Veteran Benefits
The following Q&A Information was taken from the UC Santa Barbara Financial Aid website. Please check with your individual colleges for more financial aid information
- Can I Receive both Financial Aid and Veterans Benefits?
Yes! You can receive both VA educational benefits and financial aid by filling out the FAFSA. You may be eligible for federal, state and/or institutional loans and scholarships in addition to your VA educational benefits. Veteran students are considered independent students per FAFSA guidelines, and you do not need to report your parent financial data.
Reminder: The FAFSA is available starting October 1 for the following academic year and the priority deadline to be considered for state and institutional grants is March 2 – so don’t forget to complete the FAFSA early!
- Can my VA Benefits Affect my Financial Aid?
Yes. In some cases, your financial aid can be affected by your VA educational benefits. The only benefits that may affect your financial aid award is the Chapter 33 tuition and fees paying portion and the CA Veterans College Tuition Waiver. Each award is different, so the VA benefit may affect each person’s award differently. But by filling out the FAFSA, you will maximize your funding for school and in most cases receive substantially more funding.
- Do I have to Report my Veterans Education Benefits on the FAFSA?
No. You do not have to report VA education benefits on the FAFSA. However, you do need to report non-education VA benefits on the FAFSA. Non-education benefits include: disability, death pension, dependency indemnity compensation and/or VA Work-Study allowances.