FAFSA dilemma: Chapter 35 VA benefits vs. out-of-state scholarship - can we keep both?

this is just how it works with out of state scholarships. if u dont qualify as out of state anymore you cant get it. my brother had the same issue but with a different military benefit when he went to school in arizona. we're from nevada. it actually worked out better financially for him to decline the military benefit and take the scholarship - do the math carefully!

I work in financial aid at a university that handles a lot of VA benefits, and this is unfortunately a common issue with Chapter 35 and similar benefits. The key is to calculate the TOTAL financial impact of both scenarios: Option 1: Chapter 35 + in-state tuition - VA Chapter 35 currently pays about $1,401 per month for full-time students (for up to 36 months) - Plus you'd get in-state tuition rates - Your FAFSA aid package would remain the same in either scenario Option 2: Decline Chapter 35 + $18,500 scholarship + out-of-state tuition - Keep the $18,500 scholarship - Pay out-of-state tuition rates (often 2-3x higher than in-state) - No monthly VA stipend Calculate both scenarios with the exact numbers from your school. Some families find the monthly Chapter 35 stipend is more valuable than the scholarship, while others find the reverse. It's truly case-by-case.

Have you talked to the school's Veterans Services office specifically? Sometimes the regular financial aid advisors don't understand all the VA benefit nuances. When my son was in a similar situation (different VA benefit though), the Veterans Services coordinator found a scholarship specifically for veterans' dependents that COULD be combined with his VA benefits. Worth asking!

you should ask them if they'll convert the out-of-state scholarship to a merit scholarship of a smaller amount. my nieces school did this for her and she got to keep her VA benefits too. worth asking!!

I was in this EXACT situation with my Chapter 35 benefits!!! The school would NOT budge about keeping both. SO FRUSTRATING!!! In the end, I did the math and the Chapter 35 monthly payments were worth WAY more over the course of 4 years than that out-of-state scholarship would have been. Plus the VA benefit is GUARANTEED for 36 months as long as you maintain enrollment, but scholarships can sometimes have GPA requirements that make them risky if you have a bad semester. Make sure you know EXACTLY what the out-of-state tuition difference is at your specific school. Some states have a $15k difference while others might have a $30k difference between in-state and out-of-state!

Have you tried calling the Federal Student Aid helpline? I spent WEEKS trying to get through to ask about how my son's VA benefits would affect his FAFSA calculation. Kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual person at FSA in about 10 minutes. They explained exactly how VA benefits impact the aid calculation. Saved me so much frustration! There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ

YOUR SCHOOL IS LYING TO YOU!!!!!! Federal law (Section 702 of the Choice Act) REQUIRES schools to give in-state tuition to Chapter 35 eligible students!!! They CANNOT legally deny you the in-state rate if you qualify for Chapter 35!!! Show them the law and DEMAND they honor both the scholarship AND your rightful in-state tuition!!!!

I suggest getting everything in writing from the financial aid office. When my daughter had VA benefits, the verbal information we got from one advisor contradicted what another told us. Having documentation of their policy will be important. Also, ask if they offer any comparable scholarships for in-state students with your daughter's qualifications that could replace the out-of-state one if you go the Chapter 35 route.

Did the school tell you exactly how much the out-of-state tuition is compared to in-state? Have you calculated how much total money you'd get from Chapter 35 over 4 years? These numbers would help figure out which is actually better. Also don't forget to think about summer terms if she might take classes then.

my cousin had this happen and they let her defer the scholarship for a year while she worked stuff out with the VA... maybe ask if that's an option while u figure out the best path?

Based on the numbers you've provided, it looks like the Chapter 35 route might be more beneficial financially: Option 1: Chapter 35 + in-state tuition - Tuition: $14,200/year - Chapter 35 benefit: ~$12,600/year - Net cost: $1,600/year Option 2: Out-of-state scholarship - Tuition: $36,500/year - Scholarship: $18,500/year - Net cost: $18,000/year Unless I'm missing something, Option 1 appears to save you significantly more. However, remember that other factors like housing, meal plans, and additional scholarships could change this equation. Also, you'll need to verify exactly how the SAI from your FAFSA translates to actual aid at this specific institution under both scenarios.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the Book Allowance that comes with Chapter 35 benefits! It's about $1,200 per academic year, which can help offset some of those textbook costs. Also, some schools have work-study programs specifically for veterans' dependents that could provide additional income while she's in school. Another consideration - if your daughter is planning to pursue graduate school later, she might want to save some of her Chapter 35 benefits for that since it's a 36-month total entitlement that can be used for both undergrad and graduate programs. Just something to factor into your long-term planning! The math definitely seems to favor the Chapter 35 route based on what others have calculated, but make sure to ask the school about any additional fees that might apply differently to in-state vs out-of-state students.

I'm new to navigating VA benefits but I've been following this thread closely since I'm in a similar situation with my son who qualifies for Chapter 35 benefits. Based on all the great advice here, it seems like getting everything in writing from both the financial aid office AND the Veterans Services office is crucial. One question I haven't seen asked yet - does the school have any flexibility on the scholarship terms? Like could they potentially redesignate it as a merit scholarship instead of specifically an "out-of-state" scholarship? Some schools are willing to work with families on these technical distinctions, especially when VA benefits are involved. Also, @Mei Liu, have you checked if Colorado has any additional state-specific benefits for veterans' dependents that might stack with the federal Chapter 35 benefits? Some states offer supplemental programs that could help close any remaining cost gaps.

I went through this exact same dilemma with my daughter last year! We were torn between her Chapter 35 benefits and a $20K out-of-state scholarship at a school in Oregon. After weeks of back-and-forth with financial aid, we discovered a few things that might help: 1. Ask about "stackable" scholarships - some schools have smaller merit-based awards that CAN be combined with VA benefits 2. Request a detailed cost breakdown for BOTH scenarios including fees, housing, meal plans, etc. - not just tuition 3. Check if the school participates in any tuition exchange programs that might give you a third option We ultimately went with the Chapter 35 route and it saved us about $12K per year compared to the scholarship option. The monthly housing allowance really adds up! Plus, my daughter qualified for additional need-based aid through FAFSA that she wouldn't have gotten with the higher out-of-state costs. One last tip - if you do go the Chapter 35 route, apply early for on-campus housing since the VA housing allowance rate is usually higher for students living on campus vs off-campus. Good luck with whatever you decide!

I'm new to this community but dealing with a similar situation with my stepson who's eligible for Chapter 35 benefits. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly educational! One thing I wanted to add that I learned from our local VFW chapter - make sure to ask the school's Veterans Services office if they have a dedicated Chapter 35 coordinator. Apparently some larger universities have staff who specialize specifically in Dependents' Educational Assistance rather than just general VA benefits, and they often know about workarounds or additional funding sources that the regular financial aid staff might not be aware of. Also, I noticed someone mentioned the book allowance - does anyone know if that $1,200 is paid directly to the student or to the school? My stepson is hoping to buy used books to save money, so it would be helpful to know if he'll have flexibility with how those funds are used. The math breakdown that @Amara Chukwu provided is super helpful for understanding the real cost difference. It's amazing how much the Chapter 35 benefits can actually cover when you factor in all the components!

I'm new to this community and currently dealing with VA benefits for my own daughter who's starting college next year. This thread has been incredibly informative! One additional resource that might help - have you reached out to a Student Veterans of America (SVA) chapter at the school? Many universities have these student organizations, and they often have members who've navigated similar benefit conflicts. Sometimes peer advice from students who've actually been through the process can be just as valuable as official guidance. Also, I'm curious - did the financial aid office give you a deadline for making this decision? Some schools have different deadlines for accepting scholarships vs. enrolling in VA benefits, and timing could be a factor if you need more time to crunch all these numbers and explore alternatives. The consensus here seems pretty clear that the Chapter 35 route is financially better based on your specific numbers, but I'd definitely encourage following up on some of the creative suggestions like asking about scholarship redesignation or checking for Colorado state benefits. Every little bit helps when you're trying to make college affordable!

I'm new to this community and navigating FAFSA for the first time with my son who's eligible for Chapter 35 benefits. This entire thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea these kinds of conflicts between VA benefits and scholarships were so common. Reading through everyone's experiences and the detailed math breakdowns really drives home how important it is to calculate the TOTAL financial picture, not just look at the headline scholarship amount. The point about the monthly housing allowance and book stipend adding significant value to the Chapter 35 benefits is something I definitely need to factor in for my own situation. I'm curious - for those who went the Chapter 35 route, did you find that having the guaranteed monthly payments made budgeting easier compared to having a large scholarship amount applied once per semester? The predictability of the VA benefits seems like it could be helpful for financial planning throughout the school year. Also, thank you to everyone who shared specific resources like contacting Veterans Services offices, Student Veterans of America chapters, and even that tip about Claimyr for getting through to FSA. Having these concrete next steps makes the whole process feel much more manageable!

I'm new to this community but have been following this discussion closely as I'm dealing with a similar situation for my nephew who qualifies for Chapter 35 benefits. One angle that hasn't been explored yet - have you considered reaching out to the school's alumni association or development office? Sometimes they have discretionary scholarship funds specifically for unique situations like this that aren't widely advertised. A friend of mine found out about a "bridge scholarship" that helped cover the gap when her daughter had to choose between different types of aid. Also, based on all the excellent math breakdowns here, it really seems like the Chapter 35 route is your best bet financially. But I'd suggest documenting this entire decision-making process and all the advice you've received. If your daughter decides to transfer or if circumstances change, having this information organized could save you from having to research everything all over again. The community knowledge here has been incredible - I've learned more about VA benefits in this one thread than from hours of official websites!

I'm new to this community and just wanted to say thank you for posting this question! My daughter is a junior in high school and will likely qualify for Chapter 35 benefits through my husband's service, so this entire discussion has been incredibly valuable for our future planning. The detailed math breakdowns and real-world experiences everyone has shared here have really opened my eyes to how complex these decisions can be. I had assumed that any scholarship would automatically be better than VA benefits, but clearly that's not always the case! The point about factoring in the book allowance, housing stipend, and predictable monthly payments versus lump sum scholarships is something I never would have considered. I'm definitely going to bookmark this thread and start researching some of the resources mentioned - especially about finding dedicated Chapter 35 coordinators at schools and reaching out to Student Veterans of America chapters. It sounds like having the right contacts can make all the difference in navigating these benefit conflicts. Based on everything discussed here, it really does seem like the Chapter 35 route would be the better financial choice for your situation. Wishing you and your daughter the best with whatever decision you make!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience since I went through something very similar last year with my son's Chapter 35 benefits and a merit scholarship conflict. After reading all the excellent advice here, I'd strongly recommend creating a detailed spreadsheet comparing both scenarios over the full 4 years, including some costs that might not be obvious: - Don't forget about mandatory fees (recreation, technology, lab fees) which can differ between in-state/out-of-state students - Factor in the Chapter 35 housing allowance rate for your specific zip code (you can look this up on the VA website) - Consider whether your daughter might take summer classes, as this affects the 36-month benefit calculation - Look into whether the school has payment plan options that work better with monthly VA payments vs. semester scholarship disbursements One thing that really helped us was asking the financial aid office for a "net price calculator" specifically for our situation. Most schools have these tools but they don't always account for VA benefits properly. Also, if you do go the Chapter 35 route, make sure to submit your Certificate of Eligibility early - VA processing times can be unpredictable and you don't want delays affecting your daughter's enrollment. Good luck with this difficult decision!