INFORMATION FOR
The admission process is the same for veterans as it is for every other student and it’s best to review the admission requirements before applying. Admission applications for all types of William Paterson applicants (freshman, transfer, graduate, etc.) are here, and applications may be completed and submitted online.
An outline of the different VA educational-benefit chapters may be found here. Note, however, that the exact VA education benefit(s) you qualify for – and you may qualify for more than one, and will need to decide which one it would be best for you to accept – can only be determined by the VA. However, the OVMA can provide assistance.
These documents have to be done prior to the start of the semester.
Each semester this form must be submitted once your course registration has been completed, or at least 30 days prior the first day of the semester otherwise, you risk being dropped from your classes for non-payment and your enrollment certification would not be submitted to the VA.
Request a copy through this website and note that the Member 4 copy, which shows the character of your discharge, is preferred for most educational purposes. After obtaining your DD214, be sure to keep this document in a safe place. Also note that it is not advisable to register for your DD214 through a county courthouse since doing so makes the process a public record, which could then lead to identity theft.
You can access your remaining entitlements by going to the VA eBenefits page and working through these steps:
If you are entitled to 100% of the Post 9/11 GI Bill ®benefits, the VA will pay 100% of your tuition and certain fees. If you are entitled to less than 100% of the Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits, the amount VA pays is the percentage of your entitlement as indicated in your Certification of Eligibility. For example if you are entitled to 60%, the VA will pay 60% of your tuition cost and certain fees.
Federal and state laws extend the in-state tuition rate to honorably discharged veterans, veteran dependents, and members of the National Guard and Reserve, regardless of their state of residency.
Most VA educational benefit programs (or “chapters”) cover the cost of remedial or foundation courses, but only if a placement test indicates that you need to take that type of course, or if the course is required as a prerequisite for another course in your major.
The VA will process your benefits as quickly as possible but this can take several weeks from the first time you apply. Once you are in the VA system, though – and if you submit your WPU Enrollment Certification form before the start of each semester – your benefits should be provided to you continuously (with any monthly stipends paid at the end of each month during a semester).
The textbook stipend is paid as soon as your claim is processed so you should not wait for the stipend to arrive before ordering your textbooks. The Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), meanwhile, and all other monthly stipends are paid at the end of each month during a semester. Keep in mind that partial months are paid at a prorated rate.
During the summer, William Paterson offers split sessions (Full 6 week, Accelerated 4 week, Condensed 3 week classes, and Extended 12 week) which are referred to as “accelerated sessions” by the federal Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The VA will, therefore, accelerate the pay status in proportion to the length of a split session. Consequently, full-time course loads will be different for students enrolled in the split sessions.
Your application fee will be waived.
New Jersey recognizes and appreciates the important contributions made by active duty, Reserve, and National Guard members. In order to accommodate these students and their dependents, University Policy provides direction to faculty and staff on offering these students the following options to accommodate unexpected training/drill, deployment, or change-of-station orders.
If you are going to be absent from your classes for short or long period of time due to military orders/training, please bring or send a copy of the military orders to the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs. Upon receipt, the office shall promptly contact the appropriate offices and professors to assist you as well as protect and safeguard your status as WP students.
Any military training you received that may qualify for college credit is evaluated by the WPU Office of Registrar. While credits earned for military-related training do not factor into the admissions process, the academic dean for the program you major in may accept some or all of that credit and apply it toward your degree requirements. Provide the Registrar’s office or the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs with your official military transcripts, which can be ordered through this website, along with a copy of your DD214 (military discharge document).
The WPU Catalog outlines the Departments & Programs (majors) and their respective course requirements. Important things to know when selecting your courses:
Notify the Office of Veterans and Military Affairs or the Registrar office right away via email so your new schedule can be reviewed to (1) make sure the replacement course(s) are applicable to your major (VA educational benefits only cover courses that fulfill the degree requirements for your major), and to (2) avoid any overpayment situations.
WPU requires graduate and undergraduate students to take a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester to be classified as full-time. However, you should also check the credit-hour requirements to be classified as full-time by the VA educational benefits program through which you receive your benefits, as well as for any financial aid purposes. Graduate students should also note that their full-time status might vary based on any assistantships.
What level of VA educational benefits am I entitled to if I’m not classified as a full-time student?
The VA calculates your benefit amount based on this “rate of pursuit” formula:
Chapter 33 (Post 9/11 G.I. Bill)
All other VA educational benefits (or Chapters)
11 credit hours = 90% of all educational benefits
12 credit hours or more = Full-time
10 credit hours = 80%
9 to 11 credit hours = Three-quarter time
9 credit hours = 80%
6 to 8 credit hours = Half-time
8 credit hours = 70%
4 and 5 credit hours = Less than half, more than one quarter
7 credit hours = 60%
1 to 3 credit hours = Quarter-time
If you are a recipient of Chapter 33 (Post 9/11 G.I. Bill) educational benefits, you must be registered for course credits that constitute at least 51% of full-time status (for undergraduates, this is a minimum of 6.12 credit hours) to receive the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH). Also, in order to avoid a drastic reduction in BAH, at least one credit hour each semester must physically take place on campus. You may risk exhausting the GI Bill if you are not full-time for the whole semester.
All students utilizing VA educational benefits must maintain certain standards of progress detailed in the WP Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. Students must maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA after attempting 12 credits. The University requires at least a 2.0 GPA for graduation.
The VA states that veteran students “MUST MAINTAIN SATISFACTORY ATTENDANCE, CONDUCT, AND PROGRESS: To continue receiving benefits, you must maintain satisfactory attendance, conduct, and progress. If you don’t meet your school’s standards, the certifying official must notify us. We must stop your benefits if the school reports unsatisfactory attendance, conduct, or progress. We can resume benefits if you reenter the same program at the same school, and your school certifies your enrollment to VA. If you don’t reenter the same program at the same school, we can resume benefits if the cause of your unsatisfactory attendance, conduct, or progress has been removed. We also must find that the program you intend to take is suitable to your abilities, aptitudes, and interests.”
No, you do not have to pay the VA back if you do not pass a course. You may repeat a course if it is required for your degree program and the VA will pay for it a second time. However, if you drop or withdraw from a class after the full refund deadline for doing so, you will have to pay the VA back if you received money for that course.
If you need to drop or withdraw from a course, consult the Registrar website for instructions. It is critical that you pay attention to the last date that you are able to withdraw. If you drop a class, or withdraw from all classes, before the deadline date, you are assigned a non-punitive grade (WD), which will not affect your GPA and that the VA treats as having a neutral effect on your transcript. If dropping a class changes your attendance status (for example, if your status changes from full-time to part-time student), the VA will require repayment of any money you received for attendance in that class unless you have mitigating circumstances. If you feel you have a valid reason for dropping the class or withdrawing from all classes, you can write to the VA and ask that you be allowed to maintain your prevailing rate of pay, up to the last date of attendance in the course(s). Depending of the time of the semester you withdraw, the VA may require you or the university to payback. Please check with the office before withdrawing to make sure you have the right information.
If you fail a class you receive what is called a "punitive grade" for that class. A punitive grade is a grade that doesn’t count as earned credit, but is used in determining your progress toward graduation and your GPA. This means that the grade you receive counts in your overall degree. And, according to the VA, you may take the class again in an attempt to receive credit towards graduation or raise your grade for it and you may receive GI Bill payment for the retaking of the class. Please check the university policy here if you want to repeat a course your fail.
Student veterans get priority registration for fall and spring semesters. In order to ensure a stress-free registration process:
about registration and messages regarding holds that may prevent you
from registering. You can also review notes from your advisor under the
self-service tab.
Currently we have approximately 150 veterans enrolled at William Paterson.
There is public transportation offered by NJ Transit. The bus will drop you off at the Lot 5 bus stop for the Main Campus. A list of bus schedules can be found here.
If you think you may need accessibility accommodations you can reach out to us in the Office of Veteran & Military Affairs. You can also contact the Accessibility Resource Center.
The OVMA has a vast amount of resources to offer our Veteran & Military students including, but not limited to,
In order to attend William Paterson University you must provide a copy of your MMR and Hepatitis B immunizations. If you are planning to live on campus you must also present your Meningitis immunizations as well. Without completing this requirement you will receive a hold on your account, and will not be eligible for registration for the following semester.
