Tuition Assistance for Veterans
Welcome Veterans
Welcome veterans to CVN. Veterans may apply for degrees, certificates, and take applicable courses from Columbia University through CVN. Eligibile individuals may apply GI Bill benefits to help sponsor their education.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill
The Post-9/11 GI Bill program (also known as Chapter 33) is a new education benefit for individuals who served on active duty after September 10, 2001. Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits are payable for courses taken on or after August 1, 2009. You may be eligible if you served at least 90 aggregate days on active duty after September 10, 2001, and you are still on active duty or were honorably --
- discharged from active duty; or
- released from active duty and placed on the retired list or temporary disability retired list; or
- released from active duty and transferred to the Fleet Reserve or Fleet Marine Corps Reserve; or
- released from active duty for further service in a reserve component of the Armed Forces.
You may also be eligible if you were honorably discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability and you served 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001. The table below outlines potential benefits by length of active duty service after September 10, 2001. Based on your length of active duty service, you may be entitled to a percentage of the following:
- Cost of tuition and fees, not to exceed the most expensive in-state undergraduate tuition at a public institution of higher education -- currently $1,010.00 per credit for New York State (paid to school);
- Yearly books and supplies stipend of up to $1,000.00 per year (paid to you). NOTE - The books and supplies stipend is not payable to individuals on active duty.
| Individuals serving an aggregate period of active duty after September 10, 2001, of: | Percentage of Maximum Benefit Payable |
| At least 36 months | 100% |
| At least 30 continuous days and discharged due to service-connected disability | 100% |
| At least 30 months < 36 months | 90% |
| At least 24 months < 30 months | 80% |
| At least 18 months < 24 months | 70% |
| At least 12 months < 18 months | 60% |
| At least 6 months < 12 months | 50% |
| At least 90 days < 6 months | 40% |
The Montegomery GI Bill
The Montegomery GI Bill (also known as Chapter 30) is for individuals who entered on Active Duty anytime since July 1, 1985, and who paid into an education fund for one year. The tables below include potential benefits for individuals eligible for the Montegomery GI Bill.
Montegomery GI Bill Benefits for Veterans with 3 or More Years of Active Duty Service
| Enrollment Status | Benefit Payable |
| Full Time (12 credits per semester) |
$1,321.00 |
| Three-Quarter Time (9 credits per semester) |
$990.75 |
| Half Time (6 credits per semester) |
$660.50 |
Montegomery GI Bill Benefits for Veterans with Less Than 3 Years of Active Duty Service
| Enrollment Status | Benefit Payable |
| Full Time (12 credits per semester) |
$1,073.00 | Three-Quarter Time (9 credits per semester) |
$804.75 |
| Half Time (6 credits per semester) |
$536.50 |
The Dependents Educational Assistance Program (DEA)
The Dependents Educational Assistance Program, or DEA, (also known as Chatper 35) is the only benefit for individuals without military service. It is for dependents of a member of the Armed Forces who died on active duty or as the result of a service-connected disability, or is 100% permanently and totally disabled based on a service-related reason. Dependents receive up to 45 months of full time benefits. Children generally are eligible for benefits between the ages of 18 and 26, but in certain instances may begin before age 18 and continue beyond age 26. They have a VA file or claim number (C#) that is related to the parent or spouse under whom they are eligible. The dependent's file is also identified by a suffix. (10 or W, 41 or A, 42 or B, etc.) The DEA program has its own application form (VA Form 22-5490, and its own Change of Program/Training form(VA Form 22-5495). The rates for individuals eligible for DEA benefits are listed in the table below.
| Enrollment Status | Benefit Payable |
| Full Time (12 credits per semester) |
$881.00 |
| Three-Quarter Time (9 credits per semester) |
$661.00 |
| Half Time (6 credits per semester) |
$439.00 |
| Less Than Half Time (less than 6 credits per semester) | Tuition & Fees not to exceed $439.00 or $220.25 if Quarter Time (3 credits per semester) |
Contacts
For help choosing which benefit best fits your needs, contact Veterans Affairs at 1-888-442-4551. For assistance applying your benefits to your studies at Columbia University, contact Nedra Gordon by phone at 212-854-2515 or e-mail ng17@columbia.edu.