AS&E Students
Arts and Sciences, Engineering, SMFA at Tufts
TUFTS.EDU
AS&E Students
Arts and Sciences, Engineering, SMFA at Tufts
Academic Advising and Undergraduate Studies

REAL Program for Veterans

Over the decades, dozens of veterans have completed their Tufts BA or BS degrees through the REAL Program. Tufts is a Yellow Ribbon school, and the REAL Program recognizes the life experience and discipline that veterans bring to their studies. Through the REAL Program, veterans can connect with other veterans in the School of Arts and Sciences, School of Engineering, and the Fletcher School. There is an on-campus veterans student organization, run by graduate students in the Fletcher School, which welcomes participation by veterans in the REAL Program. An undergraduate student organization, ALLIES, seeks to improve civilian-military relations and welcomes veterans from the REAL Program.

How to Use Your VA Educational Benefits at Tufts

Eligibility & the GI Bill®

At Tufts, the majority of our current VA students are studying using the Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit. In order to obtain more information regarding your eligibility for other VA educational benefits, such as Chapter 30 Montgomery Bill, please refer the Department of Veterans Affairs website.

Applying

Please let us know that you intend to use VA benefits on your REAL Application for financial aid. We will include your estimated benefits on your financial aid award. In order to apply to actually use your benefit, you will need to complete the VA’s application for benefits online at vets.gov.

Using Your VA Benefits

Once your VA benefit application is approved and you receive the Certificate of Eligibility statement from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, you need to complete the following steps in order to certify the use of your benefit for the first time at Tufts:

  1. Provide a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility to the Tufts VA Certifying Official. Email studentservices@tufts.edu or call 617-627-2000 for information.
  2. The Certifying Official will evaluate and verify your VA benefit details and put provisional credit on your student account. This provisional credit will decrease your bill balance.
  3. When the term begins our Certifying Official will certify your benefit to report your attendance and tuition, fees and Yellow Ribbon amounts (if applicable) to the VA through VA ONCE.
  4. After receiving your certifying information, the VA transfers your educational benefit directly to your Tufts University financial account. Your housing allowance and book stipend are sent directly to you via the bank account information you provided the VA during the application process.

Yellow Ribbon Program

Only Veterans who qualify for 100% of the Post 9/11 GI Bill benefit (Chapter 33) are eligible to participate in the Yellow Ribbon program. The current Yellow Ribbon scholarship award at Tufts University is $5,000 annually. The VA matches the Tufts Yellow Ribbon scholarship amount, and sends their $5,000 benefit directly to your Tufts account after your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefit is certified.

Contacts and Resources for Veterans

VA Information and Using Your G.I. Bill benefits at Tufts Veteran Financial Aid 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 Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.