VETS Opportunity Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would tighten standards for VA-funded independent-study courses by requiring _regular and substantive interaction_ between students and instructors and by limiting eligible providers to Title IV-participating colleges.
Show full summary
- Veterans and students: Veterans would be eligible for education benefits for an independent-study course only if the course includes regular and substantive interaction and the institution is an institution of higher education that participates in Title IV student aid programs. This changes what independent-study offerings qualify for VA support.
- Institutions and providers: To qualify as an eligible provider a school must meet the Higher Education Act section 102 definition of an institution of higher education and participate in Title IV programs. Non-Title IV providers would not meet the revised eligibility test.
- Administration and timing: The VA would apply the new rules to any quarter, semester, or term beginning on or after August 1, 2025. The change applies to the term schedule in effect at that date and not to earlier terms.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Tighter VA rules for online courses
If enacted, VA would only pay for independent study courses that require regular and substantive interaction with instructors. The school would have to be an institution of higher education under the Higher Education Act and participate in Title IV federal student aid programs. These rules would apply to any quarter, semester, or term that begins on or after August 1, 2025. They would not apply to terms that began before that date and would not create new VA funding.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]
NC • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC]
NC • R
Sponsored 4/4/2025
Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
TX • R
Sponsored 4/4/2025
Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
TX • R
Sponsored 4/4/2025
Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ]
AZ • D
Sponsored 4/4/2025
Sen. Moreno, Bernie [R-OH]
OH • R
Sponsored 4/4/2025
Gary Peters
MI • D
Sponsored 4/4/2025
Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]
FL • R
Sponsored 4/4/2025
Elissa Slotkin
MI • D
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Sen. Moody, Ashley [R-FL]
FL • R
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
TN • R
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov