Veterans’ benefits

Using your VA benefits

Discover how you can qualify, use and apply all the benefits of the Yellow Ribbon Program and the Post-9/11 GI Bill, as well as how to find additional funding opportunities for U.S. veterans interested in the Kellogg Full-Time MBA Program.

Pre-qualification

In order to qualify for financial assistance, you must first be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Please contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to inquire about your eligibility for benefits and to request your Certificate of Eligibility. According to the VA:

"Only veterans entitled to the maximum benefit rate (based on service requirements) or their designated transferees may receive this funding. Active duty service members and their spouses are not eligible for this program (child transferees of active duty service members may be eligible if the service member is qualified at the 100% rate)."

VA regulations also state that you must exhaust your full Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit for the academic year up to the tuition and mandatory fee cap for private schools (if eligible for the academic year) before any Yellow Ribbon Program funding is paid.

The Yellow Ribbon Program

The Yellow Ribbon Program offers financial assistance to students of the armed forces. Kellogg is proud to have offered grants through this program since its inception in 2009.

If you are eligible, this financial aid can help pay for higher out-of-state, private school, foreign school or graduate school tuition and fees that the Post-9/11 GI Bill doesn’t cover. Keep reading to find out if you’re eligible and if your school takes part in this program.

Eligibility

For the 2023–2024 school year, there will not be a cap on the number of eligible students who may receive the Yellow Ribbon Program Grant. The maximum Kellogg Yellow Ribbon Grant will increase to $22,000, which is matched by the VA. The annual award amount cannot exceed tuition and mandatory fees. 

To qualify for Yellow Ribbon Program benefits, you must meet the following criteria:

• Receive admission to one of the following programs: Full-Time Programs (One-Year, Two-Year, MMM, MiM), Evening & Weekend evening or Saturday MBA, or Executive MBA (EMBA)
• Prior to matriculation, confirm your intent to enroll by submitting your tuition deposit to the Full-Time, Evening & Weekend, or Executive MBA programs
• Submit your Certificate of Eligibility from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to the Northwestern University Registrar’s Office, as well as a copy to your school’s Financial Aid Office stating you are 100% eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits

Rules and regulations

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA):

• Students must exhaust their full Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit for the academic year before Yellow Ribbon funding is paid
• The maximum grant that a student can receive from Kellogg through the Yellow Ribbon Program is $18,000 per academic year
• The amount a student receives from Kellogg is matched by the VA. The amount cannot exceed tuition and mandatory fees as listed by the VA
• Grants are awarded to eligible students on a first-come, first-served basis

Benefits distribution

Receiving payment for VA education benefits

Payment for the Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty, Montgomery GI Bill-Reserves and REAP will be made directly to you. Contact the VA for information on how payments will be issued.

Receiving payment for the Post-9/11 GI Bill

Payment will be issued after the VA receives and processes your enrollment certification from Northwestern University.

The VA will not provide a payment timeline to Northwestern University. You must contact the GI Bill hotline at 888-GIBILL1 for information on when payments will be issued. Please note:

• Living stipends (BAH / MHA) will be issued directly to you by the VA monthly
• During your required summer internship, you are considered a full-time student and our certifying official will certify your housing allowance with VA
• Payment for tuition and fees will be issued directly to Northwestern University by the VA and will be credited to your account. The amount paid is determined by the VA and may not cover the full cost of tuition and fees
• Northwestern will place an "anticipated credit" on your account for the portion of the tuition and fees that you will be receiving from the VA until tuition and fee payments are received. This means that you will not be required to front the money expected from the VA and will not be issued late fees on your account for the amount expected by VA
• The anticipated credit is Northwestern’s best guess at what you will receive in payment based on your Certificate of Eligibility and enrollment for the academic term. If the actual payment received by the VA is less than what was estimated, you will be responsible for paying the difference out-of-pocket or through financial aid
• Yellow Ribbon payments from the VA will be issued directly to Northwestern University and will be credited to your account
• The Yellow Ribbon match provided by Northwestern will be credited to your account at the same time the VA Yellow Ribbon payment is credited

Submission exemption

If you meet the following three criteria, you will automatically be included in the applicant pool for the 2021–2022 academic year, and are not required to resubmit your Certificate of Eligibility:

• Received the Yellow Ribbon Program benefits in previous years
• Are enrolled in your academic program for the 2021–2022 academic year
• Are still eligible for Yellow Ribbon Program benefits from the VA

If you’re eligible, submit the required documents via postal mail, email or fax to:

Office of the Registrar
Northwestern University
633 Clark Street Evanston, IL 60208
Attn: Charmaine Nicholson
Email: c-nicholson@northwestern.edu

Financial Aid Offices

Full-Time MBA Program

Office of Admissions and Financial Aid
Northwestern University
Kellogg School of Management
2211 Campus DriveEvanston, IL 60208
Attn: Ryan Czech
Email: ryan.czech@kellogg.northwestern.edu

Evening & Weekend MBA Program

Office of Financial Aid- Chicago
Northwestern University
710 N. Lake Shore Drive, Suite 629
Chicago, IL 60611
Attn: Julia Jenkins
Email: julia.jenkins@northwestern.edu

Executive MBA Program

Kellogg School of Management
Northwestern University
2169 Campus Drive
Evanston, IL 60208
Attn: Ryan Czech
Email: ryan.czech@kellogg.northwestern.edu

Completing steps to the VA

Students eligible for GI Bill or veterans’ benefits should contact:

Office of the Registrar
633 Clark Street
Evanston, IL 60208-1280
847.491.5234

You are responsible for completing any necessary steps as directed by the VA to ensure that Northwestern University receives the Post-9/11 GI Bill tuition payment and the VA’s portion of the Yellow Ribbon payment. Please refer to your Certificate of Eligibility or call 1.888.GIBILL1 (442.4551) to verify that you have completed all necessary steps with the VA.

For information regarding the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program, please visit www.gibill.va.gov.