Military & Veteran Tuition Benefits

Explore this page to familiarize yourself with the opportunities available for military and veteran students to save money on their graduate education.  

Chatham is pleased to participate in both the Yellow Ribbon program for Veterans and Department of Defense (DoD) Tuition Assistance (TA) program for active Service members. See below for more details, how to apply, and a step-by-step guide on using tuition DoD tuition assistance.

Post-9/11 & Yellow Ribbon

A provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Program) provides matching funds from the Department of Veterans Affairs as a supplement to the Post-9/11 GI Bill®. The Post-9/11 GI Bill® covers tuition and fees not to exceed the maximum in-state tuition & fees at a public Institution of Higher Learning. The Yellow Ribbon Program covers tuition and mandatory fees and does not include room and board or books and supplies which are provided for separately under the Post-9/11 GI Bill®.  

Individuals may be eligible if they: 

  • Served an aggregate period of active duty after September 10, 2001, of at least 36 months; 
  • Were honorably discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability and served 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001; 
  • Are dependents eligible for Transfer of Entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill® based on a veteran’s service under the eligibility criteria listed above. 

There is no minimum number of credit hours required for participation and awards will continue in subsequent years in which the student maintains satisfactory progress, conduct, and attendance. 

If eligible, students should apply for Benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill® with the Department of Veterans Affairs upon acceptance. Please forward your Certificate of Eligibility to the Office of the Registrar to be considered for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Please visit the Department of Veterans Affairs website for additional information. 

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website. 

Tuition Assistance

Chatham University directs Service members to speak with their Educational Services Office (ESO) or counselor within their Military Service prior to enrolling. Eligible active duty Service members can receive tuition assistance (TA) funds.  

The Tuition Assistance (TA) program provides financial assistance for voluntary off-duty education programs in support of a Soldier's professional and personal self-development goals. TA is available for courses that are offered in the classroom or by distance learning and is part of an approved academic degree or certificate program. The courses must be offered by schools that are registered in GoArmyEd, are accredited by accrediting agencies that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and are signatories to the current Department of Defense Memorandum of Understanding (DOD MOU). 

In general, eligible active duty Service members can receive TA at a rate of $250 per semester hour cap with an annual ceiling of $4,500. The Services are authorized to establish Service specific eligibility criteria to manage TA funds. For Service specific TA policies and procedures, Service members are encouraged to contact their Education Service Officer (ESO).   

For more information:  

Tuition Assistance Refund Policy

Until a student has passed the 60% point of a payment period, only a portion of the student's tuition assistance has been earned. A student who remains enrolled beyond the 60% point is considered to have earned all awarded aid for the payment period. Please note students who are enrolled in modules, or courses which do not span the entire length of a semester, would also be included in this calculation.  

Students withdrawing from classes are responsible for payment of any balance due after the required return of Tuition Assistance funds. 

Earned aid is not related in any way to institutional charges. In addition, the University's institutional refund policy and Return of Tuition Assistance refund policy are independent of one another. A student who withdraws from a course or courses may be required to return unearned TA funds and still owe the university for the course or courses. For more information on Chatham University's withdrawal and institutional charges' policies, please consult the catalog. 

Students who stop attending all classes without officially withdrawing will be subject to a return of TA funds at the end of the semester based on the withdrawal date/last documented date of attendance as determined by Chatham University. 

Step-by-Step Guide to Using DoD Tuition Assistance

  1. Apply for admission to Chatham University. Check your eligibility status and the amount of funding in which you qualify with your service prior to enrolling. 
  2. Reach out to your service component and provide your degree requirements. 
  3. Meet with your academic advisor and register for courses. 
  4. Let the Office of Financial Aid know you will be paying for your courses with TA funds by contacting them at 412-365-2781 or via e-mail at financialaid@c178.net.