Going back to school as a veteran can be challenging. Between juggling work and family responsibilities, it’s not uncommon to struggle in certain classes. What if you end up failing a class? Can you retake it and have the GI Bill cover it again?
The short answer is yes. The GI Bill will pay for you to retake a failed class multiple times if needed until you pass.
However, there are a few caveats to understand regarding retaking classes with GI Bill benefits. In this article, we’ll cover:
- What happens if you fail a class under the GI Bill
- Retaking a failed class with the GI Bill
- Tips for passing a retaken class
- Options if you fail the class again
- Impact on academic status
- When repayment may be required
Let’s dive in and explore how you can use your hard-earned education benefits to get back on track after a failed class.
What Happens If You Fail a Class Using the GI Bill?
First, don’t panic if you receive a failing grade in a class. It happens, even with the best study habits. Here’s what to expect:
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The VA will not take back or reduce your GI Bill payments for that term.
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You will not have to repay tuition or housing allowance for the failed class
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The failing grade will appear on your college transcript and be calculated into your GPA
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You can retake the same class using GI Bill benefits.
Failing a class does not affect your eligibility to continue receiving your education benefits. The key is that the class remains on your record as an attempted credit, even without earning a passing grade.
Retaking a Failed Class with the GI Bill
Since a failed class counts as attempted credit under the GI Bill, you can retake that class and have it covered by your benefits again. This includes:
- Full tuition and fees
- Monthly housing allowance
- Book stipend (if eligible)
You can repeat a failed class as many times as needed until you earn a passing grade. The GI Bill will pay each time.
Just be sure to follow your school’s process for retaking a class. Typically, you’ll need to register for the class again during the normal enrollment period.
Tips for Passing a Retaken Class
Once you enroll to retake a failed class, set yourself up for success by:
- Attending every lecture and lab session
- Staying on top of all assignments and readings
- Studying for tests well in advance
- Identifying weak areas and seeking tutoring
- Meeting with your professor regularly
- Forming a study group with classmates
- Avoiding distractions like a job or personal issues
- Making school your top priority for the term
The second time around, you have knowledge of the class structure, teaching style, and testing approach. Use this to your advantage along with discipline and focus.
What If You Fail the Class Again?
Ideally, retaking a class results in a passing grade. But what if you fail it a second or third time?
The good news is the GI Bill will still cover it if you need to take it again. There is no limit on how many times you can retake a failed class with GI Bill benefits.
However, failing the same class multiple times can negatively impact your academic status and financial aid eligibility. Most schools have an academic probation policy based on your GPA and number of credits earned vs. attempted.
After a second failed attempt, meet with an academic advisor to assess your options, such as:
- Switching majors
- Individual tutoring or mentoring
- Testing for undiagnosed learning disabilities
- Counseling for external factors affecting your studies
- Taking a break from school to regroup
While the GI Bill covers repeat classes, there are limits to retaking classes you’ve already passed that we’ll discuss next.
Impact on Academic Status
Too many failed or withdrawn classes, even if retaken, can lead to academic probation or suspension per your college’s policies. This can delay graduation.
In addition, the GI Bill imposes limits on retaking passed classes. You can only receive benefits for retaking a previously passed class if:
- It’s required for your degree, OR
- Your school requires a higher grade than you achieved
This policy aims to curb excessive retakes just to get a higher grade for your GPA. Be strategic if you need to retake a passed class.
When GI Bill Repayment May Be Required
We’ve covered how the GI Bill allows do-overs for failed classes. But in what scenarios might you have to repay benefits?
If you receive a non-punitive grade, meaning a grade that results in no credit, such as withdrawing after the drop period, you may have to pay back the GI Bill benefits for that class.
You may also owe repayment if you accept benefits for a class you never attend or stop attending without officially withdrawing.
The key factor is that punitive grades count toward graduation requirements, while non-punitive grades do not. Only classes that count as progress get GI Bill entitlement.
Bottom line: Avoid non-punitive grades that generate no credit. These put your benefits and academic standing at risk. Communicate closely with your school and the VA if facing issues.
Don’t let a failed class derail your education goals. The GI Bill provides flexibility to retake courses as needed to help you succeed. Just be sure to retake the class correctly and make every effort to pass on the next attempt.
With hard work and perseverance, you can overcome a setback like a failed class. Use all the resources available on campus and stay focused. The GI Bill has your back to reach the graduation finish line.
Post 911 (Chapter 3 and BAH/Book money and Tuition
BAH: In order to receive the minimum amount of BAH, you need to be ABOVE ½ time. So for undergraduates for Fall and Spring semesters you need AT LEAST 6.5 credits and Summer you need AT LEAST 4.5 credits to receive any BAH (graduate students need at least 5.5 in Fall/Spring and 3.5 for Summer) If you are below ½ time, you will NOT receive any BAH.
Online Courses and BAH: If you enroll in only online courses for a semester, the VA will only pay you 50% of the national average of BAH, even if you are full-time. If at least ONE of your classes is an on campus class (meaning a class you go to), then you will receive the amount of BAH you’d normally get. You can take online courses, but if you want to receive normal BAH, at least one class has to be on campus.
Book money: The VA will pay you up to $1000 per academic year for books under the Post 911 GI Bill®. The $1000 is if you are at the 100% rating (if you are at a different percentage you will receive a percentage of the $1000 per year, for example, someone at the 80% rating would get up to $800 per academic year). The way the VA calculates book money is based off of the number of credits you are registered for each semester. They have a per credit hour charge of approximately $42 per credit. They will multiply that amount by the number of approved credits you are registered for. For example, you are registered for 12 credits for Fall: $42X12 = $504.00 for books for Fall (if at the 100% rating). This also means that for Spring, you will have $496.00 available from the $1000 per academic year. You do not need to save receipts for books. If you can find your books for cheap online, or better yet, for free, you can still keep the book money. It is recommended that if your books cost less than what you receive for a given semester, that you save the rest for future semesters as you may not receive as much.
Tuition and Fees: The VA will pay your tuition directly to the school only for classes that are approved (meaning required for your degree). The VA has never paid tuition by the tuition deadline, but you do not need to worry about the tuition deadline. As long as you make sure you have filled out a request for benefits (link provided) for the semester, we will have you on a list that is sent down to the tuition office to prevent Post 911 GI Bill® students from being dropped or charged late fees. You will have until the end of the semester to make sure your tuition gets paid by the VA before you will be required to pay anything. It is not recommended that you wait until the end of the semester to check.
Are you a non-resident using Post 911 GI Bill®?
The Post 911 GI Bill® will only pay for resident tuition. So if you are a non-resident, the Post 911 will only pay the resident portion of your tuition. If you qualified at the 100% rating under the Post 911 GI Bill®, then you will qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program (link to form) which will cover the non-resident portion of your tuition. If you are not at the 100% rating, you will not qualify for Yellow Ribbon and will be required to pay the balance of your tuition not paid by the Post 911 GI Bill®.
What happens if I fail a class using the GI Bill? | Fail vs. Withdraw
FAQ
Will the GI Bill pay for a class twice?
What if I fail a class while using the GI Bill?
What happens to my GI Bill if I drop a class?
What happens if I fall below a 2.0 GPA with the GI Bill?
Do I have to pay back GI Bill if I fail a class?
No. If you finished the class, you won’t have to pay back the GI Bill benefits you used for that class. This is because we count a failing grade (or “punitive grade”) as progress toward graduation requirements even though you don’t get any credit for it. Note: If you fail a class, you can take the same class again using GI Bill benefits.
What happens if I don’t attend GI Bill classes?
Attending classes is one of the requirements for receiving GI Bill benefits. If you don’t attend, you don’t get any money. If you stop attending class, the VA will stop your GI Bill payments retroactive to the beginning date of the term. You will most likely end up owing a lot of money to both the VA and the school.
Can I apply my GI Bill benefits to college classes?
Whether you want to apply your GI Bill benefits to college classes or an on-the-job training program, the GI Bill Comparison Tool will help you make the most of them. If you have eligibility for the Post-9/11 GI Bill and any other GI Bill program you must make an irrevocable election of the Post-9/11 GI Bill before you can receive any benefits.
Can GI Bill benefits be restored after reap?
Certain members of the Reserves who lost education benefits when REAP was sunset in November 2015, may also be eligible to receive restored benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Whether you want to apply your GI Bill benefits to college classes or an on-the-job training program, the GI Bill Comparison Tool will help you make the most of them.