GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about the education benefits offered by the VA is available at the official U.S. government website benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Berklee is committed to providing financial aid to assist you with your cost of education. The Office of Student Financial Services at Berklee certifies all Veteran Affairs (VA) educational benefit chapters for degree students attending both the Berklee campus and online programs. You may be eligible for both military benefits and federal student aid. To be considered for federal student aid, please complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). File your FAFSA as soon as possible. Be sure to add the Berklee FAFSA code: 002126.
a profile of Berklee student and Iraq war veteran Ben Johnston.
To begin the process for your VA benefits, submit a certificate of eligibility, obtained through the Department of Veteran Affairs—GI Bill®, which should be sent to Berklee's Office of Student Financial Services via fax at 617-747-2073 or via email at financialaid@berklee.edu. Veterans may be able to transfer their benefits to a spouse, one or more children, or a combination of spouse and child. The VA strongly advises that veterans apply for transferability online as processing tends to be quicker by this method.
Berklee will adhere to the requirements of and comply with the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, specifically S2248 PL 115-407 Section 103.
Berklee permits any covered individual utilizing VA Chapter 31 or 33 to attend or participate in their course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance.
Berklee does not impose any penalties due to the delayed disbursement of funding from the VA under Chapter 31 or 33. Students with payment delays will not be charged late fees, prevented from enrolling, or denied access to courses, libraries, or other institutional facilities, nor are students required to borrow additional funds due to the delayed disbursement of funding from the VA under Chapter 31 or 33.
Students enrolled in a Berklee Online certificate or degree program should contact the Berklee Online Finance Department to discuss VA benefits. They can be reached at 617-747-2146, option number five. All other degree program students should contact the Office of Student Financial Services at 617-747-2274.
Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33)
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 10, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bi®ll.
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Individuals Serving an Aggregate Period of Active Duty after 9/10/2001 of:
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Percentage of Maximum Benefit Payable
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At least 36 months
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100%
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At least 30 continuous days and discharged due to service-connected disability
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100%
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At least 30 months and less than 36 months
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90%
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At least 24 months and less than 30 months
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80%
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At least 18 months and less than 24 months
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70%
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At least 12 months and less than 18 months
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60%
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At least 6 months and less than 12 months
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50%
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At least 90 days and less than 6 months
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40%
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Your tuition and related fee payments from the VA will be prorated if you are eligible for less than 100 percent; this includes housing (BAH) and book stipends. This chapter provides up to 36 months of education benefits. Tuition and related fees will be paid directly to Berklee and credited to a student's account. The current maximum eligibility is $23,672 for the 2018–2019 academic year. A monthly housing stipend (BAH) will be paid directly to a student at the end of each month that the student is enrolled (e.g., if the term starts September 1, the student will receive a housing stipend at the end of September). Students may view the Basic Allowance for Housing rates online at the Defense Travel Management Office. The stipend for books will be mailed to the student at the beginning of the semester with a maximum allowance of $1,000 annually.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Yellow Ribbon
Berklee College of Music's campus in Boston participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Veterans entitled to the maximum benefit (based on service requirements under the Post-9/11 GI Bill®) or their designated transferees may receive funding under the Yellow Ribbon Program. Active duty service members and their spouses are not eligible for the program. Berklee allocates up to $2,500 annually to 35 eligible Yellow Ribbon recipients. The Yellow Ribbon Program funding is limited and not guaranteed. The VA matches our allocation, which brings the total annual amount to $5,000. Yellow Ribbon is only awarded in the spring semester of an academic year.
Montgomery GI Bill® (Chapter 30)
The Montgomery GI Bill® provides up to 36 months of education benefits, which are generally payable for 10 years following your release from active duty.
To determine eligibility for any veteran benefit, please contact the Veterans Affairs Regional Office at 888-442-4551 or visit the VA website. GI Bill® benefits are determined and paid solely by the Veterans Affairs Regional Office.
Non-Chapter 33 Benefits
There are a number of other benefits that students may be eligible to receive. Benefits are typically paid directly to the student, and amounts vary per chapter. In order to find out what benefits you may be eligible to receive, contact the Department of Veteran Affairs—GI Bill®.
How It Works
- Apply for your Certificate of Eligibility at benefits.va.gov/gibill/.
- Fax your certificate to 617-747-2073, or submit it at berklee.edu/sfsdropbox.
- The Office of Student Financial Services will calculate your benefits for the current/upcoming semester.
- Benefits will be posted to your student account, pending certification of your enrollment status. Students will not be prohibited from registration.
- The Office of Student Financial Services will certify your enrollment with the VA approximately two–three weeks prior to the start of each semester.
- The VA will begin processing your BAH and book stipend. You should receive the book stipend near the start of the semester. Be advised not to expect the book stipend to arrive before classes start.
Benefits are subject to change based on your enrollment status and eligibility.
Contact Information
Berklee Office of Student Financial Services:
Berklee Online:
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs:
- 888-442-4551
- Call between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. central time, Monday–Friday.
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 