1. YOUR VA EDUCATION BENEFITS
Summer Session
YOUR VA EDUCATION BENEFITS

2. MINI-TERMS
When thinking about your VA education benefits, it’s best to think of summer as being made up of 6 sessions throughout Summer as “mini- terms.”
Each “mini-term” gets certified independently and is viewed as it’s own term by the VA.

3. Ensure you enroll in enough credit!
Session/Mini-Term
Full-Time Enrollment
Half-Time Enrollment
1 week session
1+ credit
N/A
3 week session
3+ credits
2 credits
4 week session
4+ credits
2-3 credits
8 week session
8+ credits
4-7 credits
11 week sessions
12+ credits*
6-11 credits*
*Full-Time for Graduate students would be 9 credits, half time is 5 credits.

4. Overlapping Mini-Terms
When the dates of the two Mini-Terms overlap, the credits from both sessions may be counted towards full time. (This formula is calculated by the VA. We as Certifying Officials do not calculate overlaps in schedules.)
In the example below, a student enrolls in Session 2 at half-time and Session 3 at half-time. They will be able to combine their part-time credit hours in each session for the June 25 – July 20 time period to get to a full-time status. With the end of Session 2, the overlap is concluded and the rest of Session 3 is now back to half-time.
Combined hours during overlap only

5. Gaps and Housing Allowance
Gaps are the days between the end of one mini-term and the start of the next mini-term. The VA will not pay benefits during any time period that classes are not in session; this means that these gaps will affect your housing allowance.
For Example, Session 2 and Session 5 have a one month gap between them. Session 2 and Session 4 have a two day gap between them.

6. Summer Housing Payment Differences
Summer housing allowance payments are not always paid in one monthly payment at the beginning of the month. The disbursement may include multiple checks with small amounts. For further clarification, call the VA Student Helpline at
Reminders for all terms:
The housing allowance is a bonus supplement to your benefits and it should NOT be relied on to make ends meet.
Please allow 30 days to receive your benefits after certification.

7. Don’t Forget About Deadlines!
Deadlines for summer mini-terms are often much shorter than the deadlines for the rest of the year.
Session 6
Session 1
Session 2
Session 3
Session 4
Session 5
Classes Begin
June 18
June 25
July 23
August 20
Last day to Add
July 6
June 28
July 3
July 26
August 22
Last day to Drop
July 1
June 26
July 24
August 21
Last day to withdraw or S/U
June 19
August 10
July 12
August 1
August 9
September 4
Classes End
June 22
September 7
July 20
August 17

8. Have a great summer! Questions?
If you have any questions at all, please
Have a great summer!