Section 1018 of Public Law 116-315

Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, adds new requirements for educational institutions participating in the educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

These new provisions became effective June 15, 2021 and will apply to Institutions of Higher Learning and Non-College Degree institutions beginning August 1, 2021. Many of the requirements are consistent with the requirements of the Principles of Excellence, currently in Executive Order 13607; however, there are requirements in addition to those embodied in the Principles of Excellence which schools must also satisfy to maintain approval for GI Bill® participation.

Schools must provide a covered individual (a student using benefits under chapter 30, 31, 32, 33, or 35 of title 38, U.S.C., or chapter 1606 of title 10, U.S.C.) with a personalized shopping sheet that contains:

**PLEASE NOTE** Course costs, living expenses and financial aid estimates are often based on semesterly or academic year averages and can vary based on program, need, available funding, and other factors.  Please use the following information to guide your calculations of your own cost and aid estimates based on your specific circumstances.   

Total cost of course

Provides information on Penn State Tuition and Costs as well as links to the College Cost Calculator. 

Cost of living expenses

Housing and Food Services room and meal rates.

Costs covered by GI Bill® chapters

Provides links to the various GI Bill Chapters and what they cover

Type and amount of federal financial aid offered that individual may qualify to receive

Provides information on pre-planning, eligibility, types of aid and how to apply.

Estimate of amount of student loan debt upon graduation

If you begin with the end in mind, you will understand the impact of your borrowing and spending habits.

Information regarding graduation rates

Provides graduation and retention rates by academic year for Penn State Students

Job placement rates

Provides post-grad statistics on student employment after graduation from Penn State by academic year.

Transfer credits/military credits

Provides information on how to transfer credits to Penn State as well as the Penn State Transfer Credit Tool which allows you to search for courses at other institutions and view Penn State’s evaluation of each course.

Licensure requirements

Provides information on professional licensure and certification requirements by state as well as if the Penn State program meets or does not meet state requirements. 

Additional resources

  • ·The College Scorecard
    Assists prospective students as they evaluate school selection.
  • ·The College Navigator
    Provides school information to include tuition and fees, retention and graduation rates, use of financial aid, student loan default rates and features a cost calculator and school comparison tool.
  • ·The ‘Paying for College’ Web Page
    Can be used by prospective students to enter the names of up to three schools and receive detailed financial information on each one. You can also enter your financial aid offer information for schools you are considering for comparison purposes.
  • GI Bill® Comparison Tool:
    Assists VA educational benefit recipients explore higher education opportunities based on their educational goals and benefit use.

“GI Bill®” is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.”