Educational Benefits
To take full advantage of all of the educational benefits for which you qualify, contact us and tap into our expertise. You may qualify for state and federal benefits. Tuition assistance based on active duty is also available. Use the links to the right to see if you meet certain qualifications.
Massachusetts Veteran Tuition Waiver
To qualify for this tuition waiver, you must be "matriculated" which means you applied for admission and were accepted into a degree program. As a degree-seeking Massachusetts veteran, your tuition will be waived when you provide us with a copy of your Member 4 DD214 showing an Honorable discharge. The waiver applies to state-funded programs offered at UMass Boston. It does not cover your UMass Boston fees such as curriculum, service, mandatory or lab fees.
The College of Advancing and Professional Studies offers many evening, weekend, summer and online courses. Fees for courses offered through the College of Advancing and Professional Studies are structured differently than those through the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Science and Mathematics and others. We can waive the College of Advancing and Professional Studies course fee, but some restrictions apply. You may not use this waiver for courses that you take a non-degree student. Contact us to learn the stipulations which apply to your situation.
How To Use your GI Bill to Pay for College
- Apply for your veterans benefits using the Veterans Online Application, VONAPP on the GI Bill website
- Apply for admissions to UMass Boston as an undergraduate or graduate student
- Allow 6-8 weeks for a decision on both applications
- Apply for Financial Aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the priority deadline
- Once you are admitted and register for classes, give us your class schedule and your Certificate of Eligibility from the VA (DD214) and we will certify your attendance with the VA.
- Once you are certified, you'll be able to start classes. Your payment will take approximately 6-8 weeks to process after certification.
- UMass Boston will apply your state benefits prior to your federal, GI Bill benefits.
- Please notify our office of any changes in your schedule or status as soon as possible. For example, if you are deployed and need to withdraw from classes, we can help. If you drop or add a course, this may affect your military benefits and your financial aid.
Federal Veterans Benefits
There are six major educational benefit programs in order of popularity:
- Chapters 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill
- Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill (Active Duty)
- Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation (Voc Rehab)
- Chapter 35 Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA)
- 1606 Select Reserve GI Bill
- 1607 Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)
Post 9/11 GI Bill
Most of the veterans studying at UMass Boston are using the benefits of the Post 9/11 GI Bill otherwise known as Chapter 33. Service members and veterans who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001 are eligible for these educational benefits.
- Three years of Active Duty (AD) time qualifies you for 100% of benefits based on for full-time enrollment. This includes your cost of attendance, a $1000 book stipend and E5 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) with dependents based on UMass Boston’s zip code (02125).
- For service over 90 days, but less than 3 years, you receive a percentage of these benefits from 40-90%.
- Active Duty members and their spouses do not receive the BAH, but are entitled to the book stipend. Children of AD members and spouses of veterans utilizing Chapter 33 are eligible for BAH.
- You receive up to 36 months of these benefits. These benefits are prorated for the days you are enrolled per the Academic Calendar.
- Transferring this benefit to a dependent must first be completed with the Department of Defense prior to application for VA benefits.
Montgomery GI Bill (Active Duty)
- If you paid into education benefits while on Active Duty prior to the Post 9/11 GI Bill, this pays a stipend of $1473 based on full time enrollment. If you paid into the $600 Buy-Up or “kicker,” this amount may increase up to $600 with proper documentation. The benefit is good for 10 years after you are released from Active Duty.
- Chapter 30 does not pay for cost of attendance or a book stipend. If you exhaust all 36 months of the Montgomery GI Bill, you may be eligible for 12 months of the Post 9/11 GI Bill.
Vocational Rehabilitation
Chapter 31, or Voc Rehab, is offered to veterans with a service-connected disability of 20% or more and may extend your educational benefits up to 48 more months. Voc Rehab covers all applicable education related expenses. Most of the processing and appointments for this program are through the Boston VA Office.
Chapter 35 Survivors and Dependents Education Assistance (DEA):
The DEA benefit is available to dependents of a veteran who died or is permanently disabled as a result of a service connected disability. Qualified children must be between the ages of 18-26 to receive up to 45 months of educational benefits. The period of eligibility for spouses ranges from 10-20 years.
Select Reserve GI Bill (SELRES)
1606 is for actively drilling reservists with no active duty time (training only). The 1606 pays a stipend of $375/mo. If you are eligible for a “kicker,” that amount will be applied to your stipend with proper documentation. When applying for 1606 Select Reserve GI Bill on VONAPP, please include your Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE) or a DD214 if applicable.
Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)
REAP or 1607 is a benefit is based on your activation of 90 days or more as a Reservist in response to war or natural disaster. 1607 is a benefit calculated by your activation time and education/training pursuit.
Yellow Ribbon Program
Please contact our Veterans Affairs Office for information on our Yellow Ribbon Program stipulations.
