We work with Veterans of the U.S. armed forces as well as their qualified dependents to help them navigate the VA education benefits they may be eligible to receive as MIT students.
We know that navigating the different options and determining which programs are best for you can be difficult. If you have questions about how your VA education benefits combine with MIT financial aid, please contact us at va@mit.edu or 617.258.8600.
Your eligibility for VA benefits
As a Veteran of the U.S. armed forces or a qualified dependent of a Veteran, you may be eligible for VA benefits programs that can reduce the cost of attending MIT. You may also qualify for more than one program.
In order to receive full benefits, you have to be enrolled at MIT full-time. To be considered full-time by the VA, graduate students must be enrolled in 21 units during fall and spring terms, and 12 units over MIT’s Independent Activities Period (IAP).
Carefully review each VA benefit program, as they each offer different resources and have varying eligibility requirements. In some instances, your initial benefits decision may be irrevocable, so make sure you understand your eligibility before making a final choice.
List of VA benefits programs for graduates →We consider you an independent student
As a graduate student, you are considered independent of parental financial support. This means that when you apply for aid, your financial need will be calculated according to your individual income and assets, without regard to your parents’ financial circumstances.
We consider VA benefits as outside scholarships
MIT considers VA education benefits as other external funding sources such as fellowships or scholarships. Funding received from these benefits may reduce the amount of any additional MIT department funding received — such as through a Research Assistantship, Teaching Assistantship, and/or fellowship (MIT or external) — to bring the total funding received in line with a department’s standard funding rate.
Each graduate program has their own funding policies, so be sure to contact your department’s graduate administrator for more details.
Yellow Ribbon Program
The Yellow Ribbon Program allows degree-granting institutions in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with the VA to fund tuition expenses that exceed the Post-9/11 GI Bill® maximum. The institution can contribute up to 50% of those expenses and the VA will match the same amount as the institution. To be eligible for Yellow Ribbon, you must first be entitled to receive 100% of the benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill Program.
The maximum Yellow Ribbon amount varies based on which school you are enrolled in at MIT and your degree level, masters or doctoral. MIT is proud to fund all eligible students and awards an unlimited number of Yellow Ribbon scholarships.
View amounts by School & degree →Questions?
If you have questions about how your VA education benefits combine with MIT financial aid, please contact us at va@mit.edu or 617.258.8600. We also offer virtual drop-in hours; see our contact page for current times.
MIT Student Veteran Success
MIT Student Veteran Success (SVS) is run by program administrator Liam Gale, who served in the Air Force for nearly eight years. SVS is MIT’s dedicated resource for providing support, advocacy, and programming designed to improve the experience of veterans, students currently serving in the military, and military families who are studying at MIT. To reach SVS, please email veteransuccess@mit.edu.