Military & Veterans
We want to ease the transition from U.S. military life to college life. For the 2020–2021 school year, the University of West Florida earned Gold-level Military Friendly® Distinction and the 12th consecutive year we have been recognized as a Military Friendly® School. GI Jobs magazine has also recognized UWF as a Military Friendly® Spouse School and was ranked the #5 most Military Friendly® School in 2019. The University of West Florida welcomes U.S. military service members, veterans, spouses and their dependent children.
We have a full-time VetSuccess on Campus counselor who will assist with your U.S. military educational benefits. The VSOC counselor can help you discover various benefits available through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Through the Education and Career Counseling Program, you can also receive personalized support to put you on the right path to achieve your goals.
Military and Veterans Educational Benefits
- Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty (Chapter 30)
- Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606)
- VA Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Program (Chapter 31)
- Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)
- Dependents’ Educational Assistance (Chapter 35)
- Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship
Overview of the GI Bill®
Eligible active-duty U.S. military service members or veterans may receive educational benefits from the VA. Now known as the Forever GI Bill, the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 brought significant changes to the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
The Forever GI Bill features:
- Increased benefit levels
- No time limit for using benefits if discharged after Jan. 1, 2013
- National Guard and Reserve members can receive Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits
- Service members who received a Purple Heart on or after Sept. 11, 2001, can receive Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits at the 100% level for up to 36 months
- Purple Heart and Fry Scholarship recipients are eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program
- Active-duty members are eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program, effective Aug. 1, 2022
Yellow Ribbon Program
The Yellow Ribbon Program provides educational benefits to eligible U.S. military members and veterans who have served after Sept. 10, 2001. The payments received through the program can be applied to tuition and fees and includes a stipend for books and supplies. A proud participant of the Yellow Ribbon Program, UWF has agreed to match benefits with the VA to help military students pay for their education.
GI Bill Educational Benefits Eligibility
To receive educational benefits through the GI Bill, you must meet certain criteria:
- Be a veteran who served at least 30 days of continuous active-duty service after Sept. 10, 2001, and be discharged because of a service-connected disability or have served 90 days of active-duty service after Sept. 10, 2001, and received an honorable discharge
- Have received a Purple Heart or Fry Scholarship
- Are serving in the National Guard or Reserve
How Military Educational Benefits Work
| Full-Time Tuition | 100% |
| Post-9/11 GI Bill Academic Year Cap | 35% |
| Remaining Balance | 65% |
| Yellow Ribbon Program | 32.5% |
| UWF’s Yellow Ribbon Program Match | 32.5% |
| Final Balance | 0% |
| Full-Time Tuition | 100% |
| Post-9/11 GI Bill Academic Year Cap | 82% |
| Remaining Balance | 18% |
| Yellow Ribbon Program | 9% |
| UWF’s Yellow Ribbon Program Match | 9% |
| Final Balance | 0% |
Military Credit
You may be able to apply credits from U.S. military training (including basic training) toward your online degree program. To do so, request a copy of your Joint Services Transcript to be sent to UWF. If you are a member of the Air Force, contact the Community College of the Air Force to request transcripts.
Active-Duty Out-of-State Waiver
All active-duty members of the U.S. military who reside or are stationed outside Florida shall have all (100%) out-of-state fees waived by the University. Contact the Military & Veterans Resource Center to apply for the Active-Duty Military Out-of-State Waiver.
Military Tuition Assistance
Active duty service members can also use Tuition Assistance (TA) to pursue a degree 100% online. To learn more about this benefit please visit the Military & Veterans Resource Center.
Additional Resources
For more information about military educational benefits at UWF, check out the Military & Veterans Resource Center.
You might also visit some of these links from the VA.