Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E), also called Chapter 31, is not a general scholarship. VA works with Veterans and some service members whose service-connected disabilities limit work to explore career options and build a plan toward suitable employment. College can be part of that plan, not an automatic entitlement to any major.
For Veterans, VA generally lists a discharge other than dishonorable and at least a 10% service-connected disability rating; a vocational counselor then decides entitlement after assessing employment barriers. Service members still on active duty have separate pathways. People discharged before 2013 may face a basic 12-year period, subject to exceptions; that basic limit does not apply to those discharged on or after that date.
Possible services include vocational counseling, training, postsecondary education, on-the-job learning, equipment, job-search support, and independent-living services when justified by the plan. VA approves the goal and duration with a counselor. There is no identical annual check for every participant: tuition, supplies, and subsistence depend on the approved plan and individual eligibility.
Apply through VA.gov and gather your disability rating, work history, and goals. If VA accepts the application, attend the evaluation with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and discuss careers compatible with your abilities, the labor market, and needed accommodations. Do not enroll expecting reimbursement before the plan is approved in writing.
This benefit requires an individual assessment and written plan. Ask how it interacts with other VA benefits before spending or borrowing. Read the program profile and the administering agency; ask your financial-aid office to review your individual case.
Veteran Readiness and Employment — Veterans Affairs.
VR&E eligibility — Veterans Affairs.
Apply for VR&E — Veterans Affairs.
Information checked October 13, 2026 against official sources. Scholarships, loans, rates, amounts, and application cycles can change. Read the contract and confirm the current cycle with the agency or financial-aid office before making decisions.
This benefit requires an individual assessment and written plan. Ask how it interacts with other VA benefits before spending or borrowing.
Options to compare
These options relate to the question. Read each profile and check current details before deciding.
Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E / Chapter 31)
May include approved postsecondary study, employment assistance, or independent-living support within an individual counselor-approved plan.
Public student financial-aid program
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — Veteran Readiness and Employment
The agency approves services, school, program, length, and support; a disability rating alone does not guarantee funding for a chosen degree.
Public student-aid administering office
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Veterans Affairs · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Veterans Affairs · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Veterans Affairs · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official application and program information ↗
Primary source
Veterans Affairs · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E / Chapter 31) ↗
Primary source
Veterans Affairs · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — Veteran Readiness and Employment ↗
Primary source
Veterans Affairs · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — Veteran Readiness and Employment ↗
Primary source
Veterans Affairs · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.