Veteran Status

On your FAFSA, you reported that you are a Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces. The Department of Veterans Affairs did not confirm that you are or will be a qualifying veteran for the purposes of Federal Student Aid (this is not related to VA Education Benefits).

Veteran Definitions

You are a veteran if you did not have a dishonorable character of service AND you meet one of the following:

  • Served in active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Space Force or Coast Guard) for other than training.
  • Served on active duty for training or inactive duty for training in the U.S. Armed Forces and was disabled from injury incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.
  • Served in Reserves or National Guard and you were called up to active federal (not state) duty by presidential order for a purpose other than training.
    • Note: Basic Training with the Reserves or National Guard is not considered active service.
  • You are not a veteran now but will be one by June 30.

What to Do Next

If you meet the above criteria as a qualifying veteran:

  • Submit a copy of your DD214 (Service-2 or Member-4) with a character of service as anything but dishonorable.
  • If you served in the Reserves or National Guard and were called up to federal duty and you do not have a DD214, you can submit a letter from a superior officer that documents the call-up to active duty and classifies the character of service as anything but dishonorable.

If you are currently serving in active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training but are not a veteran yet:

  • Log into studentaid.gov and make the following corrections to your FAFSA:
    • In the Student Personal Circumstances section, remove the option “The student is a veteran of the U.S. armed forces.”
    • In the same section, click to add the option “The student is currently serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces for purposes other than training.

If you do not meet the above criteria and are not a qualified veteran:

  • Log into studentaid.gov and correct your FAFSA by removing the “The student is a veteran of the U.S. armed forces” option from the Student Personal Circumstances section. 
    • If you cannot select any other circumstances that would make you an Independent student, you will need to complete your parent’s information and invite them to complete their portion of the FAFSA.