Veterans Admissions FAQ

How do I qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program?
If you are 100% eligible under the Post 9/11 GI Bill®, Fordham's Yellow Ribbon program will allow you to attend with no tuition or fees. Our certifying officials will work with you to apply your benefits. There is no additional application for "Yellow Ribbon" - Fordham arranges that directly with the VA. Please note:

Yellow Ribbon does not cover room and board or parking fees.

To be enrolled in the Yellow Ribbon program, the School's Certifying Official (SCO) needs your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and DD-214. Fordham no longer has caps on the number of people who can be in the Yellow Ribbon per program, or on the limit to Fordham's support under the Yellow Ribbon program. If you are fully eligible under the Post-9/11 GI Bill® and accepted to any Fordham school, we will have a Yellow Ribbon seat for you!

To confirm your specific eligibility, contact your school's certifying official.

Rose Hill/Westchester
(student veterans and dependents)
Ms. Seton Heslin-Scott
Email: [email protected]
Office: 718-817-5905

Lincoln Center and Online Social Work
(student veterans and dependents)
Ms. Mara Saumell
Email: [email protected]
Office: 212-636-7717

Law School
(student veterans and dependents)
Ms. Ursula Duran
Email: [email protected]
Office: 212-636-6872

How do I know if I have 100% of post-9/11 benefits?
Your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the VA states (a) what percentage of the service member has been awarded benefits and (b) the remaining benefits. Example: 36 months remaining of your Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits. Apply for your COE. The COE can take a few weeks to be received, so don't wait to apply. You can apply before being accepted to Fordham. Having your COE before starting classes is imperative to ensure your BAH and Book Stipend begin on time. Learn more about the percentages associated with the post-9/11 GI Bill®.

How do I apply for benefits?
The first step in applying for benefits is to complete the application process on the Education and Training and eBenefits websites, and state that you intend to attend Fordham.

My spouse is on active duty and would like to transfer their post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits to me. Can I attend Fordham?
Absolutely. However, the monthly living allowance (BAH) generally associated with the GI Bill® will not be applicable in your case. The tuition and fees will be covered.

I’ve always wanted to study abroad. Could I use my benefits to study abroad through Fordham?
Yes, that is possible. Please note that there may be out-of-pocket fees to pay (e.g., airfare, application fees). The BAH would continue as usual, and tuition would be covered just as if you were stateside. Please refer to the VAs FAQ worksheet.

I can’t find any information online concerning my GI Bill® benefits. Can you help?
It is always best to hear information directly from the source. The VA can provide you with information specific to your situation, e.g., benefits percentage. You can contact the VA directly at 888-442-4551. An online resource that may be helpful is https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/.

I’d like to pursue a master's degree in Social Work. However, I’m worried that I will not meet the “full-time” credit requirement for my benefits eligibility. Does the VA recognize fieldwork as part of a degree plan?
The full-time status for the MSW program is 12 credits. For the post-9/11 GI Bill®, the Certifying Official would indicate that 12 credits constitute full-time when certifying an MSW student.

If someone in this program is taking less than 12 credits but is enrolled in a Field Work class, the Certifying Official would indicate this in the VA certification under the "clock hour" designation. The VA may use this clock-hour designation for fieldwork to "bump up" your BAH to the full-time rate.

Additionally, as with all graduate programs, a student may be registered for fewer than the full-time credits and still be considered full-time by the department. Usually, this has to do with work outside the classroom (ie. dissertation research ). Academic Records will update your file to "full-time" based upon the completion of forms from your department supporting this.

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