The coordination of Veteran Benefits with other financial aid awards, including UCI Grant, follows a UC systemwide policy. The UC Education Financial Model formula is below:
Cost of Attendance (budget)
- (minus) parent contribution from FAFSA (or student contribution if Independent)
- (minus) Federal Grant (Pell Grant, SEOG, Veteran Benefits)
- (minus) State Grant (Cal Grant, CHAFEE, Cal Vet Fee Waiver, MCS)
- (minus) Blue & Gold Opportunity Plan
- (minus) Federal Direct loans and federal work study
= UC Grant award amount (also called your ‘demonstrated need’)
If a student is initially awarded UCI Grant and later becomes eligible for Veteran Benefits or other financial aid, their financial aid award will be revised if necessary in accordance with the UC awarding formula above. It may be necessary for you to repay financial aid already received once your aid offer is revised.
It is possible for a student to receive both UCI Grant and Veteran Benefits if they have sufficient demonstrated need.
Federal Veterans Benefit
This is gift aid provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs for education and training purposes to students who are active or were active in military service. There are several different types of awards called chapters. All but Chapter 33 and Chapter 31 are paid directly to the student veteran. Chapter 33 and 31 pay for UC Tuition and other fees directly to the campus. Dollars paid directly to the campus may affect other forms of financial aid, beginning with loans and work-study, and may affect UC Grant in accordance with the formula above.
Fed Vet Dependent Aid
This is gift aid provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs for education and training purposes to students who dependents of active or formerly active duty military members. There are several different types called chapters. All but Chapter 33 and Chapter 31 are paid directly to the student. Chapter 33 and 31 pay for UC Tuition and other fees directly to the campus. Dollars paid directly to the campus affect other financial aid programs, starting with UC Grant, in accordance with the formula above.