The majority of Veterans Benefits-eligible students utilize the Post-9/11 GI Bill. If you are eligible for mutliple benefits, please reference the VA’s Benefits Comparison Tool and contact our School Certifying Official (SCO) with any additional questions.
Chapter 33
Post-9/11 GI Bill
Individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service after September 10, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 continuous days on active duty, are eligible to participate in the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The percentage of eligibility ranges from 40% - 100%. You must also be on Active Duty or a Veteran with an honorable discharge to be eligible.
The Veterans Affairs Post-9/11 GI Bill Percentage of Eligibility Chart will assist you in determining your percentage of eligibility.
- The 100% eligibility cap for Private Schools for the 2020-2021 academic year is $25,162.14.
- Pays up to 36 months of education benefits
- Annual book stipend up to $1,000
- Pays BAH at the E5 with dependents rate BAH Calculator - please utilize Rice University's zip code: 77005.
- Please reference the US Department of Veterans Affairs: Post-9/11 GI Bill for further information.
Yellow Ribbon
The Yellow Ribbon Program is a component of the Post-9/11 GI Bill that allows institutions to enter into a voluntarily agreement with the VA to fund tuition and fee expenses that exceed the tuition and fee amounts payable under the Post-9/11 GI Bill annual cap. If you are Yellow Ribbon eligible, the JGSB will cover 50% of the remaining cost, matched dollar-for-dollar by the VA.
Our current agreement with the VA does not limit the number of participants OR the maximum amount of JGSB Yellow Ribbon scholarship dollars that may be awarded.
- The Yellow Ribbon scholarship is considered a component of the Admissions Scholarship and the two are not treated as separate funding resources.*
- In other words, students are not able to "stack" multiple JGSB scholarships; the veteran will receive the higher amount of the two scholarships (either the Yellow Ribbon Scholarship or the Admissions Scholarship) but not the combined amount.*
* Beginning in the Fall of 20-21, students receiving the Yellow Ribbon scholarship who are also awarded a separate Admissions Scholarship (less than the amount of the Yellow Ribbon Scholarship) will be eligible to receive both scholarships (up to an additional $5,000 per year). Students receiving the Yellow Ribbon scholarship who are also awarded a separate Admissions Scholarship (more than the amount of the Yellow Ribbon Scholarship) will be eligible to receive the higher amount of the two scholarships.
To receive benefits under the Yellow Ribbon Program:
- You must be eligible at 100% for the Post-9/11 GI Bill
- You must not be on Active Duty or a spouse transferee of an active duty member
- Please reference the US Department of Veterans Affairs: Yellow Ribbon for further information.
How to Apply
In order to certify your benefits, the following documentation must be uploaded to the Student Financial Services through Rice Box.
Rice Box (a secure online portal)
Please include the document type and your first and last name in the file description field.
- Certificate of (Honorable) Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD-214): If you have been discharged from active service you must include this form in your application.
- Certificate of Eligibility (COE): you may request your certificate through the eBenefits site – the Post 9/11 GI Bill section will walk you through the application steps. Please be sure to indicate “Rice University” as the school for which you are applying. If you have previously used benefits at another school, please also submit a Request for Change of Program or Place of Training (form 22-1995).
- Military Transcript: this is a listing of all military training received while in the Service. Please utilize the applicable link below to request your transcript:
- Joint Services Transcript (JST): Army, Coast Guard, Marines, and Navy. Please have your transcript sent electronically to Rice University (William Marsh).
- Air University: Air Force.
Rice University does not impose any additional fees, obligations, or burdens on a student due to military related education benefits (other than those that may be required by the particular program itself). In some cases, the student may be required to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you qualify for state or federal education benefits through military service and payment to the school is delayed, you may be eligible for a 60 day deferment of tuition and fees to avoid late fees and/or being dropped from classes. Please complete a Tuition Deferment Request form and email jgsbfina@rice.edu.
Transfer of Post 911 Entitlement
If you are considering a transfer of your entitlement to a dependent, please review the Transfer of Post 911 GI Bill Benefits section of the VA website.
For information regarding other chapters of GI Bill benefits, please reference the Department of Veterans Affairs benefits site.
Hazelwood Act
The purpose of the Hazelwood Act is to provide education benefits to Texas veterans, or to qualified dependent children. This benefit is only available to state institutions. Rice University, as a private education institution, is unable to participate.
