1. Apply for Admission to UMKC
2. Complete one of the following forms and submit to the UMKC VA certifying official:
• VA-22-1990 Application for Education Benefits
• VA-22-1995 Request for Change of Program or Place of Training
• VA-22-5490 Dependent Application for Education Benefits
• VA-22-5495 Dependent Request for Change of Program or Place of Training
  
  OR provide your Certificate of Eligibility to the UMKC VA certifying official.
3. If you have NOT received VA educational benefits before, bring a copy of your DD214 (Chapter 30 Only) or NOBE (Reserves Chapter 1606/1607). Early submission of these forms can help prevent payment delays.
4. Enroll in classes
   • At the end of the first week of the semester, UMKC will certify your enrollment to the Veterans Administration. The VA normally processes claims within 8-12 weeks.
5. Make sure to check your UMKC e-mail often, in case the UMKC VA certifying official needs additional information from you in order to process your certification for GI Bill benefits.

The UMKC VA certifying official is located in the UMKC Registration and Records Office. Walk-ins are welcome, or appointments may be made by calling 816-235-1125. Individuals with speech or hearing impairments may call Relay Missouri at 800-735-2966 (TTY).

The UMKC VA certifying official provides veterans with forms to apply for educational benefits. Forms are also available to veterans who wish to transfer benefits from one educational program or institution to another. The certifying official's primary responsibility is to certify enrollment status of veterans to the Veterans Administration.

UMKC is NOT able to determine whether a veteran is eligible for benefits, determine the dollar amount of benefits or when students will receive benefit monies from the VA. You can call 1-888-GI-BILL1 or visit www.gibill.va.gov to determine your eligibility or inquire about benefits.

Provide a copy of your current deployment orders from your commanding officer to the UMKC VA certifying official. Veterans who are currently enrolled and called to active duty will not be required to fill out an admissions application (intent to re-enroll) for up to 18 months when returning to the campus.

The Veterans Affairs Web site on choosing the best benefit for you is available here.

For general assistance with college applications, picking a major, and understanding the GI Bill Benefits you've earned, see the Today's GI Bill Web site.

The Registration and Records office will certify your enrollment at UMKC, but is not allowed to counsel students on which benefit is most beneficial.

On June 24, 2008, Lt. Governor Kinder signed into law the “Missouri Returning Heroes’ Education Act,” which expands education benefits available to service members and veterans with active duty military service on or after Sept. 11, 2001. This act requires UMKC to limit undergraduate tuition charged to certain combat veterans to only $50 per credit hour.

To qualify you must:

1. Have been a Missouri resident at the time you entered active duty service
2. Have served on or after Sept. 11, 2001
3. Have served in armed combat on or after Sept. 11, 2001
4. Have been discharged under honorable conditions
5. Be seeking an UMKC undergraduate degree
6. Maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA

In order to get the tuition waiver, you must:

1. Provide the UMKC Registration and Records Office with a copy of your DD-214

-or-

1. Provide the UMKC Registration and Records Office with a copy of your orders into a combat zone

Click here to view full text of the Missouri Returning Heroes’ Education Act

The Yellow Ribbon Program is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veteran’s Educational Assistance Act of 2008. UMKC has voluntarily entered into an agreement with the VA to fund tuition and fee expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate.

In order to apply for these benefits you must:

1. Determine whether you are eligible for Yellow Ribbon Benefits. You are eligible if you:
• Served in an aggregate period of active duty after Sept. 10, 2001 of at least 36 months

-or-

• Were honorably discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability and served 30 continuous days after Sept. 10, 2001

-or-

• Are a dependent eligible for Transfer of Entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill based on an individual's service under the eligibility criteria listed above.
2. Provide the UMKC VA certifying official with the Certificate of Eligibility that indicates you are Yellow Ribbon eligible along with your application.
3. You cannot be:
• A professional student (law, medical, pharmacy or dental)
• Intending to participate in a study-abroad program

In order to be considered for the Yellow Ribbon Program, you must:

1. Fill out these forms below
• Yellow Ribbon Program Application
• Yellow Ribbon Program Agreement 2009-10
2. Fax them to 816-235-5513 or mail them to the Registration and Records Office, 115 Administrative Center, 5100 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO 64110

You can also visit the Department of Veterans Affairs Yellow Ribbon Web site for additional information about this benefit.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill will become effective for training on or after Aug. 1, 2009. In order to utilize this benefit at UMKC bring the certificate of eligibility you receive from the UMKC VA to the Registration and Records Office.

Click here for more information and how to apply for this benefit.