Confirm your residency status found on your letter of acceptance from the university.
Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill® Tuition Payments: The VA does not pay tuition in excess of the in-state or RESIDENT tuition rate. If you receive a NON-RESIDENT tuition rate (including Western Undergraduate Exchange or Pacific Islander) you may be responsible for paying any remaining tuition balance that is not covered by the VA.
If you have questions about your residency status or about active duty, veteran or dependent exemptions, contact the Office of Admissions. The Office of Admissions will determine if you are eligible to receive in-state tuition and will notify you of the documentation that is required, which may include:
- Your or your sponsor’s Current Military Orders
- VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
- Your or your sponsor’s DD-214
- CH 31 VR&E tuition and fees PO Authorization
Need more information?
Office of the Registrar
Phone: 808-689-2900
Email: uhwova@hawaii.edu
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 website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Veteran Exemption Tuition
Effective August 1, 2021, non-resident veterans who were honorably discharged and are eligible for GI Bill® education benefits may qualify for and pay in-state resident tuition. Eligible students must provide a copy of their VA Certificate of Eligibility prior to the first day of instruction for the semester in which the exemption is being requested. Documents may be sent via Secure File Transfer: https://westoahu.hawaii.edu/it/securefiletransfer (select “Veteran Affairs” as department). For more information, contact the Office of the Registrar at (808) 689-2900 or uhwova@hawaii.edu.
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 website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Readmission Policy for Service Members
Service members and reservists will be readmitted to a program if they are temporarily unable to attend class or have to suspend their studies due to service requirements. Service members will be readmitted to the same program and academic status that they had when they were last enrolled or last admitted.
Yellow Ribbon Program
The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. This program allows institutions of higher learning (degree granting institutions) in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs to fund tuition expenses that exceed the public in-state undergraduate tuition rate. The institution can contribute up to 50% of those expenses and the Department of Veterans Affairs will match the same amount as the institution. Schools participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program are required to offer participation to students on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, visit http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/yellow_ribbon.asp.
Eligibility Requirements
- Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) Certificate of Eligibility showing Yellow Ribbon Program eligibility.
- Classified as a non-resident student paying the non-resident tuition rate.
- Admitted to a degree program for the semester in which benefits are being requested with UH West Oʻahu as your home institution.
Note: Active duty personnel receiving Chapter 33 benefits and spouses of active duty personnel receiving Transfer of Entitlement (ToE) benefits are not eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program.
Application Process
For the 2024-2025 academic year, UH West Oʻahu will offer Yellow Ribbon Program awards to 2 students who meet the eligibility requirements on a first-come, first-served basis. To apply, students must submit ALL of the following documents as one application packet to be considered:
- Copy of the student’s VA Certificate of Eligibility showing Yellow Ribbon Program eligibility.
- UH West O‘ahu Yellow Ribbon Program Application (PDF)
- UH West O‘ahu Veteran Student Enrollment Certification Form
Completed application packets will be accepted for the academic year beginning June 1. Documents submitted before this date will not be accepted. The application deadline is August for fall and January for spring. Completed applications may be dropped off in-person (C-141), mailed, or submitted using the UH File Drop and entering uhwova@hawaii.edu as the email recipient.
Notification Process
Eligible students who submit their application packet by the deadline will be notified through their UH email account of their award status. The Yellow Ribbon Program award is valid from August 1 to July 31.
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 website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
