Enrollment Status Definitions & Requirements for VA Benefits
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) uses the following guidelines to determine enrollment status for students who use VA benefits to pay for school. The VA determines student status on a monthly basis.
APUS offers courses in 8-week and 16-week formats. Courses start the first Monday of each month at APUS. All VA enrollments are based on a student’s monthly enrollment status. Overlapping course starts may result in differing enrollment statuses than those below.
COURSE LOAD AND STUDENT STATUS FOR VA BENEFITS
Student status for VA Benefits is based on monthly course load. The chart below applies to VA Benefit requirements for full, three-quarter, or half-time benefit levels.
| Session of Courses | Monthly Course Load | Student Status | Rate of Pursuit1,2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master's-level: 8-week courses | 4 + Credit hours | Full- time | 1.00 |
| 3 Credit Hours | Three-quarter time | .75 | |
| Master's-level: 16-week courses | 9 + Credit hours | Full-time | 1.00 |
| 6 Credit hours | Three-quarter time | .75 | |
| 3 Credit hours | Half-time | .38 | |
| Undergraduate: 8-week courses | 6 + Credit hours | Full-time | 1.00 |
| 5 Credit hours | Three-Quarter time | .83 | |
| 4 Credit hours | Three-Quarter time | .67 | |
| 3 Credit hours | Half-time | .56 | |
| 2 Credit hours | Less than Half-time | .38 | |
| Undergraduate: 16-week courses | 12 + Credit hours | Full-time | 1.00 |
| 9 Credit hours | Three-Quarter time | .75 | |
| 6 Credit hours | Half-time | .50 | |
| 4 Credit hours | Less than Half-time | .33 | |
| 3 Credit hours | Less than Half-time | .25 | |
| 1. BAH is only payable for a rate of pursuit greater than .50. 2. The Rate of Pursuit is calculated by the Department of Veterans Affairs. This calculation is determined by training level, credits taken in a term, and length of the term. APUS does not calculate the Rate of Pursuit. | |||
Doctoral Student Enrollment Status for VA Benefits
| Credit Hours per 16-week Term | Enrollment Status for VA |
|---|---|
| 4+ credit hours or Enrolled in dissertation course DOCT899 | Full-Time |
| 1 to 2 credit hours | Half-Time |
| Credit hours per 8-week Term | Enrollment Status for VA |
|---|---|
| 4+ credit hours or Enrolled in dissertation course DOCT899 | Full-Time |
| 3 credit hours | 3/4 TIme |
| 1 to 2 credit hours | Half-Time |
Please note: The above charts do not apply to Federal Student Aid (FSA). If you are applying for Federal Student Aid, there are different standards by which enrollment is measured. Please refer to the following policies for:
- Enrollment Status Definitions and Requirements for FSA
- Enrollment Intensity Definitions and Requirements for the Pell Grant
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.