Breadcrumb
Getting Started
Step 1: Apply to Cal Poly Humboldt. The deadline for each Fall semester’s registration for military-affiliated students at Humboldt is August 1st.
Step 2: Obtain military transcripts from your branch and any previous college transcripts and submit them to us.
Requesting air force transcripts
Requesting transcripts for any other branch of the military
Step 3: Apply for Financial Aid and check out some more financial assistance tools and links.
Step 4: Apply for your Veterans Educational Benefits. You may be eligible for a range of benefits based on the timing of your service and/or your current disability status. Humboldt accepts:
- Chapter 31/VRE
- Chapter 33/Post 9/11 GI Bill®
- Chapter 35/ Dependents Educational Assistance
- Chapter 30/ Montgomery GI Bill®
- Chapter 1606/Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve
- Fry Scholarship
- Edith Nourse STEM Scholarship
- CalVet Fee Waiver
- If you are Active Duty and interested in transferring your benefits, you can do so on the milConnect website.
Step 5a: Submit an enrollment certification request via myHumboldt Student Center. This must be done EVERY semester you want to use your benefits. Need help with the request process? Click here to download the user guide. You must submit an updated Certification Request whenever classes are added or dropped, and you must less us know in writing that an updated request has submitted.
Step 5b: If applicable, submit your CalVet Fee Waiver Award Letter to Humboldt VETS. The CalVet Fee Waiver Award will cover the entire academic year and must be submitted before the end of the semester (cannot apply retroactively). Take into consideration that the CalVet Fee Waiver will only cover the tuition fee and will not apply towards any of the other mandatory campus fees. Note: Obtaining the award letter from your County Veteran Service Office can be a lengthy process, so get a head start on it during the summer!
Note: Humboldt Admissions will send you an email mid-late summer about signing up for campus orientation, including getting signed up for your first classes.
Optional: sign up for any necessary accommodations with the Student Disability Resource Center
1. Responsibility for Tuition and Fees
I understand that the VA may not pay my tuition and fees in full or may delay payment. I am responsible for any outstanding balance owed to the institution that is not covered by my VA education benefits.
2. Enrollment Certification
I understand that my school must certify my enrollment to the VA before benefits can be paid. Certification is based on my registered classes that apply toward my approved program of study.
3. Required Documents for Certification
Before my enrollment can be certified to the VA, I may be required to submit the following documents:
- Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the VA
- Request for Certification (CSU form found in your MyHumboldt)
- Joint Services Transcript (JST) or other prior transcripts
- Have a Degree or Education Plan from an academic advisor.
- An active Purchase Order # for VR&E students.
- It is the student’s responsibility to contact their VR&E counselor for updated Purchase Orders.
- 2 Purchase Orders are required for Cal Poly Humboldt. 1 for tuition and a 2nd for books and supplies.
Possibly:
- Copy of DD-214 (also required for veteran priority registration)
- Any additional documentation required by the School Certifying Official (SCO)
-Failure to submit required documentation may delay certification and payment of benefits. -Dependents will need to share their sponsor veteran’s first name, last name and SSN/VA file number with the VETS program before VA education benefits can be certified by the school.
4. Changes in Enrollment
- I must notify the School Certifying Official (SCO) immediately if I:
- Add or drop classes
- Withdraw from a class
- Stop attending a class
- Change my major or program
- Change my enrollment status (full-time/part-time)
*Note: These changes may affect my VA education benefits and could result in a debt to the VA. The VA does not penalize for failed classes. They will penalize for classes dropped after the add/drop period, failure to attend or for classes taken as or changed to No Credit (NC).
5. Attendance Requirement
VA requires me to attend classes for which I receive benefits. If I stop attending a class without officially withdrawing, my benefits may be reduced or terminated.
6. Overpayments and Debts
Changes in enrollment or attendance may create an overpayment. If an overpayment occurs, I may be required to repay the VA.
7. Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) Payment Information
The Post-9/11 GI Bill may provide the following benefits if I am eligible:
- Tuition and Fees
- Paid directly to the school by the VA
- Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA)
- Paid directly to the student each month while I am enrolled more than half-time.
- Based on the E-5 with dependents Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rate for the school’s ZIP code. If I am enrolled at multiple schools I understand that one will be the ‘parent’ school for purposes of MHA.
- Online-Only Training
- Students enrolled exclusively in online courses receive a reduced housing allowance equal to about half of the national average BAH rate.
- Books and Supplies Stipend
- Up to $1,000 per academic year (determined by the VA and class load) paid directly to the student by term (i.e. $500/term).
Payments may be reduced based on:
- My VA eligibility percentage (50–100%)
- My rate of pursuit (full-time, ¾ time, etc.)
- Whether my courses are in-person or online.
8. Monthly Housing Allowance Rules (when authorized)
- MHA is only paid while classes are in session and not during breaks between terms.
- Payments are paid monthly after the month of attendance.
- Active-duty service members are not eligible for MHA.
- My rate of pursuit (full-time, ¾ time, etc.) affects MHA.
- Classes that begin after the start of the term or end before the end of term will affect MHA payment rates.
9. Verification of Enrollment
I am required to verify my enrollment with the VA each month to receive payment.
10. Satisfactory Academic Progress
I must maintain satisfactory academic progress according to institutional policy to remain eligible for VA education benefits.
11. Repeating Courses
The VA may only pay for repeated courses under certain circumstances, such as when a course was failed previously or when a higher grade is required for program completion.
12. Program Applicability
The VA will only pay for courses that apply directly to my approved program of study.
13. Communication with the School Certifying Official
I must maintain communication with the School Certifying Official regarding any changes that could affect my VA education benefits. It is in my best interest to ask someone in the VETs center before making changes if I have any doubts.