85/15 Rule AKA 85% Rule
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Scammy and fraudulent schools have required Congress to take protective measures to help prevent Servicemembers and Veterans from being lured into questionable programs; As those using their education benefits are prime targets with guaranteed funds.

The rule boils down to: Programs CANNOT have more than 85% of their students using a VA or DoD educational funding.

In practice, this mostly impacts those who are using their GI Bill.

Exceptions to Policy

  • This rule does NOT apply to:

    • Educational and training institutions that do not assess tuition, fees, or other mandatory charges [commonly, but not limited to, on-the-job (OJT) and apprenticeship (APP) training facilities];

    • Farm cooperative training courses;

    • Flying clubs (also known as "aero clubs") operating under regulations of the Armed Forces as "non-appropriated sundry fund activities”;

    • Veterans in pursuit of a program leading to a high school diploma, equivalency certificate, or a refresher, remedial, or deficiency course; or

    • Programs with less than 10 students.

  • Use of the DoD Tuition Assistance (TA), Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&E), and Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) CAN be approved even if the rule is violated.

    • This approval process/consideration is automatically done by the VA and does not involve the Veteran/dependent.

  • An institution CAN request a waiver that allows the program in violation to still allow new students. This process is NOT Veteran driven.

    • Even if your program is in violation of the rule, so long as you keep attending you are SAFE.

    • If you say take a semester (NOT summer/winter) off and try to join back in. You WILL be prevented from using your VA education benefits till the program returns to the proper ratio (unless you are using VR&E or DEA).

    • This is an example of the government doing their best to ‘protect’ you. But your institution CAN request a waiver.

    • Ask your school’s School Certifying Official (SCO).

Frequently Asked Questions