Qualifying veterans may be eligible for educational benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) through various VA programs. Dependents of veterans may be eligible to use VA educational benefits if the benefits are transferred to them. Students are not required to use their VA benefits at Princeton University. However, if you choose to certify eligibility, you can still apply for need-based aid to supplement your VA benefits.
Institutional funds cannot be used to exceed the cost of attendance when combined with any VA benefit. This ensures that you are using your benefits as exercised and institutional funds are used to supplement your remaining need. This means that if benefits are certified after you have received an aid decision, it may be necessary to adjust institutional funds. Princeton meets students’ full financial need, and VA benefits are additional resources intended to reduce financial need, they cannot be used to replace the family contribution. Please note that VA benefits do not affect eligibility for federal Title IV aid.
See below for more detailed information regarding the two most common benefits programs used at Princeton
If you have questions regarding the certification process, please contact Princeton's Certifying Official in the Office of the Registrar.
Chapter 33 (with and without Yellow Ribbon)
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® provides benefits for tuition and required fees, housing, and books. Current rates can be found on the VA's website.
Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits can be used to replace the Family Contribution whether you, the student, are the veteran or the benefits are transferred to you from a parent.
Princeton also participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students receiving 100% Ch. 33 benefits who qualify for Yellow Ribbon will receive an additional $8,000 in total benefits paid to their bill. $4,000 from the VA and $4,000 from Princeton University.
In addition to the educational benefits that are paid directly to the University (for tuition and required fees), you also receive a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) – this is generally the same as the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH). The amount of the benefits and allowance will depend on your percentage of eligibility. The monthly allowance is paid directly to you and you are responsible for paying your housing and food costs. If the MHA is less than the amount budgeted for your housing and food in the cost of attendance, Princeton Grant may be used to supplement the VA resources you receive, depending on your family’s need. If the MHA is more than the amount budgeted for your housing and food in the cost of attendance, the amount of the MHA that exceeds the budgeted housing and food costs is excluded from the reevaluation of your Princeton Grant eligibility, and Princeton Grant is used to meet any remaining need.
If benefits are certified after you have received an aid decision, it may be necessary to adjust institutional funds. If your total VA benefits are less than your family contribution, no change to your grant aid is needed. If the total VA benefits are more than your family contribution, Princeton Grant is reduced so that the total of the grant aid and the VA benefits equals your cost of attendance. Institutional funds cannot be used to exceed the cost of attendance when combined with VA benefits. This ensures that you are using your benefits as exercised and institutional funds are used to supplement your remaining need. VA benefits do not affect eligibility for federal Title IV aid.
Not all students receive 100% benefits with Yellow Ribbon. Eligibility is determined by the veteran’s length of service since 9/11/2001. If you have questions about how choosing to certify benefits would impact your financial aid, we encourage you to get in touch with an aid counselor.
Chapter 35
The Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program benefits are typically the Ch. 35 benefits used at Princeton. The benefits received with the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship are similar to the Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits above and are, therefore, treated similarly to the Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits. The DEA benefits are used to replace the family contribution. This educational benefit is paid directly to you, the student, on a monthly basis. Current rates can be found on the VA's website.
If benefits are certified after you have received an aid decision, it may be necessary to adjust institutional funds. If the total VA benefits are less than your family contributions no change to your grant aid is needed. If the total VA benefits are more than your family contribution, Princeton Grant is reduced as needed so that the total of the grant aid award and the VA benefits equals your cost of attendance. Institutional funds cannot be used to exceed the cost of attendance when combined with VA benefits. This ensures that you are using your benefits as exercised and institutional funds are used to supplement your remaining need. VA benefits do not affect eligibility for federal Title IV aid. If you have questions about how choosing to certify benefits would impact your financial aid, we encourage you to get in touch with an aid counselor.