Veteran Services

Veterans Benefits at UMF are approved by the Veterans Administration for the education and training of veterans, service persons, and dependents of disabled and deceased veterans. Students who expect to receive benefits should contact the nearest VA regional office for information concerning eligibility, counseling, and benefits.

Once admitted to UMF, new students should notify the Merrill Center that they wish to be certified for VA benefits. Twelve credit hours each semester are required for full-time benefits. It is the responsibility of the student and the University to notify the VA of any change in status which affects the student’s benefit amount.

See more information about Veterans’ Dependents’ Educational Benefits. And Information about applying for GI Bill Benefits for Veterans

New for Fall 2024 – On-Campus Housing for Veteran and Active Duty Military

UMF is proud to announce the establishment of a Veteran and Military Community on the 4th floor of Dakin Hall. The Veteran and Military Community will be a place where veterans and active duty military personnel can join together in a vibrant community of their peers while working toward their personal goals.

The Veteran and Military Community offers comfortable, large, single rooms in a community that only houses veterans and military personnel.

As a member of this community, you’ll have the best of both worlds, a floor community that provides resources and services that cater to veterans and members of the military and access to the wide variety of programming available to the greater Dakin Hall community.

If you’re seeking a supportive educational environment with access to a traditional college experience, the Veteran and Active Duty Military Community is for you.

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In-State Tuition for Veterans

Beginning Summer 2014, UMF will charge in-state tuition rates to Veterans and Active Duty Servicemembers – even if they are Non-residents of Maine – if they provide one of the following documents: VA Certificate of Eligibility Award Letter, DD-214 (Honorable Discharge), or a Military ID/CAC.

Dependents of Veterans

Veterans who are eligible to receive Chapter 30 or 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill®, or Dependent beneficiaries using Post 9/11 GI Bill®, and recipients of Chapter 35, Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program, will be charged in-state tuition rates for terms starting after the Spring 2015 semester. Once the in-state tuition rate is applied to the eligible individual, it shall remain in effect until the student completes their academic program, even after GI Bill® benefits have been exhausted, transferred, or otherwise expired.

Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits would need to be transferred to the dependent, and the dependent must begin college courses within three years after the veteran’s discharge from active duty to receive In-state tuition.

Dependents of Active Duty Military Members

Members of the armed forces, and their dependents, including a spouse or domestic partner, will be granted in-state tuition during such periods of time as they are stationed on active duty within the State of Maine, or if their Military State of residency is Maine. Documentation needed to support Military State of residency would be a copy of the military members’ Leave and Earnings Statement (LES).  Individuals who have been granted in-state tuition under these conditions, but then cease from active duty would continue to be granted in-state tuition. Students seeking in-state tuition based on a domestic partnership relationship must submit an approved Affidavit of Domestic Partnership.

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Here at UMF, veterans and active-duty military personnel and their dependents will find a wide range of courses and degrees to reach their educational goals.

Who We Serve:

• Veterans who were on active duty and contributed to the “Montgomery G.I. Bill®”
• Active duty military personnel attending UMF and using the “Montgomery G.I. Bill®”
• Veterans who have served since 9/11 and will be taking advantage of the “Post 9/11 G.I. Bill®”
• Members of the active Reserve and National Guard
• Eligible dependents of 100% disabled or deceased veterans
• Dependents of 9/11 veterans who received transfer of benefits
• All other veterans that do not fall under any of the above

Priority Registration
Veterans will receive priority registration during the registration period each semester. As long as there are no holds preventing registration (i.e. past due balance, library hold, financial responsibility statement hold), students who are Veterans will be able to register prior to the normal registration period for students.

Military Activation
If you are unexpectedly mobilized and called to active duty, you should present your official Military Orders to our School Certifying Official indicated above within 30 days of receipt of your orders. As this can have an impact on your academic career, the University will try to minimize the effects of this disruption to your education as much as possible. 

Please view the full University of Maine System Student Military Mobilization and Activation Policy.

Veteran Responsibilities
In order to keep the Veteran Administration up-to-date with your educational program, it is imperative for the veteran to complete a Veteran Request for Certification prior to the start of each semester and submit it to the UMF Certifying Official. You should also notify the UMF Certifying Official immediately of any changes to a schedule (i.e. adding / dropping a class), withdrawing from the university, change of major or change of address.

Generally, the VA cannot pay for:

• Courses you don’t attend (“L” grades)
• Courses from which you withdraw
• Courses you complete but receive a grade that will not count toward graduation

G.I. Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

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A 2024-2025 “Military-Friendly School” – Small Public Colleges
— MilitaryFriendly.com

The Military Friendly Schools survey is the longest-running most comprehensive review of college and university investments in serving military and veteran students.

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