How to Use Your Post 9/11 GI Bill®

What is the Post 9/11 GI Bill®?

The Post 9/11 GI Bill® helps eligible Service members and Veterans pay for school or job training. If you’ve served on active duty after September 10, 2001, you may qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33).

Four Steps to Finance Your Degree at NU:

  1. STEP 1: Find out which Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits you are eligible for.
  2. STEP 2: Apply for Post 9/11 GI benefits.

To apply, you’ll need:

  • Social security number
  • Bank account direct deposit information
  • Education and military history
  • Basic information about NU

When it comes time to select the type of school you will be attending, make sure you include the following information:
School Name: National University
Type of Education or Training: College, university, or other educational program, including online courses
Address: 9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego, CA 92123 (Must use Lightwave address; La Jolla/other campuses will be rejected.)

On average it takes 30 days for the VA to process Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefit claims.

  1. STEP 3: Apply to NU.
  2. STEP 4: Contact an NU military admissions advisor to submit your Post 9/11 GI Bill® Certificate of Eligibility and learn more about your eligibility for federal financial aid support and NU’s military scholarships.

Students may be permitted to begin taking courses prior to receiving the Certificate of Eligibility by providing proof that the application for Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits was completed. A screenshot of the confirmation page is acceptable for this purpose.

(i.e., providing a screenshot of confirmation page).


Still Have Questions?

Visit our Military Benefits and Funding Options page to see frequently asked questions regarding the GI Bill®. Please contact our military admissions team at [email protected] for additional questions.

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

Related Blogs

Where Are Adult Literacy Challenges Most Concentrated?

Adult literacy remains a major U.S. education and workforce issue, with the national Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) based estimates suggesting…

June 30, 2026 • 7 min read

How Is U.S. College Enrollment Recovering From the Pandemic?

U.S. college enrollment has climbed back to its pre-pandemic level, reaching 19.4 million students in fall 2025 after four consecutive years of growth. A new…

June 26, 2026 • 7 min read

Master of Arts in Education vs. Master of Education: What’s the Difference?

A Master of Education (MEd) is a practice-focused professional degree for current educators advancing into leadership, administration, curriculum, or specialized school roles. A Master of…

June 23, 2026 • 9 min read

The MFT Practicum: Navigating the Exciting Leap Into Real Clinical Work

An MHRM (Master of Human Resource Management) and an MBA serve different career tracks: the MHRM provides deep, technical expertise in organizational psychology, talent acquisition,…

June 19, 2026 • 10 min read

Which States Are Most at Risk of Being Left Behind by AI?

States face two distinct and inverse AI risks: structural marginalization, where states lack the infrastructure to adopt AI at all, and economic displacement, where states…

June 12, 2026 • 8 min read