VA Benefits at MassArt

We’re committed to serving those who’ve served our country through educational assistance from the Veterans Administration (VA).

Veterans and service persons, their spouses and dependents, or their survivors may be eligible for educational benefits. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), not MassArt, determines your eligibility for any education benefits.

Veteran Status

You are a veteran if:

You served on continuous active duty for 181 days or more after January 13, 1955
You served at least 90 aggregate days on active duty after September 10, 2001
You are still on active duty
You were honorably discharged from active duty
You were released from active duty and placed on the retired list or temporary disability retired list
You were a member of the National Guard or Reserves who was called to active duty for purposes other than training
You were released from the active duty for service in a reserve component of the Armed Forces

VA Benefits At Massart

In order to use your VA Benefits at MassArt, please complete the following steps:

Apply for admission
Visit US Department of Veterans Affairs to find out what education benefits you qualify for
Use the GI Bill® Comparison Tool to learn what benefits you may receive at MassArt
Complete the Education Benefits Application Process
If the VA approves your application, you will receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) within 30 days (on average). The COE details the percentage of benefits you are entitled to, and the length of time you are eligible to receive benefits.
Submit a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility (and a copy of the student veteran’s DD-214 form) to MassArt’s School Certifying Official (SCO):

Jonathan Rand, SCO
Office of the Registrar
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
621 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
jrand@massart.edu • P: (617) 879-7263

Veterans Enrollment Policy

Covered individuals may attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to the educational institution a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33 (a “certificate of eligibility” can also include a “Statement of Benefits” obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) website – eBenefits, or a VAF 28-1905 form for chapter 31 authorization purposes) and ending on the earlier of the following dates:

The date on which payment from VA is made to the institution
90 days after the date the institution certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the certificate of eligibility

MassArt will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement funding from VA under chapter 31 or 33.

Note: A Covered Individual is any individual who is entitled to educational assistance under chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, or chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits.

Gi Bill® Frequently Asked Questions Expand all

Once you have been approved for a specific major, there is a curriculum of classes that you follow throughout your time at the college. When registering for classes keep in mind that the VA will not pay for any classes that do not count toward your major. Be aware that the VA periodically checks on all applicants to ensure that the courses being taken are relevant to the student’s declared major. Failure to comply with this policy could lead to the VA billing you for benefits received that do not count toward your major.

About 6 to 8 weeks.

MassArt is in the process of creating a Veterans Student Group. Through the Colleges of the Fenway (COF) there are student organizations and other resources available to veterans.

Yes, students are initially certified after enrollment at which time housing/living benefits are processed. Students are then re-verified after the “Add/Drop” registration period, at which time, their tuition benefits are processed.

Submission of military transcripts will be evaluated as transfer credit. Students can also submit transcripts from previous colleges or universities.

VA Educational Benefits Rates

Qualified veterans and their dependents of deceased or disabled veterans whose death or disability is a direct result of their military service may be eligible for VA educational benefits under one of the following programs while attending MassArt:

Chapter 30: Montgomery G.I. Bill®-Active Duty/Discharged (MGIB-AD)
Chapter 31: Vocational Rehabilitation
Chapter 32: Veteran’s Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)
Chapter 33: Post – 9/11 G.I. Bill® (see note below)
Chapter 35: Dependents Education Assistance
Chapter 1606: Montgomery G.I. Bill® – Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)
Chapter 1607: Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP)

Note: Individuals currently eligible for Chapter 30, Chapter 1606, or Chapter 1607 may make an irrevocable election from their existing program to the Chapter 33 Post – 9/11 G.I. Bill.® For more information contact the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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.

Questions?

For Veteran Services assistance at MassArt, please contact the following staff and offices for specific questions:

Jonathan Rand Assistant Dean and Registrar, Registrar

Email: jrand@massart.edu
Call: (617) 879-7263

Jamie Costello Associate Vice President and Dean of Students, Student Development

Email: jamie.costello@massart.edu
Call: (617) 879-7703

Counseling Center

Email: counseling@massart.edu
Call: (617) 879-7760

Justice, Equity, & Transformation (JET)

Email: jet@massart.edu
Call: (617) 879-7220