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What Are the Post 9/11 GI Bill Ramifications for Dropping a Course?

September 2nd, 2010
by Ron Kness
Hi, I’m currently enrolled for the summer semester (16 Quarter hours) at my school and I need to drop one of my five classes. That would mean that I would be enrolled with 13 quarter hours still. Full time enrollment is 12 hours.

My question is what repercussions withdrawing will have on my benefits. Will I have to repay that portion of my tuition out of my own pocket to retake the class at a later date, or will I still be able to use my benefits to cover this class in a follow on quarter without paying out of my own pocket? Next week is the mid-term for this quarter.

I also fall under the Yellow Ribbon program as well and am curious if there is a formula that the school “should” use to have me make up the difference in the 50% in excess of the In-State tuition rate that they pay. Thank you in advance. – Lelia

Lelia, whether you have to pay back the VA for that Post 9/11 GI Bill course or not really depends on your reason for dropping the course. If you would have dropped it within the drop period, it probably would not have mattered as much, but since you are approaching mid-term, you are obviously beyond the drop time-frame.

If the reason is due to something beyond your control, then you probably won’t have to pay, but if it was within your control, you probably will have to pay.

You need to contact the VA because once you dropped the course, the school notified the VA and they may withhold future benefits until you have contacted them and they are assured that  the reason making you drop the course has been cleared up and won’t happen again. Whether you or the VA will have to pay for you to retake the course will depend on their ruling on the reason.

As far as the Yellow Ribbon part, the school can pay up to 50% with the VA paying an equal amount. No, there isn’t a formula, as the actual percentage depends on what amount was agreed upon in their agreement with the VA.   With what your school and the VA pays, it should leave very little left for you to pay, unless you are in an extremely expensive program.

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Posted in New GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon Program | 4 Comments »

4 Responses to “What Are the Post 9/11 GI Bill Ramifications for Dropping a Course?”

  1. Chris Meyer says:
    September 23, 2010 at 2:39 pm

    If I had to drop a few classes last semester due to a service connected disability, who should I contact at the VA to state the reason? I have the medical documentation and I have not received tuition for the succeeding semester. That’s why I would like to get this cleared up as soon as possible.

  2. Ron Kness says:
    September 30, 2010 at 5:17 am

    Call their main number at 1-888-442-4551 or contact their Regional Office servicing your state. The Regional offices are less busy and they are usually more responsive.

    Ron

  3. Mya Sanchez says:
    February 21, 2011 at 4:19 pm

    My school considers 12 credits to be full-time. I’m currently at 14 credits and need to drop a class to bring it down to 11 credits. What will happen to the BAH that I have received since January and after? What is the process for me to report the withdrawal, it has no effect on my grade since I’m doing it before the deadline, but we’re almost into the middle of the semester. Oh, I also qualify 100% for the benefits. Thanks for any help. The reason for my withdrawal is due to my child’s sickness (chicken pox) and I need to lighten the class load.

  4. Ron Kness says:
    February 28, 2011 at 3:12 pm

    As far as what will happen? – probably nothing. As far as your housing allowance, if your rate of pursuit is greater-than-half-time, (which it is), then you get the full housing allowance. Dropping one class will not put you at risk.

    As far as the tuition the VA paid for the class you will drop, if you are inside the drop period, then the VA will get back that money form the school. If you are outside the drop period, the VA will credit that class to your first-time/one-time drop policy. If you have never dropped a class outside the drop period before, you can drop up to 6 credits one-time with no repayment required.

    If you have used up your first time/one time option, you still wouldn’t most likely have to pay for the class because you dropped the class due to mitigating circumstances.

    Just so you know, I do not represent the VA, but based on their policies, that is how I believe they would interpret your situation.

    Ron

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