Davidson College participates in multiple VA programs. The most common are Chapter 33, with and without Yellow Ribbon eligibility, and Chapter 35 benefits.  

  • Qualifying veterans may be eligible for educational benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) through various VA programs.
  • Dependents of veterans may be eligible to use VA educational benefits if the benefits are transferred to them.
  • Students are not required to use their VA benefits at Davidson College. However, if you choose to certify eligibility, you can still apply for need-based aid to supplement your VA benefits.
  • If you have questions regarding the certification process, please contact Davidson’s Certifying Official in the Financial Aid Department.

Explore Our Benefit Options

The two most common benefits programs used at Davidson are Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) and Education Benefits for Dependents and Survivors (Chapter 35)

Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)

The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides benefits for tuition and required fees, housing, and books. Current rates can be found on the VA's website.

In addition to the educational benefits that are paid directly to the College (for tuition and required fees), you also receive a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) – this is generally the same as the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH). The amount of the benefits and allowance will depend on your percentage of eligibility. The monthly allowance is paid directly to you, the student. Since the MHA is less than Davidson’s cost for a standard double room and unlimited meal plan, Davidson Grant may be used to supplement the VA resources you receive, depending on your family’s calculated need.

If benefits are certified after you have received an aid offer, it may be necessary to adjust institutional funds. Given the requirements to qualify for Chapter 33, this benefit is treated as an outside resource. Except in very limited circumstances, the combination of financial aid from all sources may not exceed the total Cost of Attendance. At Davidson, outside resources first reduce the Student Employment award, then the Expected Family Contribution; then, if all outside resources together exceed $5,000 for the year, or if Student Employment and Expected Family Contribution have both been fully replaced, aid awarded from Davidson will be reduced as well. This treatment will be applied each year the student is eligible to receive the benefit. Institutional funds cannot be used to exceed the cost of attendance when combined with VA benefits. This ensures that you are using your benefits as exercised and institutional funds are used to supplement any remaining calculated need. VA benefits do not affect eligibility for Title IV federal aid programs. Students will not need to submit an Davidson College Outside Resource Notification Form for VA Benefits only, as these are applied when the student submits their certificate of eligibility.

Davidson also participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students receiving 100% Ch. 33 benefits who qualify for Yellow Ribbon will receive an additional $20,000 in total benefits paid towards their bill. $10,000 from the VA, and $10,000 from Davidson College. 

Not all students receive 100% benefits with Yellow Ribbon. Eligibility is determined by the veteran’s length of service since 9/11/2001. If you have questions about how choosing to certify benefits would impact your aid offer, we encourage you to get in touch with an aid counselor.

Education Benefits for Dependents and Survivors (Chapter 35)

The Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program benefits are typically the Ch. 35 benefits used at Davidson. The benefits received with the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship are similar to the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits above and are, therefore, treated similarly to the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. This educational benefit is paid directly to you, the student, on a monthly basis. Current rates can be found on the VA's website.

Given the requirements to qualify for Chapter 35, this benefit generally does not affect a student's Davidson financial aid offer. However, if benefits are certified after you have received an aid offer, it may be necessary to adjust funding. Except in very limited circumstances, the combination of financial aid from all sources may not exceed the total Cost of Attendance. At Davidson, only when the Expected Family Contribution has been fully replaced with the Chapter 35 benefit will aid awarded from Davidson be reduced. This treatment will be applied each year the student is eligible to receive the benefit. VA benefits do not affect eligibility for Title IV federal aid programs. 

Davidson's policy does not allow institutional grant funding to be awarded in total over Cost of Attendance. The office will work to reduce other self help prior to reducing grant money to keep all sources of funding, including VA funding, under the Cost of Attendance. This ensures that you are using your benefits as exercised and institutional funds are used to supplement any remaining calculated need. 

Students will not need to submit an Davidson College Outside Resource Notification Form for VA Benefits only, as these are applied when the student submits their certificate of eligibility.

Yellow Ribbon Application Process

  • Eligible students who have accepted their admission to the college should immediately notify the Financial Aid Office of their eligibility and interest in participating. Participation is limited to 16 students and awarded on a first come, first served basis.
  • Eligible students should apply for benefits with the Department of Veterans Affairs under the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33).
  • Upon notification of acceptance by the VA, the student should forward his or her Certificate of Eligibility to the Financial Aid Office.
Award

Award Matching and Waiting List

Davidson will contribute $10,000 per year to students determined to be eligible for the VA Yellow Ribbon award. College matching funds will be awarded when the student's Yellow Ribbon payment is received from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Awards will continue as long as the student remains enrolled in good standing and maintains satisfactory academic progress. Participating students that withdraw from the college and are later readmitted will only be able to participate if space is available. If space is not available, students will be added to the waiting list.

When the program capacity has been reached, the Financial Aid Office and Certifying Official reserve the right to maintain a waiting list of interested students. Waiting list hierarchy is based upon the date that the Financial Aid Office receives notice that an eligible student has accepted his or her admission and is interested in participating.

The Financial Aid Office must receive a copy of the student's eligibility letter in order for his or her enrollment to be reported to the VA.

Contact Us

Questions about the VA Yellow Ribbon Program? Contact Financial Aid Counselor and VA Certifying Official, Elizabeth Leone. 

Info Circle

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 VA website.