VA Education Benefits
VA education benefits help the military-connected community pay for college and training. The following education benefit chapters are the most commonly used by Los Medanos College military-connected students. For a complete list of GI Bill® and other education benefits, click https://www.va.gov/education/#get-gi-bill-and-other-education.
Veterans are encouraged to contact the VA Education Call Center at 1-888- 442-4551 and speak first with a VA career counselor. Should you consider or qualify for Chapter 31 Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E) education benefits due to a disability, at least one day of entitlement of Chapter 33 Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® benefits is required.
If you need help determining which education benefits you are eligible for, which is best for you, and to apply, click https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply or call 1-888-442-4551.
Rates of Pursuit (ROP)
Fall and Spring Term Rate of Pursuit (ROP)
Chapters 30, 35 and 1606 Rate of Pursuit
- 12 credits or more is full time
- 9-11 credits is ¾ time
- 6-8 credits is ½ time
- 4-5 credits is less than ½ time (<½-time)
- 1-3 credits is ¼ time or less (<¼-time)
Chapter 33 Rate of Pursuit
The VA calculates the Rate of Pursuit (ROP) by dividing the credit hours (or credit
hour equivalents) being pursued by the number of credit hours considered to be full-time
by the school. The resulting percentage is the student’s ROP. The Chapter 33 housing
allowance is paid if ROP is more than 50%.
Summer Session Rate of Pursuit (ROP)
The VA converts credit earned during nonstandard quarters or semesters to equivalent credit hours. The VA makes the conversion, not the schools. LMC will report your actual units pursued.
The VA uses this formula to determine your payment:
- Credit × 18 ÷ weeks = credit hour equivalents
- 4-semester credits earned in 4 weeks is the equivalent of 18 credits earned during a standard semester (4 × 18 ÷ 4 = 18) and will pay full-time for 4 weeks.
Please note that the VA determines payment amounts. Please direct payment-related question to the VA by calling 1-888-442-4551.
Military-connected students must immediately report any changes to their Admissions & Records School Certifying Official by submitting a Veteran's Course Enrollment Certification Request & Change Notification Form and/or Request for Change of Program/Major or Place of Training. Failure to report changes, such as withdrawal from courses or the college, will be interpreted as a violation of the Educational Benefits Act.
Monthly Self-Reporting to the VA & Chapter Details
Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill® and non-Chapter 33 students (except for Chapter 31 VR&E) are required by the VA to self-verify continued course enrollment every month. Students can opt-in with the VA for text messaging verification. Students who do not opt-in for text messaging will automatically be enrolled in email verification and sent an automated email on the last day of the month. Students can also verify online at Monthly Verification of Enrollment or call 1-887-823-2378.