Full-Time Hours for VA Education Benefits

VA Education Benefit payments are based on the level of enrollment (full-time rate of pursuit, part-time, etc.). The VA determines rate of pursuit, and therefore the payment amount, by the dates of each class, not overall enrollment for a semester. Therefore, enrolling in classes on different parts of term within a semester may affect your benefit payments.

For example, an undergraduate student enrolls in 9 credit hours on the 15-week full term and 3 credit hours on the 7-week I session. Assuming all classes apply to the degree and can be certified, the VA will consider the student full-time during the dates that all classes overlap. Once the 7-week I session course ends, the student will drop down to ¾-time enrollment for the monthly benefit payment.

The following charts show the number of certified credit hours needed to be full-time on each part of term for the current and upcoming semesters: 

Undergraduate Students

PART OF TERM DATES FOR TERM FULL TIME ENROLLMENT
15 week 1/6 - 5/5 12 hours
7 week session I 1/6 - 2/26 5 hours
7 week session II 3/3 - 4/29 6 hours
eCore Full Term 1/13 - 5/1   12 hours
eCore 8 week session I 1/13 - 3/8 6 hours
eCore 8 week session II 3/10 - 5/3    6 hours
PART OF TERM DATES FOR TERM FULL TIME ENROLLMENT
15-week 8/12 – 12/9 12 hours
7-week session I 8/12 – 10/2 5 hours
7-week session II 10/8 – 12/9 6 hours
eCore 16-week 8/19 – 12/10 12 hours
eCore 8-week session I 8/19 – 10/12 6hours
eCore 8-week session II 10/14 – 12/10 6 hours
PART OF TERM DATES FOR TERM FULL TIME ENROLLMENT
May Session 5/13 – 5/24 2 hours
10-Week 5/13 – 7/29 8 hours
8-Week 5/29 – 7/25 6 hours  **see note below
6-Week 6/4 – 7/17 4 hours
4-Week session I 5/30 – 6/27 3 hours
4-Week session II 7/2 – 7/30 3 hours
eCore 5/20 – 7/19 6 hours
Study Abroad Varies Contact your Certifying Official

**Summer 2024, 8-week term:  For Chapter 33 and 31 students, 3 hours will be considered more than half-time and will be eligible for a partial housing allowance.

Graduate Students

PART OF TERM DATES FOR TERM FULL TIME ENROLLMENT
15 week 1/6 - 5/5 9 hours
7 week session I 1/6 - 2/26 3 hours
7 week session II 3/3 - 4/29       4 hours
PART OF TERM DATES FOR TERM FULL TIME ENROLLMENT
15-week 8/12 – 12/9 9 hours
7-week session I 8/12 – 10/2 3 hours
7-week session II 10/8 – 12/9 4 hours
PART OF TERM DATES FOR TERM FULL TIME ENROLLMENT
May Session 5/13 – 5/24 1 hour
10-Week 5/13 – 7/29 5 hours
8-Week 5/29 – 7/25 4 hours
6-Week 6/4 – 7/17 3 hours
4-Week session I 5/30 – 6/27 2 hours
4-Week session II 7/2 – 7/30 2 hours
Study Abroad Varies Contact your Certifying Official

If you have questions or if you plan to take classes in multiple terms within the semester, please contact your VA School Certifying Official to discuss your enrollment.