US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

38 U.S.C. § 3686

Correspondence courses

(a)
(1)
Each eligible veteran (as defined in section 3452(a)(1) and (2) of this title) and each eligible spouse or surviving spouse (as defined in section 3501(a)(1)(B), (C), (D), or (E) of this title) who enters into an enrollment agreement to pursue a program of education exclusively by correspondence shall be paid an educational assistance allowance computed at the rate of 55 percent of the established charge which the institution requires nonveterans to pay for the course or courses pursued by the eligible veteran or spouse or surviving spouse. The term “established charge” as used herein means the charge for the course or courses determined on the basis of the lowest extended time payment plan offered by the institution and approved by the appropriate State approving agency or the actual cost to the veteran or spouse or surviving spouse, whichever is the lesser. Such allowance shall be paid quarterly on a pro rata basis for the lessons completed by the veteran or spouse or surviving spouse and serviced by the institution.
(2)
The period of entitlement of any veteran or spouse or surviving spouse who is pursuing any program of education exclusively by correspondence shall be charged with one month for each $376 which is paid to the veteran or spouse or surviving spouse as an educational assistance allowance for such course.
(3)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law unless enacted in express limitation of this paragraph, funds in the Department of Veterans Affairs readjustment benefits account shall be available for payments under paragraph (1) of this subsection for pursuit of a program of education exclusively by correspondence in which the veteran or spouse or surviving spouse enrolls after .
(b)
The enrollment agreement shall fully disclose the obligation of both the institution and the veteran or spouse or surviving spouse and shall prominently display the provisions for affirmance, termination, refunds, and the conditions under which payment of the allowance is made by the Secretary to the veteran or spouse or surviving spouse. A copy of the enrollment agreement shall be furnished to each such veteran or spouse or surviving spouse at the time such veteran or spouse or surviving spouse signs such agreement. No such agreement shall be effective unless such veteran or spouse or surviving spouse shall, after the expiration of five days after the enrollment agreement is signed, have signed and submitted to the Secretary a written statement, with a signed copy to the institution, specifically affirming the enrollment agreement. In the event the veteran or spouse or surviving spouse at any time notifies the institution of such veteran’s or spouse’s intention not to affirm the agreement in accordance with the preceding sentence, the institution, without imposing any penalty or charging any fee shall promptly make a full refund of all amounts paid.
(c)
In the event a veteran or spouse or surviving spouse elects to terminate such veteran’s or spouse’s enrollment under an affirmed enrollment agreement, the institution may charge the veteran or spouse or surviving spouse a registration or similar fee not in excess of 10 percent of the tuition for the course, or $50, whichever is less. Where the veteran or spouse or surviving spouse elects to terminate the agreement after completion of one or more but less than 25 percent of the total number of lessons comprising the course, the institution may retain such registration or similar fee plus 25 percent of the tuition for the course. Where the veteran or spouse or surviving spouse elects to terminate the agreement after completion of 25 percent but less than 50 percent of the lessons comprising the course, the institution may retain the full registration or similar fee plus 50 percent of the course tuition. If 50 percent or more of the lessons are completed, no refund of tuition is required.

Pub. L. 92–540, title III, § 316(1)86 Stat. 1084Pub. L. 93–508, title I, § 104(1)88 Stat. 1580Pub. L. 93–602, title II, § 205(a)88 Stat. 1958Pub. L. 94–502, title V90 Stat. 2398Pub. L. 95–202, title I, § 104(1)91 Stat. 1435Pub. L. 96–466, title II94 Stat. 2189Pub. L. 97–35, title XX, § 2004(a)95 Stat. 782Pub. L. 97–174, § 5(a)96 Stat. 75Pub. L. 97–295, § 4(56)96 Stat. 1309Pub. L. 98–543, title II, § 204(1)98 Stat. 2742Pub. L. 101–237, title IV, § 423(b)(1)103 Stat. 2092Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a)105 Stat. 406Pub. L. 103–446, title VI, § 605(a)(2)(C)108 Stat. 4672Pub. L. 109–444, § 3(c)(1)120 Stat. 3307Pub. L. 109–461, title III, § 301(c)(1)120 Stat. 3427Pub. L. 110–389, title III, § 323122 Stat. 4168(Added , , , § 1786; amended , , ; , , ; , §§ 501(1), 513(a)(18), , , 2403; , , ; , §§ 203(2), 213(2), title VI, § 604, , , 2191, 2209; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; renumbered § 3686 and amended , (c)(1), , ; , , ; , , ; , title X, § 1006(b), , , 3468; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 110–3892008—Subsec. (b). substituted “five” for “ten”.

Pub. L. 109–461, § 1006(b)Pub. L. 109–461Pub. L. 109–444Pub. L. 109–444section 1006(b) of Pub. L. 109–461Pub. L. 109–444section 101 of this title2006—Subsec. (a)(1). , provided that as of the enactment of , the amendments made by were deemed for all purposes not to have taken effect and that ceased to be in effect. See Amendment notes below and , set out as a Coordination of Provisions With note under .

Pub. L. 109–461, § 301(c)(1), substituted “(D), or (E)” for “or (D)”.

Pub. L. 109–444Pub. L. 109–461, § 1006(b), which substituted “(D), or (E)” for “or (D)”, was terminated by . See Amendment notes above.

Pub. L. 103–446section 3676 of this title1994—Subsec. (c). struck out “(other than one subject to the provisions of )” before “may charge”.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a)section 1786 of this title1991—, renumbered as this section.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1)Subsec. (a)(1). , substituted “3452(a)(1)” for “1652(a)(1)” and “3501(a)(1)(B)” for “1701(a)(1)(B)”.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1)Subsec. (c). , substituted “3676” for “1776”.

Pub. L. 101–2371989—Subsecs. (a)(3), (b). substituted “Secretary” and “Department of Veterans Affairs” for “Administrator” and “Veterans’ Administration”, respectively, wherever appearing.

Pub. L. 98–5431984—Subsec. (a)(2). substituted “$376” for “$342”.

Pub. L. 97–1741982—Subsec. (a)(3). added par. (3).

Pub. L. 97–295Subsec. (c). substituted “percent” for “per centum” wherever appearing.

Pub. L. 97–351981—Subsec. (a)(1). substituted “55” for “70”.

Pub. L. 96–466, § 6041980—Subsec. (a)(1). , substituted “70 percent” for “90 per centum”.

Pub. L. 96–466, § 213(2)Subsec. (a)(2). , substituted “$342” for “$327”.

Pub. L. 96–466, § 203(2), substituted “$327” for “$311”.

Pub. L. 95–2021977—Subsec. (a)(2). substituted “$311” for “$292”.

Pub. L. 94–502, § 513(a)(18)1976—Subsec. (a)(1). , substituted “spouse or surviving spouse” for “wife or widow” wherever appearing.

Pub. L. 94–502Subsec. (a)(2). , §§ 501(1), 513(a)(18), substituted “spouse or surviving spouse” for “wife or widow” in two places and “$292” for “$270”.

Pub. L. 94–502, § 513(a)(18)Subsecs. (b), (c). , substituted “spouse or surviving spouse” for “wife or widow” wherever appearing and “such veteran’s or spouse’s” for “his”.

Pub. L. 93–6021975—Subsec. (a)(2). substituted “$270” for “$260”.

Pub. L. 93–5081974—Subsec. (a)(2). substituted “$260” for “220”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2006 Amendment

section 301(c)(1) of Pub. L. 109–461section 301(d) of Pub. L. 109–461section 3501 of this titleAmendment by applicable with respect to a payment of educational assistance for a course of education pursued after , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

Pub. L. 103–446section 605(b) of Pub. L. 103–446section 3672 of this titleAmendment by applicable with respect to programs of education exclusively by correspondence and to correspondence-residence courses commencing more than 90 days after , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Pub. L. 98–543section 205 of Pub. L. 98–543section 3108 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1982 Amendment

Pub. L. 97–174, § 5(b)96 Stat. 76

“The amendment made by subsection (a) of this section [amending this section] shall take effect as of .”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date of 1981 Amendment

Pub. L. 97–35, title XX, § 2004(b)95 Stat. 782

“The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall not apply to correspondence lessons completed and submitted to the educational institution concerned before .”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Pub. L. 96–466section 802(b) of Pub. L. 96–466section 3482 of this titleAmendment by sections 203(2) and 213(2) of effective , and , respectively, see , set out as a note under .

section 604 of Pub. L. 96–466section 802(f) of Pub. L. 96–466section 5314 of this titleAmendment by effective , except that such amendment not applicable to any person receiving educational assistance under chapter 34 or 35 of this title on , for the pursuit of a program of education in which such person is enrolled on that date, for as long as such person continuously thereafter is so enrolled and meets the requirements of eligibility for such assistance for the pursuit of such program under the provisions of such chapter and chapter 36 of this title as in effect on that date, see , set out as an Effective Date note under .

Effective Date of 1977 Amendment

Pub. L. 95–202section 501 of Pub. L. 95–202section 101 of this titleAmendment by effective retroactively to , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

Pub. L. 94–502Pub. L. 94–502section 3693 of this titleAmendment by sections 501(1) and 513(a)(18) of effective , and , respectively, see section 703(a), (b) of , set out as an Effective Date note under .

Effective Date of 1975 Amendment

Pub. L. 93–602section 206 of Pub. L. 93–602section 3482 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1974 Amendment

Pub. L. 93–508section 501 of Pub. L. 93–508section 3482 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date

Pub. L. 92–540, title VI, § 60286 Stat. 1099

“(a)
The provisions of section 1786 [now 3686] of title 38, United States Code (as added by section 316 of this Act), which apply to programs of education exclusively by correspondence, shall, as to those wives and widows made eligible for such training by that section, become effective , and, as to eligible veterans, shall apply only to those enrollment agreements which are entered into on or after .
“(b)
section 1682(c) of title 38 Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, any enrollment agreement entered into by an eligible veteran prior to , shall continue to be subject to the provisions of , United States Code, prior to its repeal by section 303 of this Act.”
, , , provided that:

Termination of Eligibility Period

section 604 of Pub. L. 92–540section 3512 of this titleTermination of eligibility period for a wife or widow, or an eligible person eight years from , see , set out as a note under .