Steps for Veterans
Step 1—Choose a Degree Program
- To be eligible for veterans benefits, you will need to select an academic program on the UMGC application.
Step 2—Complete the Veterans Online Application
- Visit the Department of Veterans Affairs website to apply for veterans education benefits.
- It can take four to six weeks for the VA to issue your Certificate of Eligibility.
Step 3—Apply to UMGC
- Apply to UMGC
- When you submit your application to a U.S. undergraduate or graduate program, you will be charged a $50 application fee; the application fee for the doctoral program is $100.
- If you are transferring between one of our three divisions (United States, Europe, and Asia), you don't need to reapply for admission, but you will need to update your student information. You may do so by logging in to MyUMGC, and selecting the "Student Information Updates" link in the lower right-hand corner.
Step 4— Secure Your Veterans Benefits
- If you'd like to use your veterans education benefits, you'll need to complete the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Education Benefits Application, which allows you to determine your level of education benefits.
- You should complete the UMGC Request for Certification while the VA processes your application.
- Learn more about certification of veterans benefits.
Step 5—Submit School & Military Transcripts
- School Transcripts—You will need to submit transcripts including high school transcripts as well as transcripts from any institution of higher education that you attended before coming to UMGC.
- Military Transcripts—Learn how to get your service evaluated for UMGC credit.
- For students applying on or after January 7, 2021, UMGC accepts the Joint Services Transcript and Community College of the Air Force transcripts as proof of high school graduation or equivalency.
Steps for Spouses & Dependent Children
Step 1—Choose a Degree Program
- To be eligible for transferred veterans benefits, you will need to select an academic program on the UMGC application.
Step 2—Apply to UMGC
- Apply to UMGC
- When you submit your application to a U.S. undergraduate or graduate program, you will be charged a $50 application fee; the application fee for the doctoral program is $100.
- If you are transferring between one of our three divisions (United States, Europe, and Asia), you don't need to reapply for admission, but you will need to update your student information. You may do so by logging in to MyUMGC, and selecting the "Student Information Updates" link in the lower right-hand corner.
Step 3—Secure the Military Tuition Rate
- To receive the reduced military tuition rate, within 30 days of submitting your application for admission to UMGC, send the following documents by email to admissions@umgc.edu or by fax to 240-684-2153.
- Copy of your DEERS form 1172-2
- Spouses Only—If your DEERS form 1172-2 is not available, you also have the option of sending a copy of your marriage license PLUS documentation showing your sponsor's military service expiration date; acceptable documents include:
- Copy of your sponsor's proof of service statement or letter that includes current service status
- Copy of sponsor's most recent enlistment or commissioning contract
- Copy of sponsor's most recent Leave and Earnings statement
- Copy of sponsor's most recent Tuition Assistance form, if the form contains the expiration of term of service (ETS) date
- Please note: You will need to follow UMGC guidelines for submitting your Tuition Assistance documentation.
- Dependents Applying to Graduate Programs Only—In addition to your DEERS form 1172-2, please also send one of the following from your sponsor.
- Copy of your sponsor's current residential lease or deed for a property with a Maryland address
- Copy of your sponsor's most recent military orders, showing Maryland as your sponsor's claimed state of residency
- Copy of your sponsor's most recent Leave and Earnings Statement, showing Maryland as your sponsor's claimed state of residency
- Copy of your current residential lease or deed for property with a Maryland address and a Certificate of Eligibility or transfer approval memo indicating that you are using the sponsor's transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits
- Not all Tuition Assistance forms include a military service expiration date; if your sponsor's military service branch includes a military service expiration date on the TA form, you may submit a copy of the TA form as proof of military eligibility to the Admissions Office; otherwise, you will need to submit another form of documentation that includes your sponsor's military service expiration date.
- We do not accept copies of military identification cards as proof of military status.
- If you do not submit sufficient documentation to verify eligibility for the military tuition rate within 30 days after you submitted your application for admission to UMGC, your tuition rate will be changed to the out-of-state rate, unless you have submitted the residency questionnaire in your student portal and qualify for in-state tuition, in which case your tuition rate will be changed to in-state.
- Spouses of military servicemembers may be eligible for financial assistance through Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts, known as MyCAA, if the spouse meets the criteria established by MyCAA.
GI Bill is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. More information about education benefits offered by VA is available on the U.S. government GI Bill website.
Step 4— Secure Your Veterans Benefits
- If you'd like to use your veterans education benefits, you'll need to complete the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Education Benefits Application, which allows you to determine your level of education benefits.
- You should complete the UMGC Request for Certification while the VA processes your application.
- Learn more about certification of veterans benefits.
Step 5—Submit Your Transcripts
- School Transcripts—You will need to submit transcripts from any institution of higher education that you attended before coming to UMGC.
Admissions to UMGC Asia & UMGC Europe
UMGC is an accredited online university that serves military students and their spouses and dependent children, as well as veterans, from three divisions—United States, Asia, and Europe. If you reside overseas, please apply to UMGC Asia or UMGC Europe. Application fees, tuition, and other costs can vary for students studying overseas.