Veterans Benefits
Welcome Student Veterans
In collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs, ArtCenter is proud to be able to assist veterans and their dependents. Below you will find information to assist you in applying for your V.A. Benefits. Our V.A. Certifying Official will certify your tuition assistance after you have applied for your benefits. We are also pleased to let you know that ArtCenter does participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program.
Yellow Ribbon Program
The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Program) is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008.
This program allows degree granting institutions in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with the Veterans Administration (VA). Under this agreement, ArtCenter will contribute up to $4,000 of tuition expenses per year, and the VA will match that amount. Detailed information about the Yellow Ribbon Program can be found online.
In order to qualify for education benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, a student must be accepted into an ArtCenter degree program and enrolled in classes which meet requirements for an approved bachelors or masters degree. Learn more about the Veterans Benefits and Yellow Ribbon Program.
Certifying Official
Begin by reviewing the application process below. We will certify your tuition assistance after you have applied for your benefits. If you have any questions regarding the certification process please contact the ArtCenter VA Certifying Official listed below:
Dalia Hernandez, VA Certifying Official
ArtCenter
Financial Aid Office
1700 Lida St.
Pasadena, CA 91103
626-396-2217
dalia.hernandez@artcenter.edu
New Students
If you're not sure of your benefits, begin here:
Apply for Benefits
VA Certification Documents
To activate VA benefits, the student must contact the VA Certifying Official listed above and submit all of the following documents.
- To apply for your benefits online visit https://www.va.gov/education/
- Copy of the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) letter to the Financial Aid Office.
- Copy of your Discharge Paper Form DD214
- Copies of all foreign and Military Transcript
Military Transcript Request Sites
Army, Coast Guard, Navy, and Marine Corps
Please Note: If your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) has changed, please submit an updated copy to the Financial Aid Office.
Continuing Students
Once your benefits have been established, you will need to register for courses each term.
VA Payments
Students using Chapters 30, 32, 35, 1606, and 1607 will receive monthly payments from the VA based on their enrollment status each month. The VA makes payments based on your monthly attendance and not semester attendance. Payments are sent from the VA by direct deposit or check after you have verified your monthly attendance through WAVE.
Chapter 33 (Post 9/11) GI Bill® students are required to verify their enrollment to continue receiving their payment. Students may verify their enrollment by text or email. For additional information click here: https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/isaksonroe/verification_of_enrollment.asp
Tuition and Fees for Chapter 31 and 33 GI Bill®are paid directly to ArtCenter.
VA Payments
Students using Chapters 30, 32, 35, 1606, 1607 will receive monthly payments from the VA based on their enrollment status each month. The VA makes payments based on your monthly attendance and not semester attendance. Payments are sent from the VA by direct deposit or check after you have verified your monthly attendance through WAVE.
Current VA payment rates
can be viewed here.
Yellow Ribbon Program
The Yellow Ribbon Program is an agreement between the VA and participating institutions to cover all or a portion of tuition and fees charged after a student has exceeded the maximum benefit rate. ArtCenter will contribute up to $4,000 of tuition expenses per year and the VA will match the same amount. Please click here for more information about Yellow Ribbon.
Course Drops/Withdrawals
Any course submitted to the VA that is dropped or withdrawn from, a 22-1999 enrollment verification will be sent to the VA by the school Certifying Official within 30 days of the change of enrollment. VA enrollments will be adjusted or terminated as of the date of student drop/withdrawal. A drop/withdrawal after the first date of the term may result in a VA request for repayment of MAH, Books/Supplies, or tuition from the school as of the date of the enrollment change. ArtCenter will rebill the student for repayment.
Mitigating Circumstances
Mitigating circumstances are circumstances beyond the student's control that prevent the student from continuing in school or that cause the student to reduce credits. The VA requires schools to document potential mitigating circumstances. Any withdrawal with a mitigating circumstance selected will require additional documentation of the mitigating circumstance to be submitted to ArtCenter prior to the mitigating circumstance being reported. For more information on mitigating circumstances, please click here to see what the VA considers acceptable. If mitigating circumstances cannot be validated, the VA may request repayment of MAH, Books/Supplies, or tuition from the school as of the date of the enrollment change. ArtCenter will rebill the student for repayment.
Academic Probation
ArtCenter will follow the official institute academic policy when reporting academic progress to the VA. VA requires institutions to report veteran students who
are not meeting an institution’s academic standards. When ArtCenter is made
aware of a VA Student no longer meeting academic standards, notification will
be electronically submitted to the VA on the student’s VA record. Please review
the institute academic policy on page 21 via the student handbook online.
Apply for Financial Aid
While the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is not required for veterans benefits you may wish to supplement your benefits with additional financial aid.
- Visit the Financial Aid website to learn more about financial aid.
- Complete the FAFSA by the March 1st priority deadline.