Applying Your Veteran's Benefits

Answer

If you are a veteran of US military service, or an eligible dependent under the Dependents Educational Assistance Program, you may qualify to receive benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for your attendance at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC).

SAIC's Registrar and Student Financial Services Office (Chapter 31 and Chapter 33 benefits) process degree-seeking students’ applications for the VA education benefit programs below:

• The Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30)
• The Dependents Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 35)
• The Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Chapter 31)
• The Selected Reserve Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 1606)
• The Post 9/11 GI Bill, including the Yellow Ribbon Program
• Post-9/11 Program

Once you have determined your eligibility, completed the VA application process, and received your certificate of eligibility, visit the SAIC Registrar, Certifying Officer for SAIC, to submit your paperwork and discuss the details of the process. You should provide a copy of your certificate of eligibility to the SAIC Registrar. Upon receipt of this information, the Registrar will certify your enrollment and the Student Financial Services office will review your financial aid package for the inclusion of your VA benefits to be used for your attendance at SAIC.

Yellow Ribbon Program

The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Program) is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. Degree-granting institutions in the United States voluntarily enter into an annual agreement with the VA to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program. For the 2016–17 academic year, eligible veterans admitted and enrolled in a degree program at SAIC may receive a maximum of $7,500 from the school in Yellow Ribbon funds. The actual amount of the benefit will be based on the number of credit hours taken and charged each semester. Under the Yellow Ribbon Program, the VA will match SAIC’s contribution to eligible veterans for each academic year that SAIC participates in the program. For the 2016–17 academic year, the VA matching funds is a maximum of $7,500 at SAIC.

To determine your eligibility for veteran's benefits, you visit the VA website at gibill.va.gov, or contact them at 1.888.GIBILL1 (442.4551).

If you have any questions about this process, please contact the SAIC Registrar at 312.629.6700.