Begin by applying for your chosen VA education benefit through VA.gov. You can apply online through the VA’s official website using VA Form 22-1990. Once approved for benefits, you’ll receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). 

Submit a copy of your COE to veteranresources@yale.edu and complete Yale’s Veteran Benefits Request Form each term to ensure your enrollment is certified and benefits are disbursed on time.

No. Students are not required to use VA benefits at Yale. If you choose not to use them, you may still apply for institutional or federal financial aid.

Common programs include the  Post-9/11 GI Bill®, Montgomery GI Bill®, and Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (VR&E). Each program offers different benefits and eligibility requirements.

 You may qualify for multiple VA programs (for example, both the Post-9/11 GI Bill® and Montgomery GI Bill®). Because using one program can affect eligibility for others, carefully compare options using the VA Education Benefit Comparison Tool or speak with a VA representative before applying.

Students should review their school’s financial aid policies and consult directly with their financial aid office to understand how VA benefits may impact their overall aid package.

 Each Yale school has a certifying official and financial aid contact who can help you understand how VA funding impacts your aid package. Refer to the Key Contacts section of the Veterans Resources website for a full list of contacts.

 Start by reaching out to Nicole Archer, Associate Director of Veteran and Military Resources, at veteranresources@yale.edu. She can help you navigate certification, connect with your school’s certifying official, and access veteran and military support services on campus.

 DEA benefits are available to dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected condition, or who died while on active duty or from a service-connected disability. Eligible dependents can use these benefits for degree and training programs at Yale.

Yale participates fully in the Yellow Ribbon Program under the Post-9/11 GI Bill®. This means that for eligible students, the VA and Yale together reduce the remaining tuition and fees not paid under the base GI Bill® benefit —up to the maximum Yellow Ribbon contribution set by your school.

The way VA education benefits under the GI Bill® are applied depends on your benefit chapter, the payment method, and your specific Yale school:

• Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill®):
  Tuition and fees are paid directly to Yale by the VA. The amount is based on your eligibility percentage and the VA-approved charges for your program.
• Chapter 31 (Veteran Readiness & Employment):
  The VA typically pays Yale directly for tuition and fees after receiving an authorization from your counselor.
• Other Chapters (e.g., 30, 35, 1606):
  These benefits are paid directly to the student, not to Yale. You are responsible for paying your tuition bill by the due date.

Yale will not impose penalties, such as late fees or restricted access to classes or facilities, due to delayed VA or DoD payments under Chapter 31 or 33. You will remain enrolled and able to participate in your courses while payments are pending. However, any costs that exceed the amount covered by VA benefits remain the student’s responsibility and must be paid by the published due dates.

Some programs do, but coverage depends on VA regulations and Yale’s certification process. Always confirm before enrolling.

On-Campus Classes:
If you attend at least one in-person class, your MHA is based on the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents at the zip code of your school’s campus.

Online-Only Classes:
If all your classes are online, your MHA is 50% of the national average BAH for an E-5 with dependents.

Important:

• You must be enrolled at more than 50% of full-time to receive MHA.
• Your benefit tier (based on service time) and enrollment rate affect the amount.
• If you take at least one in-person class, you get the full ZIP-based MHA instead of the online rate.

MHA Rate Lookup

Yes. To receive the full MHA, you must be enrolled at more than half-time status. Dropping below that will reduce or eliminate your housing benefit.

Typically, payments are issued at the beginning of each month for the previous month’s enrollment. Initial processing may take 4–6 weeks.