Skip to content

Veterans Benefits

Do you receive veterans benefits? Are you interested in study abroad?

** Because the use of veterans benefits for study abroad is context-specific, it is important that you speak with the CSUSB School Certifying Official early in your study abroad planning to ensure that you understand where and how to use your benefits when you study abroad **


General Tips for Veterans Benefit Recipients

  • Chapter 30 | Can only be used where the study abroad course(s) you will complete are listed at an institution with a facility code
  • VR&E- Chapter 31 | Can only be used to study abroad if study abroad is required for your approved study program and your counselor approves, and can only be used at an institution with a facility code 
  • Chapter 33 | Can only be used where the study abroad course(s) you will complete are listed at an institution with a facility code
  • Chapter 1606 | Can only be used where the study abroad course(s) you will complete are listed at an institution with a facility code
  • Chapter 35 | Can only be used where the study abroad course(s) you will complete are listed at an institution with a facility code
  • Cal-Vet can only be used for programs where you are paying tuition to a California-based institution


What is a Facility Code? 

A facility code is issued to an institution that is approved for use of VA Educational Benefits. You can search for institutions with a facility code using the GI Bill Comparison Tool. 
  • Follow the link and click "Go to schools and employers"
  • Set the "School Types" filter to "Foreign"
  • Enter the name of a university or a keyword in the search bar
    • If you are looking to browse, try entering just the word "University" in the search bar
    • You can also try using the word University in other languages (like Universidad, Université, Università, Universität ...) to match your location search
  • Scroll down to the "Country" filter to search in a particular location
  • To modify your search, change "Country" back to "All," apply, and then choose a different country
You can also contact the VA Educational Benefits Hotline at 1-888-442-4551.


Tips for Specific CSUSB Program Types

1. CSUSB-Led Programs | Tuition paid to CSUSB, course listed at CSUSB
Your benefits for CSUSB-led programs will work very similarly to the way they do for any other CSUSB class. Find a CSUSB-led program offering a course that fulfills a requirement listed in your study plan. Most CSUSB-led programs offer a course that fulfils a GE requirement. Planning early to save a GE requirement (especially UD-3 or UD-4) to complete through a CSUSB-led study abroad program can be a great way to use almost any veterans benefits to study abroad. Note that if you receive a stipend for a specific expense (for example, housing) you will be expected to pay for that portion of the CSUSB-Led Program Fee out of benefits already received.

2. Exchange Programs | Tuition paid to CSUSB, course listed at host institution
You can use Cal-Vet and Chapter 30, 31, 33, 33 STEM, 35, or 1606 benefits to participate in an exchange program, as long as the courses you will take abroad fulfill requirements listed in your study plan and the host foreign institution has a facility code. Currently CSUSB does not have any exchange program partners that have a facility code, and so only Cal-Vet benefits can be used for exchange programs.

3. CSUIP Programs | Tuition paid to CSU, course listed at host institution
You can typically use Cal-Vet and Chapter 31 (must be approved by your VR&E counselor), benefits to participate in a CSUIP program, as long as the courses you will take abroad fulfill requirements listed in your study plan. However, other forms of veterans benefits are generally restricted to use where tuition is paid to an institution with a "facility code." For CSUIP programs, tuition is paid to the CSU Chancellor's Office, which does not have a facility code (it cannot, because it does not grant degrees). Further, CSUIP does not have any current program partners that have a facility code.

4. Direct Enroll | Tuition paid to host institution, course listed at host institution 
You typically cannot use veteran's benefits to participate in a Direct Enroll programs because fees are paid directly to the host institution. CSUSB does not have any current Direct Enroll partners that have a facility code. 
 
Do I Have Any Other Options?
If none of the options listed above works for you, consider these alternatives:
  • Online Fulltime Course load + Study Abroad | If you enroll in a full semester of asynchronous online courses at CSUSB (and through CSU Fully Online) you have the freedom to take these courses from wherever you choose to do so! You can relocate to another part of the world, or additionally enroll in a study abroad program of your choice (and at your own expense).
  • Leave of absence from CSUSB | Choose an institution that is listed through the GI Bill Comparison Tool and enroll independently with that institution for a semester or a year with a parent school letter documenting a plan for coursework transfer. 
  • National Student Exchange | Many institutions listed through National Student Exchange have a facility code. While most partner institutions are located within the US (including Puerto Rico), there are also options in Canada. CSUSB's participation in NSE is currently on pause, but check back in Summer 2026 for more information.