Ask OMVS

Apply through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Once your application is processed, the VA will issue a Certificate of Eligibility outlining the benefits you are entitled to use. Because processing may take several weeks, apply as early as possible.

Yes. Eligible spouses and dependents may use transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits, Chapter 35 Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance, or other approved benefits at Fordham. The VA determines eligibility, and the student must have a Certificate of Eligibility issued in their own name.

Eligible spouses and dependents using transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits may participate if the VA determines that they qualify at the 100% benefit level. Chapter 35 benefits do not qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program.

A Certificate of Eligibility, or COE, is a document from the VA confirming your education benefit, eligibility percentage, and remaining entitlement. Military spouses and dependents must have a COE issued in their own name.

Fordham’s Yellow Ribbon Program helps cover tuition and eligible fees that exceed the annual amount provided by the Post-9/11 GI Bill®. Fordham covers 100% of tuition and eligible fees for admitted students who qualify for the maximum benefit, with no cap on the number of eligible participants.

No. There is no separate Fordham Yellow Ribbon application. Submit your Certificate of Eligibility, and Fordham will determine your eligibility and coordinate the benefit with the VA.

Students should submit their Certificate of Eligibility and, if applicable, a copy of their DD-214. Additional documentation may be requested depending on the benefit being used. After registering for classes, students must also submit an Enrollment Certification Request for Veteran Benefits.

Yes. After registering for classes, you must submit an Enrollment Certification Request for Veteran Benefits each semester. Benefits are not automatically renewed from one semester to the next.

Processing times vary. Fordham submits an initial enrollment certification before the semester and reports final tuition and fees after the add/drop period. VA processing may take several weeks, so benefits and payments may not appear immediately.

For questions about VA education benefits, Yellow Ribbon, or enrollment certification, contact [email protected].