Title 38Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-73

§3476 Education outside the United States

Title 38 › Part PART III— - READJUSTMENT AND RELATED BENEFITS › Chapter CHAPTER 34— - VETERANS’ EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - ENROLLMENT › § 3476

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

An eligible veteran cannot use education benefits for a course at a school located outside a State unless that school is an approved college or university and the Secretary has approved the course. The Secretary can refuse or stop education benefits for a veteran at such an out‑of‑State school if the Secretary decides the enrollment is not in the best interest of the veteran or the federal government.

Full Legal Text

Title 38, §3476

Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

An eligible veteran may not enroll in any course offered by an educational institution not located in a State unless that educational institution is an approved institution of higher learning and the course is approved by the Secretary. The Secretary may deny or discontinue educational assistance under this chapter in the case of any veteran enrolled in an institution of higher learning not located in a State if the Secretary determines that such enrollment is not in the best interest of the veteran or the Federal Government.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those comprising this section were contained in Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1177, which was classified to former section 1620 (second and third sentences) of this title, prior to repeal by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 89–358.

Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–446 amended first sentence generally. Prior to amendment, first sentence read as follows: “An eligible veteran may not enroll in any course at an educational institution not located in a State unless such course is pursued at an approved institution of higher learning and the course is approved by the Secretary.” 1991—Pub. L. 102–83 renumbered section 1676 of this title as this section. 1989—Pub. L. 101–237 substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” wherever appearing. 1980—Pub. L. 96–466, among other changes, substituted reference to an eligible veteran not enrolling in any course for reference to an eligible veteran not pursuing a program of education, inserted provision that the course be approved by the Administrator, and substituted reference to any veteran enrolled in an institution of higher learning not located in a State for reference to any veteran in a foreign educational institution. 1976—Pub. L. 94–502 substituted “the Administrator’s” for “his” and “if the Administrator finds” for “if he finds”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1994 Amendment Pub. L. 103–446, title VI, § 604(b), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4671, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to courses approved on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 2, 1994].”

Effective Date

of 1980 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 96–466 effective Oct. 1, 1980, except as otherwise specifically provided, see section 802(c) of Pub. L. 96–466, set out as a note under section 3452 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1976 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 94–502 effective Oct. 15, 1976, see section 703(b) of Pub. L. 94–502, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 3693 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

38 U.S.C. § 3476

Title 38Veterans' Benefits

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73