SAT scores to apply for admission.

Questions?
Email Military and Veteran Services at veterans@uidaho.edu or call 208-885-7989.

Your military service and training can be evaluated for college credit. For more information, contact the Registrar's Office at 208-885-6731 or email registrar@uidaho.edu.

Requesting Your Military Transcripts

• Transcripts for the Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy, including active duty, reserve and veterans, can be requested through the Joint Services Transcript.
• Transcripts for the Air Force can be requested through the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF).

Other Resources

• My Army Benefits – This reference can be used to evaluate educational experiences in the armed services and recognizing skills acquired in the military.

• Academic Dates and Deadlines
• FAFSA Deadlines

Students can apply online using VA.gov.

Admission and benefits application details are broken down by service sector. View application process details.

Having the following documents can make the application process easier:

• Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD form 214, Member 4 copy) for all periods of active duty service
• DD Form 2384, also known as the Notice of Basic Eligibility, if applying for the Montgomery GI Bill® - Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606)
• Copies of orders if activated from the Guard/Reserves
• Supporting documents (e.g., vouchers, statements) for buy-up or buy-in contributions (only applies for Montgomery GI Bill® - Active Duty)
• College fund "Kicker Contracts" for additional monthly payments that you may receive from the Department of Defense through your branch of the Service
• Banking information for direct deposit, including checking or savings account number and bank tracking number

GI Bill® Approval
The first GI Bill® benefit check will normally be received approximately six weeks after the first day of class. Veterans benefit allowances, Department of Veterans Affairs programs and policies, and U of I services and procedures frequently change. To obtain current information about VA benefits, your eligibility for benefits, rate and method of payment, or the address of the nearest regional office, call the U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs at 888-442-4551.

Additional Resources

• 10 Tips for Veterans at College from U.S. News and World Report

Questions?
Students in the Moscow area can schedule an appointment for help with their application, including submission. Email Military and Veteran Services at veterans@uidaho.edu or call 208-885-7989.

The University of Idaho is a Yellow Ribbon Program school. This means:

• All Idaho resident tuition and fees are paid by the Post 9/11 GI Bill®
• 100 percent of out-of-state tuition is covered through an agreement between the University of Idaho and the Veterans Administration.
• Around 75 Yellow Ribbon placements are available to students each academic year
• Placements are granted on a first-come, first-served basis, with currently enrolled students grandfathered into the program. When placements are filled, applicants are placed on a wait-list.

Eligibility Guidelines

To be eligible for the program, students must:

• Be approved for VA Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits at 100 percent
• Be admitted to the University of Idaho
• Be enrolled in classes full-time — 12 credits for undergraduates, 10 credits for Law School students and nine credits for graduate students — for the upcoming semester.
• NOT be on active duty at any time during the semester for which you’re applying for the program. Students also are not eligible if they are on terminal leave, even if that leave is for a single day in the term.

Therefore, you may be eligible if:

• You served an aggregate period of active duty after Sept. 10, 2001, of at least 36 months.
• You were honorably discharged from active duty for a service connected disability, and you served 30 continuous days after Sept. 10, 2001.
• You are a dependent eligible for Transfer of Entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill® based on a veteran’s service under the eligibility criteria listed above.

Section 1005 of the Isakson and Roe Act requires that all public postsecondary institutions offer in-state tuition rates to all eligible veterans and their dependents, regardless of state residency status.

Not sure if you qualify? Learn more about the Isakson and Roe Act.

You may be eligible for more than one chapter of the GI Bill®, so it is important to determine what you may rate and what your best choice is if you qualify for more than one chapter.

• Compare benefits on the VA GI Bill® Benefit Comparison Chart.
• If you have questions concerning eligibility, contact the National GI Bill® call center toll free at 888-442-4551. The center is available 0500-1700 PST Monday through Friday.
• For additional questions or concerns regarding eligibility and/or use of benefits at U of I, email Military and Veteran Services at veterans@uidaho.edu or call 208-885-7989.

University of Idaho Center for Disability Access and Resources offers assistance in determining eligibility for services and assistance, including testing commendations, assistive technology, campus accessibility, orientation and more.

Center for Disability Access and Resources office is located in The Bruce M. Pitman Center. Contact the office at 208-885-6307 or email cdar@uidaho.edu.

Disability Determination and Ratings

The Veterans Administration is responsible for disability determination and ratings. For assistance with disability ratings, contact the Lewiston Veterans Home at 208-750-3600. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The veterans home is located at 821 21st Ave. in Lewiston, Idaho.

The Idaho State Board of Education (SBOE) requires all full-time students at the University of Idaho be covered by Affordable Care Act-compliant health insurance.

The University of Idaho will require all degree-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in 12 or more credits; graduate/Law students enrolled in 9 or more credits; and all international students to submit proof of health insurance.

What if I have personal insurance?
Personal insurance information must be submitted online before the first day of the semester. Learn more

What if I don't have personal insurance?
U of I offers the Student Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to students not covered by personal insurance. Fees for this program can be covered by the Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33).

For Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) Students
If you waive SHIP any time after July for fall semester, you must inform Military and Veteran Services. Otherwise, we may include SHIP in your VA claim, and you might receive a letter of indebtedness from the VA.

Once a student is registered, and GI Bill® Certification Request has been submitted, their credits and dollars are captured and a hold is placed on their account.

This hold is placed to protect students from making enrollment changes after their Certification Request is submitted to the VA.

Once the hold is placed, a student will not be able to add, drop, or withdraw from a class until they contact Military and Veteran Services. The hold can be lifted once the implications of the changes a student wishes to make are clear.

The hold automatically expires each term at midnight on the Sunday prior to registration week for the following term.

Some classes last for the full fall or spring term, and some have more limited schedules. Partial-term courses typically meet for either the first half or the second half of a term. Military and Veteran Services is required to report these partial courses separately to the VA.

A student registered for 12 credits, with a partial course worth one credit that only meets for the first half of the term, would not be considered full-time by the VA for the second half of the term. Watch closely for these courses when you register.

U of I Student Accounts and the IRS recently changed the date for posting spring term tuition and fees to January. Posting had previously been done in December.

With the change, Military and Veteran Services no longer has access to dollar amounts needed to submit to the VA until January, preventing the office from submitting Post 9/11 GI Bill® Certification Requests for spring term until then.

This will affect students participating in the Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33), Montgomery GI Bill® (Chapter 30) Active Duty only and Vocational Rehab and Employment (Chapter 31), as well as all students registered less than half-time.

This will not affect students participating in Montgomery GI Bill® (Chapter 30) not on active duty, Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) or Montgomery GI Bill® - Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606).

Affected students may experience a delay in receiving their first deposit in January. Any late fees charged to a student's account will be reversed once VA monies arrive and the account is current.

Many students express the desire to attend Summer Session, but there are a few aspects to consider:

• Summer Session consists of 10 separate sessions within the term. Sessions are 4, 6, 8 or 12 weeks long, which makes establishing full-time status difficult. If a student takes three courses each lasting four weeks consecutively, they could be considered full-time for 12 weeks. But what if sessions overlap? There could be a period of time where the student is technically more than full time and other periods where they are not full time.
• Courses are occasionally canceled due to lack of interest. Check with each college or department to see if the course you're wanting to take is at risk for cancellation.
• Summer session classes are condensed. This means you'll complete courses quicker, but content can come at you very fast. Miss a day of class, and it's easier to fall behind.
• Keep your goals firmly in mind. Make good, informed choices between attending Summer Session or working for the summer and setting some savings aside and resting your brain.