JWU

Military & Veterans

Named a Top Military Friendly School by GI Jobs, JWU is a participant of the Principles of Excellence and Post 9/11 GI Bill® programs and a Yellow Ribbon participating institution.

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Take Charge of Your Career

At JWU, you’ll find a variety of professionally focused on-campus and online degree programs. We offer small classes in a supportive atmosphere taught by faculty with industry experience, and robust career services to help you land internship and job opportunities.

JWU also offers a variety of services to help support your transition from active duty to student life, including:

  • Academic counseling to help you meet your academic goals
  • Career counseling to help you develop and apply career knowledge
  • Free and confidential personal counseling
  • Personal financial planners to assist with financial aid, benefits and payment plans
  • An Academic Success Center offering tutoring and help with writing, studying and test-taking

Types of Military Benefits

Post-9/11 GI Bill® Benefits (Chapter 33)

  • For 2026-2027: Up to $30,908.34 annually towards the cost of mandatory tuition and fees 
  • A monthly housing allowance equal to the basic allowance for housing payable to an E-5 with dependents, in the same zip code as the school 
  • Yearly books and supplies stipend of up to $1,000 per year 

Dependent Education Assistance (DEA) (Chapter 35)

  • All VA educational benefits (including allowances for room and board, books, tuition and Yellow Ribbon funding) will be coordinated with other university and federal financial aid funds as part of the total financial aid package. 
  • Certification of enrollment with the VA will be completed through the Student Academic Services 

GI Bill® (Montgomery GI Bill) 

  • The Montgomery GI Bill® Active Duty (MGIB-AD) can help you pay for education and training programs. If you’ve served at least two years on active duty, find out if you qualify for the MGIB-AD program. 
  • For more information, please visit the VA website. 

Yellow Ribbon Program Benefits

  • JWU does not have a limit for students who can use this program. If you are eligible, you will be able to receive it. 
  • Mandatory tuition and fees will be covered 100% by a combination of Post-9/11 G.I. Bill® benefits and Yellow Ribbon scholarship.  

Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) (Chapter 31) 

  • A monthly sustenance allowance is paid each month and is based on the rate of attendance (full-time or part-time), the number of dependents and the type of training. 
  • Pays 100% after institution funding, no eligibility rating 
  • Career counseling 
  • As eligibility for Chapter 31 (VR&E) varies, please contact the VA to determine benefit entitlement. You’ll complete the application process through the VR&E. 

What benefits are you eligible for?

Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) and Chapter 31 (VR&E)  

  • You have a six-year service obligation (you agreed to serve six years) in the Selected Reserve 
    or 
  • You’re an officer in the Selected Reserve who agreed to serve 6 years in addition to your initial service obligation 
  • And all of these must be true: 
  • You complete your initial active duty for training (IADT) 
  • You get a high school diploma or certificate of equal value, like a High School Equivalency Diploma or GED, before finishing IADT 
  • You stay in good standing while serving in an active Selected Reserve unit 

Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) 

You are eligible for Chapter 33 benefits if: 

  • You served on active duty for at least 90 days after September 10, 2001, whether continuous (all at once) or interrupted (for shorter periods over time) 

 or 

  • You served for at least 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001 and were discharged because of a service-connected disability 
    or 
  • You received a Purple Heart after September 10, 2001 
     

Montgomery GI Bill® Active Duty (MGIB-AD) 

Generally, if you served at least two years on active duty and you meet the requirements listed here, you may be eligible for benefits through MGIB-AD.  

DEA (Chapter 35) 

If you’re the child or surviving spouse of a Veteran or service member who has died, is captured or missing, or has a service-connected disability, you may be eligible for DEA —also called Chapter 35. 

Transferred Benefits 

If you’re the child or spouse of a Veteran or service member who has requested a transfer of education benefits, you may be eligible to use those benefits. 

Enrollment Checklist 

Here is a step-by-step checklist for using your VA Benefits at JWU. 

New Students 

  1. When you fill out the JWU application, please indicate you are eligible to receive VA Benefits. 
  2. To use your Veteran (VA) Education Benefits, you will need to apply online through the VA  or call the VA office at 1-888-442-4551 for assistance. If you have any specific questions regarding benefits or the application process, it is recommended that you call the VA or access the VA website.  
  3. Once you have applied and the VA has approved the application, which can take up to 45 days, the VA will send you a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). Upload a copy of the COE for JWU through the Veterans Documents Secure Upload.  This will provide JWU with a summary of the benefits, and we will update the financial aid package to reflect those benefits. 
  4. The JWU School Certifying Officer (SCO) will reach out to you prior to the semester start via email to verify the use of benefits, and they will submit certification once you confirm. 
     
  1. Once you have completed registration for each semester, you will be required to complete the Enrollment Certification Form. This certification form will be used as an indication that you are requesting to use VA benefits for the semester you indicate. Certification begins 30 days prior to the start of each semester. 
  2. To begin using your VA benefits at Johnson & Wales University, you will need to complete the online Statement of Understanding Form.  Please be sure to read the information carefully and thoroughly when completing the form. The form indicates that you understand your responsibilities to the VA and to JWU, as it relates to your benefits. 
  3. Submit any miscellaneous documentation that JWU requests to support your VA benefits through the Veterans Documents Secure Upload.  
  4. Benefits will be disbursed. For Chapters 33 and 31, tuition goes directly to JWU. You will receive your Monthly Housing Allowance one month in arrears during active enrollment dates. Payments for Chapters 30, 32, 35, 1606, and 1607 are paid directly to you. Complete the Statement of Understanding Form 

Returning Students 

  1. Students must complete the Enrollment Certification Form if they plan to attend and use their VA benefits. This form needs to be submitted once per semester for certification; multiple requests per semester are not required. 

  2. Regardless of the benefit you are using, you must arrange payment with Student Financial Services before requesting certification. If you haven’t already spoken with them, we strongly recommend doing so as soon as possible to avoid delays in your Monthly Housing Allowance payments. 

  3. Additionally, your benefits may be paid differently if you are enrolled less than full-time (12 semester hours) or taking only online courses. If you have any questions about how your benefits will be paid, please contact the VA directly before requesting certification.

Additional Information & Resources

For information regarding academic program licensing and certification, visit the Licensure & Professional Certification Disclosures page of the catalog. 

For GI Bill and CH 31 Vocational Rehab students, our tuition policy complies with 38 USC 3679(e), which means that GI Bill and CH 31 Vocational Rehab students will not be charged or otherwise penalized due to a delay in VA tuition and fee payments. 

The 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 website at Benefits.va.gov/gibill. 

How do I apply for my GI Bill®?

Veterans or active-duty members using the Post 9/11 GI Bill®, Montgomery GI Bill® or Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve and dependents using benefits go to the “VA link”. After you have successfully applied for the benefit, you will receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the VA stating your eligibility. 

Do I need to give my VA certificate of eligibility to anyone other than JWU’s VA Certifying Official? 

No, you do not need to give your certificate to anyone else at JWU. 

Will VA benefits cover the cost of tutoring? 

Tutoring is available to all JWU students at no cost at the Academic Success Center.

I just transferred to JWU from another school, where I was using my Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits. Do I need to do anything to transfer benefits from the other school to JWU?

Students using benefits are required to notify the VA that if their program or place of training changes. The correct form varies by benefit. Online forms can be found at va.gov.  

Will I be charged late fees due to an outstanding balance prior to my VA payment? 

No, we will ensure you are not assessed a late fee, provided you provide the university’s SCO your COE before the tuition deadline. If a late fee is assessed due to a late VA payment, that late fee will be waived. All balances outside of any VA payments made directly to the school are due by the tuition deadline. For questions or concerns about late fees and VA benefits, please contact Financial Services or the university VA SCO. 
  

What happens if I want to change my schedule? 

Contact your academic advisor and the school SCO. 

The College Scorecard 
The College Scorecard is a planning tool and resource to assist prospective students and their families as they evaluate options in selecting a school. 

The College Navigator 
The College Navigator is a consumer tool that provides school information to include tuition and fees, retention and graduation rates, use of financial aid, student loan default rates and features a cost calculator and school comparison tool. 

The Financial Aid Shopping Sheet 
The Financial Aid Shopping Sheet is a model aid award letter designed to simplify the information that prospective students receive about costs and financial aid so they can easily compare institutions and make informed decisions about where to attend school. 

Paying for College  
The Paying for College website can be used by prospective students to enter the names of up to 3 schools and receive detailed financial information on each one and to enter actual financial aid offer information. 

Contact Us

If you have any questions about using your benefits at JWU, please contact the School Certifying Officer at the JWU campus you are attending. 

Providence & Online Students

Julie DeFruscio 

401-598-2627
Julie.DeFruscio@jwu.edu
Student Services Center, 274 Pine Street
Providence, R.I.
(same place as your Academic Advisor & Financial Planner)

Charlotte Students

Auggie Coll

980-598-1313
liam.coll@jwu.edu
Student Academic Services Office
Gateway Center, Suite 412
Charlotte, N.C.
(same place as your Academic Advisor)