Enrollment changes
What if I withdraw from or fail a class?
Grades matter to the VA. A W or I can create a debt, while an F earned by attending usually does not. Poor grades can also affect benefits.
It depends on the kind of grade. If you attend and earn an F because of your performance, you generally keep the benefits paid for that class. If you get a withdrawal (W), an incomplete (I), a no-pass (NP), or an F because you stopped attending, the VA may treat the payments as an overpayment you have to repay.
Punitive vs non-punitive grades
- Punitive grades, like an F earned while attending, count toward your GPA. Benefits for the class are usually kept.
- Non-punitive grades, like W, I, or NP, do not count toward your GPA. Your school has to report them, and they can create a debt unless mitigating circumstances apply.
- An F for non-attendance is treated like a withdrawal. Your last date of attendance is what the VA uses to recover payments.
Retaking a class
You can generally repeat a failed or withdrawn course once using VA benefits. Some courses that are designed to be taken more than once are an exception. Check with your certifying official before you register for a retake.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Schools require you to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Many schools use a 2.0 GPA and completion of about two-thirds of attempted credits, but your school's policy is what counts. Falling below it can stop your benefits until you get back on track or win an appeal.