We work with Veterans of the U.S. armed forces as well as their dependents to help them navigate the financial support 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 educational benefits combine with MIT financial aid, please contact us at va@mit.edu or 617.258.8600.
Eligibility
As a Veteran of the U.S. armed forces—or a dependent of a Veteran—you may be eligible for VA education benefits that can reduce the cost of attending MIT. You may also qualify for more than one program.
Carefully review each program, as they have different benefits and eligibility requirements. In some instances, your initial benefits decision may be irrevocable, so you want to make sure you understand your eligibility before making a final choice.
Financial support benefits →We consider you an independent student
As a graduate student, you are considered independent of parental financial support. Even if you are receiving VA benefits as the dependent of a Veteran, you are still considered an independent student, and we do not take into account your parents’ financial circumstances.
VA benefits are considered outside scholarships
MIT considers VA educational benefits much like other external funding sources such as fellowships or scholarships. Funding received from these benefits may reduce the amount of any MIT department funding received, such as 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 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? We’re here to help.
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.
Office of Student Veteran Success
MIT also has an office of Student Veteran Success (SVS), run by program administrator Liam Gale, who served in the Air Force for nearly eight years. SVS serves as a direct point of contact for students, 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.