Office of Veterans Affairs

Active-duty and veteran students are vital contributors to the culture of commitment and fortitude at Abilene Christian University. We value your military background as an asset to your resilient learning, broad perspective and driven leadership. Through online and on-campus resources, including the Veteran’s Office in ACU’s Office of the Registrar, we will equip you to access your earned benefits and begin earning your degree.  Our office also serves dependents utilizing VA education benefits.
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Active-duty and veteran students are vital contributors to the culture of commitment and fortitude at Abilene Christian University. We value your military background as an asset to your resilient learning, broad perspective and driven leadership. Through online and on-campus resources, including the Veteran’s Office in ACU’s Office of the Registrar, we will equip you to access your earned benefits and begin earning your degree.  Our office also serves dependents utilizing VA education benefits.

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Resources for Active-Duty Students and Veterans

If you believe you are eligible for Veterans Administration benefits, you should file your claim as soon as possible in order to receive your VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE). The following information on this page will help you navigate our student veteran services and your next steps. Additional information about the VA education benefits can be found directly from the VA website.

ACU’s Participation in Veterans’ Claims

The Texas State Approving Agency (SAA), which is part of the Texas Veterans Commission, approves ACU for veteran’s training under Title 38 and Title 10, US Code. Upon acceptance to ACU, you should file for VA benefits. If approved, your subsistence allowance will be paid directly by the VA as long as you are enrolled in an approved ACU degree plan program. Eligibility for VA benefits can also extend, under special circumstances, to children of deceased/disabled veterans, reservists and veterans who qualify as disabled.

New Applicants

To begin your journey toward a life-changing, career-shaping education, apply to ACU through the standard admissions process. The VA will take several weeks to review and process your benefits application. We encourage you to begin your VA benefits application process at least six to eight weeks prior to the beginning of your first semester at ACU.

To submit your application to the VA for education benefits approval, please visit the VA site’s “How to apply” page and utilize the green “Find Your Education Benefits Form” button and answer the screening questions there. For more information on each benefits chapter, click on the links below to review eligibility criteria, qualifying programs, schedules, and payment rates.

Once you have received your decision letter from the VA, submit a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to vabenefits@acu.edu.

(If you are a Chapter 31 VR&E student, please note that you will not receive a VA decision letter as part of your application process; Please contact vabenefits@acu.edu with more information on your application status.)

Contact Us

Chandra McFarlen
ACU Registrar’s Office
Hardin Administration Building, Room 304
(325) 674-2777
888-588-6083
vabenefits@acu.edu

Forms and Processes

Your VA forms are ordinarily mailed by the Veteran’s Administration after a decision has been made on your application.  After you have received the forms, you will submit your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to ACU by emailing it to vabenefits@acu.edu.

Prior to the beginning of each semester, you will need to submit the VA Certification Request form as explained in the box below.

VA Certification Request Form

As a VA claimant, you will submit the online VA Certification Request Form to ACU every semester. Complete and submit this form as soon as possible after registering for your next classes. This confirms your request to certify your courses for benefits in the new semester.

Please note: Each semester, ACU will not submit your semester certification to the VA until we receive this form from you.

To understand the forms relevant to your filing, visit our Frequently Asked Questions.

Degree Plan

To retain your VA benefits while pursuing a degree, you will complete an official degree plan during your first semester at ACU. Because financial assistance from the VA is not available for elective courses, this plan will encompass only the courses necessary to obtain your degree. Changes to your approved schedule of courses may affect your benefits, and ACU is obligated to report such changes to the VA.

These guidelines will not restrict your opportunities for learning and exploration at ACU. Some remedial courses are eligible for VA benefits, and you will be able to consult your academic advisor and ACU’s VA representative to ensure that your courses qualify for full benefits.