G.I. Bill and Veterans Benefits
Students in approved programs at Northwestern University may use any VA educational benefit toward the cost of their program. Students should check with their respective program to verify its eligibility to participate in VA program benefits.
VA Educational Benefits include, but are not limited to:
- The Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty (Chapter 30)
- Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31)
- The Post 9-11 GI Bill/Yellow Ribbon Program (Chapter 33)
- Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance (Chapter 35)
- The Montgomery GI Bill-Reserves (Chapter 1606)
- Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) (Chapter 1607)
VA Educational Benefits do not include the Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG), Illinois National Guard Grant Program (ING), or the Illinois MIA/POW Scholarship Program. These programs are only available at Illinois public institutions.
To determine which VA educational benefit is best for you and to determine your eligibility for educational programs through the US Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans and active duty military members should contact the GI Bill hotline at 1-888-GIBILL1 (1-888-442-4551) to speak with a VA counselor and visit the VA website http://www.gibill.va.gov/apply-for-benefits/road-map/1-determine-your-best-benefit.html.
Students must complete the 22-1990 form (application for VA educational benefits) or the 22-1995 form (request for change of program or place of training for VA educational benefits) through VA at http://www.gibill.va.gov/apply-for-benefits/application/ listing Northwestern University as their place of study.
Once a student has submitted the appropriate application through VA and has received his/her certificate of eligibility (COE), he/she should submit a copy of the COE to the program Registrar and the Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid so his/her enrollment may be verified with VA.
Please note that the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) makes the final determination of eligibility.
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) are made directly to the Veteran from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Veterans using these chapters should contact U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) at 1-888-442-4551 for information on how payments will be issued.
Payment for the Post 9-11 GI Bill (Ch. 33) is issued in the following ways:
Once certification has been submitted to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs by Northwestern University for a student's enrollment, payment will be issued after U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs processes the student's enrollment certification. Northwestern University is not provided with a timeline for payment by VA. For information on when payments will be issued, Veterans must contact the GI Bill hotline at 888-GIBILL1 (1-888-442-4551).
- Living stipends will be issued directly to the Veteran by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on a monthly basis
- Book and supply stipends will be issued directly to the student by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs each academic term
- Tuition and Fees payments will be issued directly to Northwestern University by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and will be credited to the student account. The amount of tuition and fees that will be paid is determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and may not cover the full cost of tuition and fees.
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- Northwestern will place an "anticipated credit" on your student account for the portion of the tuition and fees that is expected to be received from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs until tuition and fee payments are actually received. This means that students will not be required to 'front' the money expected from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and will not be issued late fees on their student account for the amount expected by VA.
- The anticipated credit is Northwestern's best estimate of what the student will receive in a tuition and fee payment based on their certificate of eligibility and enrollment for the academic term. If the actual payment received by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is less than what was estimated for the anticipated credit, the student will be responsible for paying the difference out of pocket or through the use of financial aid.
- Yellow Ribbon payments from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (if the student is eligible) will be issued directly to Northwestern University and will be credited to the student account.
- The Yellow Ribbon match provided by Northwestern (if the student is eligible) will be credited to the student account, oftentimes prior to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Yellow Ribbon payment is credited to the account.
Veterans using the Post 9-11 GI Bill who do not see a payment by VA or an anticipated VA credit on their student account during a period of enrollment should notify Brian Drabik in the Office of undergraduate Financial Aid via email at b-drabik@northwestern.edu or by phone at 847-491-7400.
VA Educational Benefits and Financial Aid
Veterans may apply for financial aid in addition to their VA benefits. Receipt of federalaid will not reduce a Veteran's eligibility for VA educational benefits. *Please note that all aid not considered federal (Title IV) aid will reduce the Veteran's Post 9-11 GI Bill payment for tuition and fees.*
Federal (Title IV) aid includes:
- Federal Direct (Stafford) loan
- Federal PLUS loan
- Federal Perkins loan
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
Title IV aid DOES NOT include:
- Grants and Scholarship awarded by an institution
- Outside scholarship assistance obtained through private organizations
- Tuition reimbursement provided by employers or other sources
- Tuition rebates/reductions provided by Northwestern University to employees, their spouses or their children
- State grant assistance including but not limited to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission Monetary Award Program (ISAC MAP Grant)
Conversely, VA benefits will not reduce a student's eligibility for federal aid though it is recommended that Veterans take into account the amount of funding they receive from the VA when accepting or declining their federal loan assistance. Students may contact an advisor in the Office of Financial Aid at 847-491-7400 if they need assistance in determining the amount of loan funding they should accept or decline.
The Post 9-11 GI Bill/Yellow Ribbon Program
For Evanston undergraduates, Northwestern is a participant in the Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program. For information regarding Yellow Ribbon program participation for any other academic program at the University (graduate/professional students or undergraduates on the Chicago campus), pleasecontact your financial aid office directly.
Yellow Ribbon recipients will first have their maximum Post-9/11 benefits processed with the VA. The remaining amount, up to the cost of tuition and mandatory fees (ASG, Health fee, Student Health Plan, Student Athletic Event Fee), will be covered by the Yellow Ribbon program which is split evenly between Northwestern University and the Veterans Administration.
To qualify for Yellow Ribbon Program benefits from the University (and the VA match) you must meet the following criteria:
- Students admitted to an Evanston undergraduate program.
- Students who have been admitted will have to confirm their intent to enroll by submitting their tuition deposit.
- Students must submit their Certificate of Eligibility from the Department of Veteran Affairs to the Northwestern University Registrar's Office as well as a copy to their school's Financial Aid Office stating that they are 100% eligible for Post 9/11 G.I. Bill benefits. The addresses for each are listed below:
Registrar Office:
Northwestern University Office of the Registrar
633 Clark St.
Evanston, IL 60208-1280
Attn: Charmaine Nicholson
847- 491-5234
Financial Aid Offices:
Northwestern University
Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid
1801 Hinman Ave.
Evanston, IL 60208
Attn: Brian Drabik
Students are responsible for completing any necessary steps as directed by the VA to ensure that Northwestern University receives the Post-9/11 G.I. 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.
Students who receive the Yellow Ribbon Program benefits for the freshmen year will automatically be included for subsequent years, until the student has depleted their benefits as determined by his/her Certificate of Eligibility.
Please note: If you are receiving any outside scholarships or have applied for need-based financial aid at the University, please be sure to contact the Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid to determine how it will impact your Yellow Ribbon benefits.
For more information regarding the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill and Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Program), please refer to the following links on the Veterans Affairs (VA) website:
http://www.gibill.va.gov/
http://gibill.va.gov/benefits/post_911_gibill/yellow_ribbon_program.html
