Chaminade University of Honolulu

Home > Financial Aid > VA Education Benefits > Tuition & VA Payments

Tuition & VA Payments

Review your tuition and fee charges and understand the payments associated with your VA benefits. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at [email protected] or (808) 735-4780

Financial Aid & VA Benefits

In addition to utilizing your VA education benefits, you may also apply for financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA will determine your eligibility for all federal, state, and institutional funding. More information about completing the FAFSA, scholarships, and important deadlines can be found at the Office of Financial Aid website.

Financial aid awards are disbursed up to 10 days before the start of each semester. VA payments for tuition and fees may arrive before or after financial aid is disbursed:

  • If your VA payment is posted to your account before financial aid disburses, it will be immediately applied to your tuition and fees. If the VA payment is enough to cover the entire cost of your tuition and fees, then the entire amount of financial aid will be disbursed directly to you.
  • If financial aid is disbursed before your VA payment is posted to your account, financial aid will be applied to your tuition and fees first. Once the VA payment is received, the Office of Financial Aid will refund you the financial aid that was previously applied to your tuition and fees during the initial disbursement period.

Contact the Office of Financial Aid at [email protected] or (808) 735-4780 if you have any questions about getting a refund and the refund schedule.

Payment Information by Benefit Type

The VA pays you based on your enrollment status. As a reminder, the VA will only send payment for the dates you enrolled in classes, so if classes begin or end in the middle of the month, the VA will send a prorated monthly payment. You can check on the status of your payment(s) by contacting the VA’s Education Call Center.

Ch 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill

Net Tuition and Fees

The VA pays net tuition and mandatory fees up to your entitlement percentage directly to Chaminade University. Per VA regulations, the VA is the “last-payer” for tuition and fees.

Fees that are covered by the VA include: mandatory student fees, required course fees, and the graduation fee.

Timeline: Payment is sent directly to Chaminade within 2-3 weeks after certification submission. If you are certified for classes with varying start dates, the VA will distribute the tuition payments closer to the date of the class(es) beginning.

Books and Supplies Stipend

You should expect to receive a book and supplies stipend from the VA to help cover the cost of books and supplies.

Timeline: If you have been certified prior to the start of the semester, payment for books and supplies is sent to you via direct deposit before or near the beginning of the semester.

Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA)

You are eligible for MHA if you enroll in classes more than half-time and are not on active duty (including spouses of someone on active duty).

MHA payments are based on these factors:

  • Your entitlement percentage (e.g., 100%, 80%)
  • Your rate of pursuit – how many credits you are certified for per semester/term, compared to full-time enrollment
  • The zip code of the campus location where you physically attend the majority of your classes. Visit the in-person requirement for monthly housing allowance

Timeline: MHA payments are distributed at the end of each month via direct deposit. Bank payment processing times may affect when MHA payment is reflected in your account.

Verify Your Enrollment

Section 1010 of Isakson and Roe (PL 116-315) requires you to verify your enrollment with the VA each month to receive a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA). If you fail to verify your enrollment for two consecutive months, your MHA/kicker payments will be withheld.

Visit Verify School Enrollment for instructions on how to verify your enrollment with the VA. You may also watch How to Verify Enrollment.

Ch 31 Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E)

Each semester, obtain VR&E authorizations from your Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) to have the VA pay for your tuition & fees, books & supplies, and parking (if applicable).

Tuition and Fees Authorization

The VA pays net in-state tuition and mandatory fees directly to UH Mānoa. Per VA regulations, the VA is the “last-payer” for tuition and fees. To understand how your tuition and fees will be reported to the VA, visit our Net Price Calculator.

Obtain a Tuition and Fees authorization from your VRC.

  • The dates of the enrollment period must begin on or before the start of the semester and end on or after the end of the semester
  • If your VRC is authorizing IDAP charges, IDAP must be included on the authorization
  • You must upload a copy of your Tuition and Fees authorization to your Enrollment Certification Request Form (ECRF) each semester. To protect your information, we do not accept authorizations via email
  • You can expect a VA award placeholder to be applied to your account by Third Party Billing at the Business Office. This allows us to clear your applicable tuition and mandatory fees balance while we await the funds to arrive from the VA

Books and Supplies Stipend

You should submit authorizations for books/supplies and parking (if approved) via email (preferred) or in-person directly to the Financial Aid Office.

Ch 35 Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program & Ch 30/1606 Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty or Selected Reserve

Benefit Stipend

A monthly stipend is sent directly to you to help cover educational costs. The payment is based on your training time (eg., full-time, ¾-time, half-time). For information on payment rates, visit the Current VA Education Benefits Rates website.

  • The VA does not pay for your tuition and fees. You are responsible for paying your tuition and fees in full by the payment deadlines published on the Academic Calendar, or you may set up an installment payment plan in MyUH Services or with the Business Office.
  • The VA does not pay for on-campus housing. You are responsible for paying for any meal or housing plans on the standard residence life timeline.

Timeline: Generally, you should receive a stipend on or after the first day of the month for the previous month’s enrollment via direct deposit. (Subject to change based on VA’s payment schedule.) Bank payment processing times may affect when your stipend is reflected in your account.

Verify Your Enrollment (Ch 30 and Ch 1606 Only)

The VA requires you to verify your enrollment online or by phone each month in order to continue to receive your benefit stipend.

Visit W.A.V.E to verify your enrollment with the VA. You may also view the VA’s GI Bill WAVE FAQs.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at [email protected] or (808) 735-4780.