does the gi bill pay for a phd

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Will the GI Bill Pay for a Doctorate Degree?

The GI Bill is designed to help active duty service members and veterans pay tuition and fees to obtain higher education. Many different programs are included under the bill, each with different rules and regulations. These typically depend on a participant’s eligibility and service status. Students using the GI Bill are able to enroll in a variety of academic programs, including those at a doctorate level.

TL;DR (Too Long; Didn't Read)

The GI Hill can help pay for a doctoral program, but due to limits for benefits, you might need further funding to complete your degree.

Basic GI Bill Facts

After you have completed your military service, you have 10 years to use Montgomery GI Bill benefits and, in some cases, 15 years to use those from the Post-9/11 Bill. If you were discharged after January 1, 2013, you are not subject to the 15-year limit.

Payments are made directly to you, so you might still need to take out a student loan to pay tuition upfront . You can then pay the loan with your GI Bill payments.

During the designated time period, you can stop and start school as needed. You don’t have to remain continuously enrolled in courses to keep your GI Bill benefits. Active duty military personnel are eligible to begin using their benefits prior to completing service.

Housing Stipend for Students

Students attending school full-time under the Post-9/11 GI Bill receive a monthly housing stipend. The stipend is pro-rated by the number of days the student is enrolled during a 30-day period. The amount is calculated according to the ZIP code of the school and is the equivalent of the Basic Allowance for Housing of an E-5 with dependents .

Veterans, their spouses and their eligible dependents are eligible for the housing stipend. Active duty members and their spouses are not able to receive this benefit.

Schools Eligible for GI Bill

The GI Bill can only be used at a school with VA-approved training or education programs . However, most regionally and nationally accredited higher education institutions qualify. It’s advisable to check with an admissions counselor at the school prior to submitting an application, to be sure the program is covered.

Yellow Ribbon Program

Veterans or dependents under the Transfer of Entitlement at the 100 percent benefit level may qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program. This program is a provision of the law that created the Post-9/11 GI Bill. It allows approved schools and the VA to partially or fully pay tuition and fees exceeding the guidelines set by the bill .

Every qualified individual may not receive benefits, as many educational institutions limit participants to a set number. Each institution is free to distribute benefits based on student status and college or professional school. Benefits may vary from year-to-year

Expected Educational Expenses

The GI Bill covers 36 months of educational expenses. The benefits do not have to be used contiguously, but the average length of a doctoral program is a minimum of four to five years. Many universities offer financial support to doctoral students, but if you are unable to secure this type of funding you will likely have to pay for the remaining years of tuition out-of-pocket once you've used up your GI Bill benefits.

More Articles

Do the Army National Guard People Qualify for VA Benefits? →

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• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Post-9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon FAQs
• Military.com: GI Bill: Top 5 Things to Know
• University of Texas at San Antonio: Post 9/11 GI Bill Housing Allowances
• Military.com: Veteran GI Bill User's Guide
• Stanford: Doctoral Programs
• U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs: Forever GI Bill - Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act

Laura Woods is a Los Angeles-based writer with more than six years of marketing experience. She has a Bachelor of Arts in communications from the University of Pittsburgh and an MBA from Robert Morris University.

Using Veterans Benefits to Pay for Grad School

The Yellow Ribbon program provides funds for education beyond the GI Bill benefit.

How Veterans Benefits Fund Grad School

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Benefits vary based on when a veteran was discharged.

A former sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, Ryan Pavel made a concerted effort to finish his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan—Ann Arbor in just over two years. This meant he still had enough funding through the post-9/11 GI Bill to cover his law degree.

Though he had scholarship opportunities at other schools, Pavel says his preference was to attend the University of Virginia Law School . Knowing that he had GI Bill money in his back pocket made the decision easier.

Since the GI Bill's creation in 1944 during World War II, it has been updated several times to help veterans pay for college and training. The post-9/11 GI Bill, passed in June 2008, provides education benefits for those who served at least 90 days on active duty on or after Sept. 11, 2011. Also eligible are those who received a Purple Heart on or after the same date and were honorably discharged or those who served 30 consecutive days and were honorably discharged with a service-connected disability.

A 2017, expansion, the " Forever GI Bill ," eliminated the 15-year limit on educational benefits for new enlistees (those discharged on or after Jan. 1, 2013).

Payments vary based on length of service. Those who serve 36 months or more are eligible for up to 36 months of college credit that can be dispersed however the student sees fit, whether that's for college , graduate school, or, as in Pavel's case, a combination of both.

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The amount that the award covers depends on where a veteran goes to school, but in general it will cover the full cost of tuition at in-state public schools, with the potential to cover the full cost of out-of-state schools as well, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

For those attending a private school or one outside the U.S., it will pay up to $26,381.37 per academic year. That rate will change to $27,120.05 on Aug., 1, 2023, according to the VA's website.

“Generally speaking, there are myriad options for student veterans to be able to pursue their schooling," says Pavel, who now serves as the CEO of Warrior-Scholar Project, a nonprofit aimed at helping enlisted veterans transition back to civilian life and into higher education . "And that applies also to the graduate school side."

Whether those in the military pursue a degree while on active duty or afterward, Pavel suggests planning ahead if graduate school is a possibility. "And then figure out how that influences where you study and what you study at the undergraduate level to try and save a bunch of those benefits," he says.

Completing undergraduate courses at a community college, where tuition is often less expensive, may be an option for some students, Mike Frueh, Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Benefits for the VA, wrote in an email.

"This may allow them to pay out-of-pocket while completing their undergraduate degree and use more of their GI Bill benefits when pursuing their graduate degree," he says.

For prospective graduate students looking to maximize their veteran benefits, here are few things to keep in mind.

Consider the Yellow Ribbon Program

Tuition at private, out-of-state or international schools may exceed the regular benefits available through the GI bill. But a provision known as the Yellow Ribbon program can help bridge the gap.

Under this program, participating colleges and universities may contribute up to 50% of a student's remaining expenses, and the VA will match the amount. For example, if an institution offered an $8,000 scholarship to a veteran, the Yellow Ribbon program would provide the same.

To be eligible for this award, veterans must meet the criteria specified on the VA website, including serving at least 36 months on active duty. Certain GI Bill qualifications also meet the requirements for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Participating schools must also meet additional criteria for students to be eligible for the award, namely being a member of the program.

Michael S. Danko, ROTC and veterans affairs coordinator at Carnegie Mellon University , says the VA will use the GI Bill funds first. "Once those are exhausted, the Yellow Ribbon will be used," he says.

One more recent addition to the program, he notes, is "now students on active duty can also receive Yellow Ribbon funding if they have been awarded a 100% eligibility rating from the VA."

According to the VA's website, veterans should provide their certificate of eligibility to their school. However, veterans should be aware that it's up to the school to determine how many recipients are eligible for a Yellow Ribbon scholarship each academic year and they cannot exceed their maximum allotment.

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Research Scholarships and Tuition Assistance

Shortly after being honorably discharged from the army, where he served as a military police officer, Vincent Pizzi began using his GI Bill benefits to earn two undergraduate degrees and a master's certificate in homeland security at Arizona State University .

Now a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, he's pursuing a master's degree in emergency management through the Massachusetts Maritime Academy with the help of another military benefit, the Massachusetts National Guard Education Assistance Program . This program allows active members of the Massachusetts Army National Guard to earn 130 credit hours at any state college, university or community college free of charge.

Other states have similar tuition assistance programs or waivers for resident veterans attending a state college or university. The VA may also offer federal tuition assistance as well as money to help pay for tutoring for those who struggle. Most veteran education benefits require a certain GPA in order to keep receiving funding.

Many schools also offer tuition discounts for veterans at the institutional level. For example, at Indiana Wesleyan University , veterans can receive a 15% tuition reduction on most of the school's master's programs, according to the school's website .

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Pizzi and Pavel both encourage veterans to investigate tuition assistance or scholarships available to veterans, either through the university itself or through state-sponsored programs, before defaulting to GI Bill benefits. In some cases, the tuition assistance or scholarships may be enough to cover all or most of a degree, which would allow veterans to save their GI Bill money for a future degree.

If veterans plan to use internal tuition assistance from a university, they should find out what it covers, Pavel says, particularly if it provides any living expenses. One benefit of activating the GI Bill is that they receive what’s called a Basic Allowance for Housing, which gives veterans tax-free money to cover living expenses while attending school. The amount will vary based on an area's cost of living and the veteran's rank.

Ask Questions

In general, veterans should be prepared to ask a lot of questions, Pavel says.

“I think that there are too many veterans that aren't really thinking about what the individual schools are willing to be able to offer them,” he says. “Do not discount asking those questions and seeing if there is any sort of scholarship opportunity that's there for you.”

Universities that offer educational benefits to veterans will have a veterans affairs office, which Pizzi says can be a valuable resource.

"They’re a wealth of knowledge, and I’ve never had a bad experience with a veterans assistance officer at an educational institution," he says. "Those guys are in it to help you. They’re going to show you how to take the maximum benefit from your benefits."

Frueh encourages students to make sure they know their eligibility status, which can be found by applying for benefits on the VA's website.

"With recent updates, through our Digital GI Bill modernization efforts, for most applicants, this is a quick and easy process," he says. "If VA already has them in the system, much of the information is pre-filled, and in most cases, applicants get a response within a few days."

He adds that students should make sure their school or program is GI Bill-approved, which can be determined through the GI Bill Comparison Tool .

Pizzi says to make sure no stone is left unturned when it comes to finding out what types of funding are available. He encourages veterans to not waste the money available to them and to earn a degree even if they aren't sure how they plan to use it.

"What do you want to get out of the military?" he asks. "Because the military is going to get everything that they can get out of you, so you better make sure that you get everything that you can get back out of the military."

Trying to fund your education? Get tips and more in the U.S. News Paying for Graduate School center.

What Vets Should Look For in a College

Tags: paying for graduate school , veterans , graduate schools , medical school , business school , law school , education

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Commencement - May 3 & 4

Plan for your visit to campus to celebrate your graduate. All event details are located HERE . 

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Applying GI Bill® Educational Benefits Toward Post-Graduate Studies

Did you know that you can use the GI Bill® to pay for grad school? The VA education benefit can cover more than just the cost of undergrad courses. In fact, even after using money from the GI Bill® to pay for your undergraduate degree, it’s likely you still have benefits to apply towards a graduate degree. Additionally, both federal- and state-level military and veteran education benefits exist to help fill in the gaps.

VERSIONS OF THE GI BILL®

There are two versions of the GI Bill® — the Montgomery GI Bill® and the Post 9/11 GI Bill®, also known as the Forever GI Bill ®. Benefits available to active military personnel, reservists, veterans, and their families are impacted by when they signed up. Older veterans and military service members probably signed up under the Montgomery GI Bill ®. Younger service members, however, would have signed up under the Post 9/11 GI Bill ®, which provides supplementary benefits. However, those under the Montgomery GI Bill® may opt to upgrade to the Forever GI Bill® making additional benefits available to them as well.

Additionally, there are two major differences that affect educational benefits when comparing the Montgomery GI Bill® and the Forever GI Bill®. The Montgomery GI Bill® doesn’t offer a housing allowance, nor does it permit military personnel to transfer their educational benefits to a spouse or dependent. The Forever GI Bill®, on the other hand, offers a housing allowance and transferal of educational benefits to a spouse or dependent.

WILL THE GI BILL® PAY FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL?

Grad school students may use the GI Bill® to pay for their studies at both public and private universities. If you’ve previously used your GI Bill® benefits to pay for undergrad studies , any remaining entitlement may be used to pursue a post-graduate degree.

TUITION AND FEES

The amount of graduate-level tuition and fees covered by the GI Bill®  is determined by your Post-9/11 GI Bill® entitlement percentage. According to Military.com , private university benefits can total up to $26,042.81 which is paid directly to the school.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill® housing allowance is based on creditable active-duty service time. It pays a housing stipend based on the ZIP code location of the university you attend, paid after each month’s classes are over. According to Military.com , the current average housing allowance is $1,833. Students taking all their classes online are eligible for only half that amount. This housing allowance is based on the Department of Defense’s Basic Allowance for Housing for an E-5 with dependents and doesn’t require you to live on campus.

You don't qualify for a housing allowance if you:

• Take courses on a half-time basis or less
• Are a spouse using transferred benefits
• Are an active-duty service member

BOOKS & SUPPLIES

With the Post-9/11 GI Bill®, you’ll receive a maximum benefit of up to $1,000 that is paid at the beginning of each term. Based on the number of credits taken, this stipend pays $41 per credit hour.

MONTGOMERY GI BILL® GRAD SCHOOL BENEFITS

The Montgomery GI Bill® provides compensation based on the number of classes taken, referred to as your “training time.” Under the Montgomery GI Bill®, training time is defined by the school for graduate-level coursework. For example, the VA will pay the full-time rate for whatever the school deems to be full-time. You can find current active-duty Montgomery GI Bill® rates here .

HOW MUCH WILL THE VA PAY TOWARDS A MASTER’S?

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs determines the amount covered by the number of classes you attend and the time spent in those classes. For grad-level programs, the school decides how each hour is rated. You are paid according to that rating.

CAN YOU USE THE GI BILL® TO PAY TOWARDS MORE THAN ONE DEGREE?

You can apply your education benefits toward a second degree after completing your first, including master’s and doctorate degree programs. Additionally, you can take classes at more than one school as long as the coursework at both schools counts towards your degree. The school granting the degree must deem the coursework at the second school applicable to the given degree.

The GI Bill® will not pay for a class taken more than once unless a failing grade is received in a class that is mandatory for graduation.

CAN MY SPOUSE USE MY GI BILL® FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL?

Substantial changes were made to the GI Bill® through the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act, also referred to as the Forever GI Bill ®​​​​​​​ or the Post 9/11 GI Bill®. These changes expanded the ability of service members to transfer educational benefits to spouses and dependent children.

Under the Forever GI Bill®, active service members and members of the Selected Reserve can transfer some or all of their unused educational benefits to a qualified spouse or dependent children using a Transfer of Entitlement (TOE) if the following requirements are met:

• When the request is approved, you’ve completed six years of service.
• You agree to four additional years of service.
• The qualified recipient has enrolled in DEERS, the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System.

With a DoD approved TOE, a qualified recipient may be awarded up to 36 months of benefits to cover the cost of books, supplies, housing, and tuition.

THE YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM

When applying to a post-graduate program at a private school, the GI Bill® may not cover all of your costs; therefore, those planning to attend a university such as University of the Cumberlands should explore our Yellow Ribbon Program options for additional assistance. The Yellow Ribbon Program was designed to close the gap between the GI Bill® and the actual cost of a private school’s tuition.

The Yellow Ribbon Program can be especially vital for grad school applicants because of the way class attendance is calculated.

Yellow Ribbon benefits are not available to:

• Active-duty military members
• Spouses of active-duty military members
• Those attending an overseas school, unless the school has a main stateside campus

To receive benefits, the program you intend to enter and the school you plan to attend must both be approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR USING GI BILL® BENEFITS FOR GRAD SCHOOL

Consider the following important information when using GI Bill® educational benefits to cover the cost of grad school:

• What additional fees will be incurred if you choose to attend an out-of-state college? Many schools, including University of the Cumberlands, permit active-duty, guard, reservists, veterans, and their spouses to attend as in-state students despite their physical location.
• A grad student utilizing the GI Bill® is expected to make academic progress, just as they did as an undergrad student. Failure to meet certain requirements will affect benefits.
• You may take classes at more than one school if certain criteria are met. See the section above, Can You Use the GI Bill® to Pay Towards More Than One Degree.
• The Forever GI Bill® allows Purple Heart recipients (awarded on or after 9/11/2001) to apply for 100 percent level benefits for up to 36 months.
• When you attend a private school like University of the Cumberlands, you may find the GI Bill® does not cover all educational expenses. Supplemental resources may be available to help close the gap between actual expenses and what the GI Bill® covers. Examples of these programs include the Yellow Ribbon program outlined above and other state and federal programs such as those listed below.
• Although graduate school attendance is possible while on active duty, you may require permission from your chain of command. In general, first-term military personnel often have restrictions on their activities, including the pursuit of an off-duty education.

PROGRAMS THAT OFFER EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS TO VETERANS

Unfortunately, there is no one place you can go to for a comprehensive list of state-level assistance and benefits; however, we've put together a list of resources to get you started on your journey towards discovering some of the many military service benefits various state and federal agencies may have to offer.

• States that Offer Free Tuition to Veterans
• The American Legion’s list of Veterans Education Benefits by State
• Military.com’s list of Your 2021 State Veterans Benefits
• Military Tuition Assistance Program
• U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid —programs include grants, work-study programs, and federal low-interest loans
• VA Education and Training Benefits
• State Veterans Benefits

Many states offer education benefits and programs to veterans as an alternative or supplement to federal GI Bill® benefits. Some states offer grants, scholarships, or tuition waivers to assist veterans who don’t qualify for federal assistance or to help fill in the gaps when federal assistance falls short.

USE THE GI BILL® TO CONTINUE YOUR EDUCATION AT UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS!

University of the Cumberlands is a designated Military Friendly® School. In fact, Cumberlands ranks seventh in the nation among private schools offering doctoral degree programs. This means that when you choose to pursue your post-graduate degree at University of the Cumberlands, you’re choosing a high-quality school that makes quality education accessible to U.S. military personnel and their families. According to Military Friendly®, universities awarded this designation serve as “an example to American schools.”

University of the Cumberlands waives the application fee for veterans, reservists, and active-duty military personnel. We have a flexible online program that makes it easy to study from anywhere in the world. Providing numerous military benefits , University of the Cumberlands works hard to invest in the future of our active-duty service members, reservists, veterans, and their families.

* GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at  http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill. *

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Education and Transition

Your gi bill benefits: everything you need to know.

What is the Post-9/11 GI Bill?

The Post-9/11 GI Bill is a generous education benefit for the latest generation of service members and veterans. It includes payment of tuition and fees, a monthly housing allowance and a stipend for textbooks and supplies for up to 36 months. The GI Bill traces its history back to World War II when the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act was enacted to provide education and training, home loan guarantee and other benefits for veterans. Revamped several times to aid veterans of war and peacetime, the GI Bill as we know it was signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2008 and went into effect the following year. Portions of the GI Bill were updated again in 2017 under the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act, better known as the “ Forever GI Bill .”

Who is eligible for the GI Bill?

If you have served on active duty for at least 90 days since Sept. 10, 2001, you are eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits — whether you’re still in the military or have already separated with an honorable discharge. The amount of time you spent on active duty determines the percentage of total benefits you can receive.

Right now, the VA uses this scale to determine eligibility:

• 100 percent: 36 months or more, or at least 30 continuous days and discharged due to service-connected disability
• 90 percent: At least 30 months, less than 36 months
• 80 percent: At least 24 months, less than 30 months
• 70 percent: At least 18 months, less than 24 months
• 60 percent: At least 12 months, less than 18 months
• 50 percent: At least 6 months, less than 12 months
• 40 percent: At least 90 days, less than 6 months
• No benefit: Less than 90 days

Don’t worry about memorizing this, though, because it’s about to change in August 2020 when a portion of the Forever GI Bill goes into effect. At that point, the same 90-days-to-six-month window will equal to 50 percent of total benefits. Service members with at least six months and less than 18 months of service will be eligible for 60 percent of benefits.

Children or spouses of service members who died in the line of duty on or after 9/11 may also be eligible to use the GI Bill to further their education through the Marine Gunnery John David Fry Scholarship Program. These benefits are available at the 100-percent level to children between age 18 and 33 and spouses who have not remarried for 15 years after the service member’s death.

How to apply for your GI Bill

You can apply for GI Bill benefits online or in person at a VA regional office near you. You can also call 1-888-GI BILL-1 to ask the VA to mail an application directly to you.

The application process is simple, especially if you do it online. The form will ask you for information about your military background, education history and the school you want to attend. It also asks for your Social Security and bank account numbers, so make sure you have those handy, too. (While the tuition and fee payments go directly to the schools, the housing and textbook allowances go straight to you.)

If you’re feeling nervous about the process, you can also talk to the school certifying official at your college. This person typically works in the school’s registrar’s office or financial aid department and will be able to walk you through the application.

GI Bill certificate of eligibility

Once you apply for your benefits, the VA will send you a certificate of eligibility that spells out exactly what you are eligible to receive. This is the document you’ll present to your school when you enroll.

If your tuition payments are ever delayed, your certificate of eligibility acts as proof that payment is coming, meaning your school can’t charge you late fees or impose other restrictions when there’s an outstanding balance on your account through no fault of your own.

Keep in mind that it may take a while for the VA to issue your certificate of eligibility to you. In the meantime, you can log into your eBenefits account to keep track of things.

How much does the GI Bill pay for school?

The Post-9/11 GI Bill includes payment of tuition and fees, a monthly housing allowance and a stipend for textbooks and supplies.

For students attending public colleges and universities, the GI Bill covers all tuition and fees at the in-state rate, but it may not have the same reach at a private or for-profit school. The national maximum at such schools will be $24,476.79 for the 2019-2020 school year and generally increases slightly each year.

If the GI Bill doesn’t cover the full cost of your education, see if your school participates in the Yellow Ribbon program. This is an agreement schools make with the VA to split school costs not covered by the GI Bill, reducing or eliminating the amount students must pay themselves. Currently, only veterans and surviving dependents of service members are eligible for the program, though this will extend to active-duty troops in August 2022.

A lot of schools participate in this program, including prestigious Ivy League institutions. To see if your school is part of the Yellow Ribbon Program, check out the interactive map on VA’s website.

Should I use my GI Bill while on active duty?

You can, provided you meet the minimum service requirements. But should you?

If you use your GI Bill benefits to pay for school while on active duty, you will not receive a monthly housing stipend from the GI Bill in addition to the housing allowance you’re already receiving from the military. Depending on which school you attend, that housing stipend could be worth as much as the tuition coverage and possibly more. Therefore, your GI Bill benefits will end up amounting to much less than what you would receive after separating from the military.

Still, the choice is yours.

The GI Bill housing allowance.

Your monthly housing stipend depends on the percentage level of benefits you’re eligible for and how many courses you’re taking.

The VA uses the Department of Defense Basic Allowance for Housing, or BAH, rates to calculate how much you will receive. Right now, this is the cost of living wherever the main campus of your school is located — not where you live — at the amount that an E5 with dependents would receive in that area. (Your own rank has no bearing on the total amount you receive.)

Under the Forever GI Bill, however, housing allowances will be determined by the location of the campus where a student takes the most classes. So, that means if you take classes at a satellite campus miles — or even states — away from the school’s main headquarters, your monthly stipend will better reflect your cost of living. The VA is expected to roll this out in December 2019 .

The VA has already done a lot of the math for you through their GI Bill Comparison Tool . Simply search by school name or type and click on the results to see how much you’d receive each month.

A few things to remember:

If you are pursuing a degree entirely online, you will only receive half of the national BAH average. For the 2019-2020 school year, that amounts to $894.50 per month. Some experts recommend taking at least one class in person if you can, so you can get the flexibility of attending school online with the cash benefits of attending on campus.

If you’re attending school half time or less or are a dependent using GI Bill benefits that have been transferred to you from a service member, you are not eligible for this part of the benefit.

How to change schools with the GI Bill

Changing schools once you’ve already started using the GI Bill is much like applying for the GI Bill in the first place. You’ll need to provide basic information about your military service, education history and the school you want to go to, in addition to your Social Security and bank account numbers.

You can do this all online or in person at a VA regional office.

GI bill status and how to check it.

It’s important to maintain an active Ebenefits account so you can check on the status of your GI Bill benefits — how much you’ve used and how much you have left.

Transferring GI Bill to your dependents

If you’ve already finished your degree or just don’t see yourself ever going to school, you may want to consider transferring the GI Bill to your dependents.

To be eligible for transfer, you must have at least six years of service under your belt and must be able to serve four more after the transfer is approved by the DoD.

In early 2019, the DoD proposed a cap on the transfer option at 16 years of service. But congressional lawmakers in December inserted language in the annual defense authorization bill to kill the policy before it ever went into effect.

If you are an active-duty Purple Heart recipient , disregard all of the above; you can transfer your GI Bill benefits to family members whenever you want.

A dependent child must be 18 or younger when the GI Bill benefits are transferred to them — or under 23 in special cases for approved programs. To use the GI Bill, the dependent must be 18 or a high school graduate.

If you decide you want to transfer your benefits, log onto DMDC milConnect to get started. At the top of the page, you’ll see a section labeled, “I want to.” Click on the “Transfer my education benefits” option and go from there.

Cool/alternative/creative ways to use the GI Bill

You have a little flexibility with the GI Bill in that it doesn’t have to just go toward a traditional education at a brick-and-mortar school. You can use it to take classes online or through correspondence.

You can get help starting your own business .

You can get a tutor to help you with your classes.

You can also use your benefits toward a flight school or apprenticeship program. Even licensing programs, certification tests and admission tests, such as the SAT or LSAT, are covered.

If you are a veteran majoring in a STEM field — science, technology, engineering or math — you can apply for more GI Bill benefits, since many of these majors take more than the standard four years of college to complete. The Forever GI Bill set up the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship fund that will give up to $30,000 to STEM students on a first-come, first-serve basis. Veterans and surviving dependents of deceased service members are eligible for this scholarship.

Military Times contributor and former reporter Natalie Gross hosts the Spouse Angle podcast. She grew up in a military family and has a master's degree in journalism from Georgetown University.

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How the GI Bill® Can Help Pay for Grad School

If you have just completed military service and are looking to get into gainful civilian employment, you might wonder if you can get financial aid through the GI Bill to pay for school. The simple answer is yes. The terms GI Bill refers to legal provisions intended to help active-duty servicemen and veterans advance their education.

The current provisions of the GI Bill are quite detailed, and it’s important to understand the history to maximize its usefulness (and to appreciate the original intention of the bill).

History of the GI Bill

The first GI Bill was passed as the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 . It was intended to pay benefits to World War II veterans. These included low-cost mortgages, low-interest loans to start businesses or buy farms, 12 months of unemployment compensation, tuition, and living expenses payments for those attending high school, college, or vocational training institutions.

The original bill expired in 1956, having had 7.8 million people use it for some form of education benefits throughout its run. The bill was quite instrumental in transforming the quality of human capital in the US, which altogether powered economic growth in the 1950s.

In 1984, the bill was revived, this time under the name of the Montgomery GI Bill . This iteration proposed that active servicemen give up $100 for 12 months and, in return, receive $1,564 as financial aid per month throughout 36 months of full-time education. A smaller amount was given to part-time students, and a larger amount was given to full-time students who put in a larger upfront investment. Servicemen could pay up to $600 more, getting $8 of aid for every $1 contributed.

In 2008, the Montgomery GI Bill was expanded further to the GI Bill that we know today, and the US Department of Veterans Affairs took over the management of the benefits from private contractors in 2009.

Post-9/11 GI Bill

The Post-9/11 GI Bill applies to people who have served 30 days of continuous active duty after September 10, 2001, and who left honorably because of a disability that occurred while on duty. Alternatively, it also applies to people who have served actively for 90 days after September 10, 2001, and received an honorable discharge.

This bill covers the full cost of tuition for veterans, housing costs while in school, and the cost of books and other supplies. It also entitles veterans to compensation for the cost of their relocation for education.

How to Apply for Financial Aid under the GI Bill

If you would like the GI Bill to help finance your master’s degree or other post-grad education, you first need to find a school approved by the VA (Department of Veterans Affairs). There is an easy-to-use tool on their website to conduct a search.

After finding a school, you must then apply for the GI education benefits on the same website . The application process requires you to provide your social security number, bank account information, an explanation of your education and military history, and information about the institution you want to attend or are already attending.

Alternatively, you could also request to receive the application forms by mail, which you can then fill out and mail to the VA regional claims processing office that’s nearest to the school. You can also present yourself at a VA regional office and have them guide you through the application process. Sounds like a lot of information? Accredited representatives are available to help you through the entire process.

GI Bill Benefits for a Master’s Degree

The Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits can cover your cost of tuition for a master’s degree if you already have an undergraduate degree. It will cover 100% full resident tuition if you opt for a public school. However, if you attend a private or foreign school, the maximum payable amount is currently $26,042 .

You are also eligible for a monthly housing allowance that’s tied to the military’s housing allowance scale.

Yellow Ribbon Program

As seen, there is a cap on the amount of tuition payable by the VA for tuition in a private school. In most cases, this amount is lower than what private schools charge for tuition annually. If you are attending a private university, you can get further benefits through the Yellow Ribbon Program .

This program is a voluntary agreement between some private schools and the VA to waive a portion of tuition costs that surpass the amount ascribed by the Post-9/11 Bill. Once the school waives a certain amount, the VA matches it in order to help the veteran pay little or nothing at all toward their tuition.

To qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program, you need to have served at least 36 months after September 10, 2001, and been honorably discharged. People who were discharged honorably due to a disability suffered on duty after that date also qualify. The Yellow Ribbon Program benefits can also assist a dependent whose veteran relative met the eligibility criteria.

Transfer of Education

The Post-9/11 GI Bill includes a Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB) Program. This allows active servicemen to transfer some or all their education benefits to their spouse or children. The transfer has to happen before the veteran starts their terminal leave, with the veteran having served six years and agreeing to serve an additional ten.

Spouses and children of active service members can get financial aid through TEB, receiving at least one month of benefits and at most 36 months of benefits.

Make Use of the GI Bill

If you are a veteran looking to get a master’s degree education who meets the GI Bill eligibility criteria, you can visit the VA website or regional VA office to begin the application process. You can also visit our website for information about powering your post-graduate education, financial aid programs, and scholarship opportunities.

Ana -Marcela joins the team as an outreach associate and assistant editor. She values the pursuit of knowledge and is excited to use her research and writing skills to help others fuel their intellectual curiosity.  Ana -Marcela is a native Austinite and she earned her Bachelor’s in English Literature from St. Edward’s University. Her favorite author is Gabriel Garcia Marquez.  Ana -Marcela spends her free time hiking the greenbelt, cruising the aisles of half price books, or cuddling her cats.

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Earn a degree at no cost. Fast track your success.

You've given us the gifts of freedom, security and democracy. It's our turn to thank you. At Mercy University, you'll receive the skills and training you need to excel in today's competitive economy at virtually no cost. With a college degree, there's no telling how far you can go.  

College graduates earn $1.6 million more throughout their career than those who do not pursue higher education. Thanks to Mercy University and the GI Bill®, transitioning from military service to civilian life has never been easier.

Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act (Chapter 33)

The Post-9/11 GI Bill® provides up to 36 months of educational benefits for individuals who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001. Eligibility for benefits is extended to 15 years from the last period of active duty. Benefit entitlement is determined by length of active duty after September 11, 2001. In addition to coverage of tuition and fees, which is capped at the highest in-state undergraduate tuition as a public institution, there are provisions for a monthly housing allowance equal to E-5 basic allowance for housing with dependents (based on zip code) and a yearly stipend of $1,000 for books and equipment.

Benefits Based on Length of Active Duty

• 100% - At least 36 months
• 100% - At least 30 continuous days and service-connected disability discharge
• 90% - At least 30 months
• 80%  - At least 24 months
• 70% - At least 18 months
• 60% - At least 12 months
• 50% - At least 6 months
• 40% - At least 90 days

Approved training under the Post-9/11 GI Bill® includes undergraduate and graduate degrees and vocational/technical training. All training programs must be offered by an institution of higher learning (IHL) and approved for GI Bill® benefits. Additionally, tutorial assistance and licensing and certification test reimbursement are approved under the Post-9/11 GI Bill®. 

Visit the  GI Bill® website  for more information on eligibility.

Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program

Mercy University is a proud participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Veterans who have served a minimum of 36 months of active duty service after September 10, 2001 are eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program. This program enhances your educational entitlements by covering virtually 100% of additional tuition and fee costs above are allocated annual allowance.  

• Study Abroad

How to Use Your GI Bill to Study Abroad

Dominic has studied abroad in India, worked for GoAbroad’s content team in the Philippines,...

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For men and women who have served in the United States military, travel is nothing new. Many veterans have lived abroad for extended periods of time, often not even deciding when and where they get to go, all for the sake of their fellow Americans living safely and soundly back at home. 

Such sacrifice is honored by the GI bill, which enables veterans to return home with a wide range of benefits at their disposal, which includes the opportunity to pursue higher education at no cost. Through the GI Bill, veterans can enroll in degree programs and have the majority of their educational costs, ranging from tuition to textbooks to housing, covered. So what if a veteran wants to use their GI benefits to study abroad?  

Studying abroad is something that every student should do once in their lives, regardless of vocation or academic interests. For veterans, study abroad can mean the chance to finally travel freely and rediscover the world under much different circumstances in a far more light-hearted, enjoyable way (which they deserve even more after serving!).

Despite study abroad being entirely possible for veterans, the bureaucracy of how to use a GI Bill to study abroad can be a bit confusing. Therefore, to help all of our veterans with an interest in study abroad out, below we have answers some of the most commonly asked questions about using GI Bill benefits to study abroad : 

What educational benefits am I entitled to under the GI Bill?

This depends on the length of your service. At minimum, veterans who have served for three months are entitled to 40 percent of the available benefits. On the other hand, at the maximum, veterans who have served for at least three years, or have been discharged, are entitled to 100 percent of the educational benefits allotted under the GI Bill. 

When it comes to education, veterans are entitled to reimbursement for the costs of tuition, books, and living expenses. The GI Bill will pay full tuition for veterans who are studying at in-state public colleges and will usually cover at least $20,000 in tuition for enrollment at private universities. In addition, veterans can receive a book stipend of $1,000 per year and a monthly living allowance, which varies depending on the location. 

Under the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, Soldier-students will soon have access to a greatly expanded array of education options. Photo by Spc. Ida Tate on USA Army Europe Images, Flickr

How do I use my GI Bill to study abroad?  

There are a few different ways you can use your GI bill to help fund your study abroad experience.

The first is to simply enroll in a foreign university and have the Veteran’s Association (VA) directly pay your tuition and academic fees abroad. Most GI benefits will transfer abroad to cover full time coursework at a foreign university, pending the VA’s approval of the degree program. 

Another way to study abroad is by attending a study abroad program provided by your home university. Many American colleges have partnerships with or international programs based at universities located around the world, in which case the VA will be able to pay your normal tuition fees to your home university, who will be responsible for transferring any required fees to your international university..

Lastly, the VA can also support study abroad when it is required for you to complete your degree from your home university. Normally the GI Bill does not cover fees directly associated with a study abroad program or third party provider, but in this case they will incorporate the costs of study abroad into regular tuition fees, since it is a requirement to graduate. 

What are the limitations on using my GI Bill to study abroad?

As previously stated, the VA cannot pay for any fees directly related to a study abroad program or third party provider under the GI Bill. This means that many specialized study abroad programs that are separate from your home university will not be covered by GI benefits, and any extra fees charged by your home university will also not be covered.

The VA will only cover the costs of studying abroad at a foreign university up to the national maximum tuition and fee rate observed at home. If your host university in another country has an expensive tuition rate for international students, this could prove to be a hindrance to how much the GI Bill can help you out. 

Additionally, while the VA can still help compensate you for textbooks, housing, and other living expenses while studying abroad, they will not cover the price of airfare, which can be a pretty significant cost.

To look into other means by which you might supplement your GI Bill benefits, be sure to check out GoAbroad’s Scholarship Directory .  

What are some popular destinations and subject areas for Veterans studying abroad?  

Here’s the fun part! You can go pretty much anywhere and study anything utilizing the GI Bill, provided that your home university has an arrangement where credits can transfer back to your home university.

Some of the most popular countries for study abroad range everywhere from Italy to Australia to Brazil , and everywhere in between. Studying abroad is a fantastic opportunity to live in that country you’ve always wanted to for a semester or even full year .

The only question that remains is where will your GI Bill benefits take you?

Explore Study Abroad Programs on GoAbroad.com

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New VA Education Rule Allows Some Vets to Get Multiple Degrees

This month, the Department of Veterans Affairs made a major change to education benefits, expanding opportunities for some veterans by allowing them to apply their benefits toward multiple degrees.

"Effective April 1, 2021 VA will not count veteran entitlement used in the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program against the 48-month rule for education programs like the post-9/11 GI Bill ," a VA spokesperson said in a statement.

VR&E , sometimes referred to as Chapter 31, allows veterans with a service-connected disability and at least a 10% rating to access various resources to find employment .

Read Next: Troubled Visa Program for Afghan Interpreters May Do 'More Harm Than Good,' Study Finds

The benefit, previously known as Vocational Rehabilitation, includes a range of tools for veterans, including VA-funded job training. Employers hiring a veteran who used the benefit are also eligible to receive a federal tax credit or be reimbursed for up to half of the veteran's salary, according to VA.

Until last week, VR&E could not be used in conjunction with the Post-9/11 GI Bill , which covers four years of college for veterans. Veterans who used the full 48 months of benefits included with VR&E would be ineligible for the GI Bill. The switch in policy could be the most significant change to education benefits since the "Forever GI Bill," which erased the benefit's expiration date, was signed into law in 2017 .

"My understanding is that students who have not previously used an education benefit, like the Montgomery or Post 9/11 GI Bill, will be able to use Chapter 31 'VR&E' without it affecting their eligibility under other chapters of the GI Bill," Patrick Forystek, who oversees student veterans at Michigan State University, told Military.com.

However, to maximize education benefits, a veteran would need to use VR&E first, because while the change means VR&E does not count against total GI Bill benefits, that is not true the other way around. Use of the GI Bill still will count against VR&E.

"The use of GI Bill education benefits will continue to count against the 48-month limit on VR&E benefits," a memo that the department sent to veteran students Wednesday said. "VA has started to process impacted claims and enrollments with this update."

The new rule could open up opportunities for veterans who were trained in a job they are no longer able to perform and need to go back to school to start a new career.

"This decision by VA is excellent news as it will allow student veterans who, due to a service-related disability, are not able to work in the field they originally received training for the opportunity to gain the knowledge and training necessary to find employment that is conducive to their current circumstances," said Tanya Ang, vice president of the advocacy group Veterans Education Success.

It is unclear what prompted VA to make what could be an expensive change in education policy. Now that VR&E doesn't count against other GI Bill benefits, a veteran hypothetically could earn a CDL license, accounting certificate or traditional college degree, and then go back to school with the Post-9/11 GI Bill to earn another degree. Since 2009, 773,000 beneficiaries have used the Post-9/11 GI Bill, amounting to more than $20 billion in benefits, according to VA.

An FAQ VA sent out to students on the changes to benefits can be found here.

-- Steve Beynon can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon.

Related: This GI Bill Rule Change Could Cost Veterans Thousands of Dollars a Semester

Steve Beynon

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Education & Transition

Will the supreme court’s gi bill ruling mean more money for vets.

Tuesday’s Supreme Court ruling on veterans education benefits could provide an extra year of federal tuition payments to millions of student veterans, but when officials might start doling out the payouts — if at all — remains unclear.

In the 7-2 ruling , justices said that veterans can use both the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and Montgomery GI Bill benefits to pay for college classes if they meet eligibility for both programs.

Veterans Affairs officials had required veterans attending school to choose one and forfeit the other. But in the opinion for the majority of the court, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson stated that “if service members serve for long enough, they may be entitled to both.”

As a result, advocates say, significant changes in how veterans education benefits are paid out could happen in the next few months.

Supreme Court rules in favor of veteran who sued over GI Bill limits

The supreme court ruled 7-2 in favor of a veteran who wanted to use both his post-9/11 gi bill and montgomery gi bill benefits..

“That ruling is pretty clear — you can use both,” said retired Lt. Col. Elizabeth Kubala, executive director of Syracuse University’s Veterans Legal Clinic. “When there is a significant ruling like this, then a federal agency needs to take steps to implement it. So it will be interesting to see what VA does next.”

In a statement, Veterans Affairs officials said they are still reviewing the decision. Lawyers involved in the case have said as many as 1.7 million veterans could immediately qualify for more education benefits under the ruling, but acknowledge that it could be a while before anyone sees that money.

“I fear that VA will try to take a very narrow view in interpreting this,” said Timothy McHugh, an attorney with the law firm Troutman Pepper, which handled the case. “And if they do take that position, that will be the next legal fight.”

How much could student vets get?

Most veterans attending college today with federal financial support use the Post-9/11 GI Bill program , a generous benefit passed in 2008 that awards eligible veterans 36 months of tuition payouts, housing stipends and other financial assistance.

To be eligible for the full Post-9/11 benefits, troops need to have served at least three years on active duty since 2001. Eligibility to transfer the benefit to a spouse or child requires additional years of service.

Over the course of a four-year degree program, the total value of the Post-9/11 GI Bill package can exceed $200,000, depending on an individual’s school and housing situation.

The Montgomery GI Bill program isn’t quite as generous. Eligible veterans can receive up to $2,358 for tuition costs a month, or about $113,000 over the course of a four-year degree. There is no housing stipend or other financial help.

To be eligible for that benefit, veterans needed to serve at least three years on active duty and pay into the Montgomery GI Bill program, at a cost of $100 a month for their first year in the ranks.

Until now, VA officials have made veterans choose one of the two programs, saying that federal rules prohibit individuals from drawing upon both.

But Tuesday’s reversal of that stance by the Supreme Court centered on Jim Rudisill , a 43-year-old Army veteran who tried to use both and sued when VA officials blocked that move.

In his case, Rudisill served eight years on active duty over several different non-consecutive enlistments. He used parts of both benefits, but after hitting the 36-month limit, was told that he could not access any additional education stipends.

Federal rules limit any individual from receiving two education benefits at the same time, or receiving more than 48 months of education benefits. But even with that cap, Rudisill argued that he was entitled to 12 more months of payouts.

For veterans who have exhausted their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, the ruling could mean an additional 12 months of Montgomery GI Bill payouts to finish a degree program or start a new one, provided they served at least six years on active duty (three years each to qualify separately for the two programs).

For veterans who haven’t yet tapped into either benefit, the ruling could set off a complicated calculus of which stipends to use or save, depending on personal and family education goals.

An individual could potentially trigger the Montgomery GI Bill to attend community college classes while saving the Post-9/11 GI Bill for an eligible dependent in the future, since the latter benefit can be transferred while the Montgomery GI Bill cannot.

When will students get answers?

McHugh said his firm already has potential clients ready to sue the government if they refuse to allow that benefit flexibility.

“It’s clear from this ruling that everyone who served six years or more and was told they couldn’t access both [benefits] now has 12 additional months of benefits coming,” he said. “The sky is the limit.”

In previous court filings, VA officials estimated that only a few thousand veterans would qualify for both benefits if Rudisill won his case, saying that multiple periods of service before and after 2001 made his situation unusual.

But Kubala said Tuesday’s Supreme Court ruling does not make that distinction. As such, anyone who served six years since 2001 could be eligible for the expanded benefits, a much larger pool.

“And so it’s going to be important for VA to offer clear and quick guidance on this issue,” she said. “VA is a large federal agency and these reviews take time. But given how many vets could potentially use these benefits as early as this fall, they need to act quickly.”

Veterans Affairs officials have not given a timeline for when they may issue new guidance. In a statement, VA press secretary Terrence Hayes said the department is “committed to helping veterans get the world-class education they’ve earned so they can continue successful careers after leaving the military.”

For now, that leaves outside advocates without any specifics to give to veterans about what education benefits they may have available in the future.

In a message to members this week, officials from Student Veterans of America said they are working with VA leaders, lawyers and education staff on the potential impact of the situation. Leaders from Veterans Education Success in a statement said the ruling should allow veterans to access both benefits “in direct contrast to how the Department of Veterans Affairs has administered the programs.”

VA already pays out more than $8 billion in education payments annually. The Supreme Court could potentially add hundreds of millions more to that total, although actual spending will depend on how many veterans opt to continue their college classes.

For now, the only veteran clearly covered by the ruling appears to be Rudisill, who had hoped to use the extra education benefits to attend Yale Divinity School and become an Army chaplain.

Rudisill said he no longer expects to use the stipend for that, but he hopes other veterans are afforded those kinds of opportunities.

“This fight was for all military veterans who, like me, were denied what they were promised after their service to our country,” he said in a statement. “It has been humbling to represent the veterans’ community, and I am so grateful for my legal team and the court’s decision here.”

Leo covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He has covered Washington, D.C. since 2004, focusing on military personnel and veterans policies. His work has earned numerous honors, including a 2009 Polk award, a 2010 National Headliner Award, the IAVA Leadership in Journalism award and the VFW News Media award.

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GI Bill® & Veterans Benefits for MBA Applicants

Yellow ribbon program.

The Yellow Ribbon Program offers financial assistance to students of the armed forces. Kellogg has awarded grants through this program since its inception in 2009.

VA BENEFITS AT NU

Pre-qualification

In order to qualify for financial assistance, you must first be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill . Please contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to inquire about your eligibility for benefits and to request your Certificate of Eligibility.

According to the VA:

"Only veterans entitled to the maximum benefit rate (based on service requirements) or their designated transferees may receive this funding. Active duty service members and their spouses are not eligible for this program (child transferees of active duty service members may be eligible if the service member is qualified at the 100% rate)."

VA regulations state that you must exhaust your full Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit for the academic year up to the tuition and mandatory fee cap for private schools (if eligible for the academic year) before any Yellow Ribbon Program funding is paid.

Eligibility

For the 2023–2024 school year, there will not be a cap on the number of eligible students who may receive the Yellow Ribbon Program Grant. The maximum Kellogg Yellow Ribbon Grant is $22,000 which is matched by the VA. The annual award amount cannot exceed tuition and mandatory fees.

To qualify for Yellow Ribbon Program benefits, you must meet the following criteria:

• Receive admission to one of the following programs: Full-Time MBA Programs (1Y, 2Y, MMM, MiM), Evening & Weekend evening or Saturday MBA, or Executive MBA (EMBA).
• Prior to matriculation, confirm your intent to enroll by submitting your tuition deposit to the Full-Time, Evening & Weekend, or Executive MBA programs.
• Submit your Certificate of Eligibility from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to the Northwestern University Registrar’s Office, as well as a copy to your school's Financial Aid Office stating you are 100 percent eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.

Rules and regulations

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA):

• Students must exhaust their full Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit for the academic year before Yellow Ribbon funding is paid.
• The maximum grant that a student can receive from Kellogg through the Yellow Ribbon Program is $22,000 per academic year.
• The amount a student receives from Kellogg is matched by the VA. The amount cannot exceed tuition and mandatory fees as listed by the VA.
• Grants are awarded to eligible students on a first-come, first-served basis.

Benefits distribution

Receiving payment for va educational benefits.

Payment for the Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty (Ch. 30), Montgomery GI Bill-Reserves (Ch. 1606), and REAP (Ch. 1607) will be made directly to you. Contact the VA at 888.442.4551 for information on how payments will be issued.

Receiving payment for the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Ch. 33)

Payment will be issued after the VA receives and processes your enrollment certification from Northwestern University.

The VA will not provide a payment timeline to Northwestern University. You must contact the GI Bill hotline at 888-GIBILL1 ( 888.442.4551 ) for information on when payments will be issued.

Please note:

• Living stipends (BAH / MHA) will be issued directly to you by the VA monthly.
• During your required summer internship, you are considered a full-time student and our Certifying Official will certify your housing allowance with VA.
• Payment for tuition and fees will be issued directly to Northwestern University by the VA and will be credited to your account. The amount paid is determined by the VA and may not cover the full cost of tuition and fees.
• Northwestern will place an "anticipated credit" on your account for the portion of the tuition and fees that you will be receiving from the VA until tuition and fee payments are received. This means that you will not be required to front the money expected from the VA and will not be issued late fees on your account for the amount expected by VA.
• The anticipated credit is Northwestern's best guess at what you will receive in payment based on your Certificate of Eligibility and enrollment for the academic term. If the actual payment received by the VA is less than what was estimated, you will be responsible for paying the difference out-of-pocket or through financial aid.
• Yellow Ribbon payments from the VA will be issued directly to Northwestern University and will be credited to your account.
• The Yellow Ribbon match provided by Northwestern will be credited to your account at the same time the VA Yellow Ribbon payment is credited.

Submission exemption

If you meet the following three criteria, you will automatically be included in the applicant pool for the 2023–2024 academic year, and are not required to resubmit your Certificate of Eligibility:

• Received the Yellow Ribbon Program benefits in previous years.
• Are enrolled in your academic program for the 2023–2024 academic year.
• Are still eligible for Yellow Ribbon Program benefits from the VA.

If you’re eligible, submit the required documents via postal mail, email, or fax to:

Registrar's Office Northwestern University Office of the Registrar 633 Clark Street Evanston, IL 60208 Attn: Charmaine Nicholson Email: [email protected] Fax Number: 847.491.8458

Financial Aid Offices

Full-Time MBA Program Kellogg School of Management Northwestern University Office of Admissions and Financial Aid Kellogg Global Hub 2211 Campus Drive Evanston, IL 60208 Attn: Jake Achey Email: [email protected]

Evening & Weekend MBA Program Northwestern University Office of Financial Aid- Chicago 710 N. Lake Shore Drive, Suite 629 Chicago, IL 60611 Attn: Julia Jenkins Email: [email protected]

Executive MBA Program Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University Northwestern University James L. Allen Center 2169 Campus Drive Evanston, IL 60208 Attn: Jake Achey Email: [email protected]

Completing Steps to the VA

Students eligible for GI Bill or Veterans Benefits should contact:

Office of the Registrar 633 Clark Street Evanston, IL 60208-1280 847.491.5234

You are responsible for completing any necessary steps as directed by the VA to ensure that Northwestern University receives the Post-9/11 GI Bill tuition payment and the VA’s portion of the Yellow Ribbon payment. Please refer to your Certificate of Eligibility or call 1.888.GIBILL1 (442.4551) to verify that you have completed all necessary steps with the VA.

For information regarding the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program, please visit http://www.gibill.va.gov.

Contact us about the Full-Time MBA Program at Kellogg

Full-Time MBA Application Deadlines

Round 1:  Sept. 13, 2023 Round 2:  Jan. 10, 2024 Round 3:  April 3, 2024

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Education & Transition

Supreme court rules in favor of veteran who sued over gi bill limits.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled in favor of a veteran who unsuccessfully tried to use both his Post-9/11 GI Bill and Montgomery GI Bill benefits , saying that Veterans Affairs officials erred in limiting his education support.

The 7-2 decision could have far-reaching impact on student veterans who use up their VA benefits but still wish to continue degree programs. Lawyers for the plaintiff have estimated as many as 1.7 million veterans nationwide could benefit from the ruling, but federal officials have estimated the number to be less than 30,000 individuals.

The case has been closely watched by veterans advocates for nearly nine years because of its potential ramifications. VA pays out more than $8 billion in education payments annually, and the Supreme Court ruling could boost that figure even higher.

The legal fight centered on Jim Rudisill, a 43-year-old Army veteran who was wounded in a roadside bomb attack in Iraq in 2005. Rudisill used all of his Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits shortly thereafter, but later wanted to tap into his unused Montgomery GI Bill benefits to attend Yale Divinity School as part of the process to become an Army chaplain.

One vet’s GI Bill fight could win benefits for millions of other students

The case could give an extra year of benefits for veterans who have used up their post-9/11 gi bill but still have some eligibility left under the montgomery gi bill program..

When VA officials denied that move, Rudisill sued, claiming they were unfairly limiting his options. Writing for the majority, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson called the government’s denial “nonsensical” and reversed lower court rulings supporting VA’s position.

Most veterans attending college today with federal financial support use the Post-9/11 GI Bill program, a generous benefit passed in 2008 that awards eligible veterans 36 months of tuition payouts, housing stipends and other financial assistance.

The Montgomery GI Bill program was the predecessor to that benefit, and is being phased out by the department. It offers far less money, but still can provide several thousands of dollars annually to veterans for tuition costs if they paid into the program at the start of their military service.

Currently, VA officials make students give up eligibility for the Montgomery GI Bill program when they register to begin using the Post-9/11 GI Bill. That means that once their education benefits from that program are exhausted, they cannot receive more tuition support from the other program.

But Rudisill’s attorneys argued that the limit is unfair and unfounded in federal law. Jackson agreed with that stance in her opinion.

“If service members serve for long enough, they may be entitled to both [education benefits],” Jackson wrote. “But such service members cannot receive disbursements from both entitlement programs at the same time, nor may they receive any combination of benefits for longer than 48 months.”

That’s because separate federal rules cap any government higher education payouts at 48 months, and prohibit using such benefits concurrently. Therefore, even if veterans qualify for both programs, they can only use them both in very limited circumstances.

But in Rudisill’s case, a majority of justices said that he should have been able to access about 10 months of Montgomery GI Bill benefits to attend Yale.

In his dissent, Justice Clarence Thomas said Rudisill clearly forfeited his remaining Montgomery GI Bill support when he opted for the more generous Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, making his case moot.

The full decision is available on the Supreme Court’s website .

Leo covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He has covered Washington, D.C. since 2004, focusing on military personnel and veterans policies. His work has earned numerous honors, including a 2009 Polk award, a 2010 National Headliner Award, the IAVA Leadership in Journalism award and the VFW News Media award.

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