Veterans and Military Benefits

Veterans and Military Benefits

The Office of the University Registrar serves as the liaison between the University, its students, and the various federal, state, and local agencies concerned with Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits and Department of Defense (DoD) tuition assistance.

Stanford University has made a good faith effort to comply with the Principles of Excellence established by Executive Order 13607. Stanford University participates in the Department of Defense Voluntary Education Partnership program so that eligible active duty service members are able to obtain Tuition Assistance from their military branch as administered by the Department of Defense. The VA Certifying Officer in the Student Services Center serves as the first point of contact for Veterans education benefits assistance and DoD tuition assistance.

Stanford certifies enrollment for Veterans education benefits for students in degree seeking programs, and students in VA approved certificate programs offered through the Stanford Center for Professional Development and the Graduate School of Business. Non-matriculated and unapproved certificate programs are not eligible. All students eligible to receive Veterans education benefits or DoD tuition assistance while attending the University are urged to complete arrangements with the appropriate agency in advance of enrollment.

Stanford University is required to certify only those courses that meet minimum graduation requirements. Courses not directly related to a student's degree program or courses beyond those required for a specific degree program are not certified. Undergraduates should meet with an adviser to develop a course enrollment plan. Graduate students should have their departments approve their study lists as meeting graduation requirements on a quarterly basis.

To comply with federal regulations concerning credit for previous training (38 CFR 21.4253), Stanford University is required to evaluate all previous education and training completed elsewhere to determine what credit, if any, should be granted to students eligible to receive Veterans education benefits or DoD tuition assistance. Stanford is required to complete an evaluation; credit is granted when appropriate. Credit is evaluated toward the degree program registered with Veterans Affairs or DoD as determined by the Office of the University Registrar in conjunction with the relevant academic department(s) or program(s). All relevant policies regarding transfer credit apply. In addition, this evaluation occurs each time a student's degree program is changed. Subject to current federal and University guidelines, students eligible for receipt of Veterans education benefits or DoD tuition assistance have their prior education and training evaluated up to the credit limits outlined in the "Residency Policy for Graduate Students" and “Transfer Work” sections of this bulletin. As an exception to that policy, students in master's programs in the schools of Earth Sciences, Education, Engineering, Humanities and Sciences, Law, Medicine, and Graduate Business are allowed a maximum of 6 transfer (quarter) units.