Military and Veteran Benefits

Once you have been admitted, the following documentation will need to be uploaded to the School Certifying Official through the link above before we can begin processing your benefits. Please include the document type and your first and last name in the file description field.

• Certificate of 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): To receive your COE, you must first apply for your benefits through the VA's GI Bill website. Please be sure to indicate “Rice University” as the school for which you are applying. 
• 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.

Upon uploading the above documents, you should also reach out to our VA Certifying Official, Matt Wakeman for next steps. 

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). 

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 50% - 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 2023-2024 academic year is $27,120.05.
• 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 - Rice University's zip code: 77005.
• Please reference the US Department of Veterans Affairs: Post-9/11 GI Bill for further information.

The Yellow Ribbon Program is a component of the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) 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.

To receive benefits under the Yellow Ribbon Program:

• You must be eligible at 100% for the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)
• Please reference the US Department of Veterans Affairs: Yellow Ribbon for further information.

Rice Business is proud to participate in the Yellow Ribbon program at the highest possible level for all our MBA programs: once your Chapter 33 annual cap has been exhausted, Rice Business will cover half of the remaining cost with a Yellow Ribbon Scholarship, which will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the VA.

This means that veterans who are eligible for Yellow Ribbon may have ALL of their tuition and fees covered at Jones. 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 so there are no additional steps to apply. 

• Students receiving the Yellow Ribbon scholarship who are awarded a separate Admissions Scholarship less than the annual amount of the Yellow Ribbon Scholarship are eligible to receive both scholarships (up to an additional $5,000 per year).
• Students receiving the Yellow Ribbon scholarship who are awarded a separate Admissions Scholarship more than the annual amount of the Yellow Ribbon Scholarship are eligible to receive the higher amount of the two scholarships.

In other words, 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.

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.

Tuition Assistance (TA) is a Department of Defense (DoD) program. The VA does not administer TA and Rice University does not participate in the Tuition Assistance program.