Please note: Our office will be available by phone and email on December 23–24, and will be closing at noon on December 24. We will be closed for the winter break from December 25–January, and will open on January 2. Happy holidays!

How to apply for benefits

Before you begin

Check that your intended major is eligible for VA benefits. (Most programs are!) Visit the VA WEAMS Institution Search. Type “Massachusetts Institute of Technology” in the search box and hit enter. Please note: Certificate programs are not eligible for VA benefits.

Apply for Benefits

Follow the guidelines for your specific VA educational benefit.

Post-9/11 GI Bill®, the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty, or the Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve

  1. Go to the VA website and apply using their online application.
  2. After you receive your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the VA, complete MIT’s Initial Notification of Enrollment for Veteran’s Benefits (NOE). Submit both forms (COE and NOE) to SFS by mail or fax.⁠01 We are unable to accept forms via email as it is common for a VA file number to be a Social Security number.   You only need to submit these forms once, unless you are changing programs. VA benefits cannot be certified until both forms are received by our office.
    1. Mail your COE and NOE to the following address:

      Massachusetts Institute of Technology
      Student Financial Services
      Attn: MIT School Certifying Official
      77 Massachusetts Avenue, Room 11-120
      Cambridge, MA 02139

    2. Or you can fax both forms to our office:

      617.648.9968

  3. Complete the required SFS veteran questionnaire. SFS will send this questionnaire to your MIT email address before the start of each term.
  4. Receive your CertID from MIT. Once your benefits are certified for the term, you will receive a confirmation email from SFS containing your CertID. You will need to keep this for your records.

Please note: Tuition, student life fees, and/or health insurance are certified each semester after Add Date. You can expect to see your tuition benefits applied to your MITSIS account 2–3 months after the start of term. Housing and/or book stipends are certified each semester after Registration Day. These stipends are sent from the VA directly to you approximately 2–8 weeks after the start of term.

Monthly verification of enrollment with the VA

If you receive Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits, including a Monthly Housing Allowance, you are required to verify your enrollment with the VA every month to continue receiving your benefits. This requirement is in addition to submitting the COE, NOE, and SFS veteran questionnaire to MIT.

  1. Please visit the VA website for more information on the specific steps required to verify your monthly enrollment.
    • You must submit your monthly enrollment verification yourself. MIT’s Certifying Officials can’t complete this step on your behalf.
    • The VA’s monthly enrollment verification is only required of students receiving Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits with a Monthly Housing Allowance, and does not apply to other benefit programs.

Yellow Ribbon Program

Yellow Ribbon does not require a separate application. As a reminder, students must qualify for 100% of Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits in order to be eligible for Yellow Ribbon funds. Upon enrollment at MIT, you can designate whether or not you would like to be certified for Yellow Ribbon benefits on MIT’s Initial Notification of Enrollment form.

Transfer of Entitlement

If your spouse or parent has transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits to you, you will need to apply for a Transfer of Entitlement.

Survivors’ and Dependents’ Education Assistance (DEA) (Chapter 35) & Fry Scholarship

  1. Go to the VA website and apply using their online application for dependents.
  2. After you receive your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the VA, complete MIT’s Initial Notification of Enrollment for Veteran’s Benefits (NOE). Submit both forms (COE and NOE) to SFS by mail or fax.⁠02 We are unable to accept forms via email as it is common for a VA file number to be a Social Security number.   You only need to submit these forms once, unless you are changing programs. VA benefits cannot be certified until both forms are received by our office.
    1. Mail your COE and NOE to the following address:

      Massachusetts Institute of Technology
      Student Financial Services
      Attn: MIT School Certifying Official
      77 Massachusetts Avenue, Room 11-120
      Cambridge, MA 02139

    2. Or you can fax both forms to our office:

      617.648.9968

  3. Complete the required SFS veteran questionnaire. SFS will send this questionnaire to your MIT email address before the start of each term.
  4. Receive your CertID from MIT. Once your benefits are certified for the term, you will receive a confirmation email from SFS containing your CertID. You will need to keep this for your records.

Please note: Tuition, student life fees, and/or health insurance are certified each semester after Add Date. You can expect to see your tuition benefits applied to your MITSIS account 2–3 months after the start of term. Housing and/or book stipends are certified each semester after Registration Day. These stipends are sent from the VA directly to you approximately 2–8 weeks after the start of term.

Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E) (Chapter 31)

You can apply online for VR&E benefits through the VA. Three quick questions will determine your eligibility. Learn more about the program on the VA website.

 

  1. We are unable to accept forms via email as it is common for a VA file number to be a Social Security number.⁠ ↑
  2. We are unable to accept forms via email as it is common for a VA file number to be a Social Security number.⁠ ↑