Veterans Benefits

In collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs, ArtCenter College of Design is proud to be able to assist veterans and their dependents.

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 College of Design will contribute up to $4,000 of tuition expenses, and the VA will match that amount. Detailed information about the Yellow Ribbon Program can be found here.

In order to qualify for education benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, a student must be accepted into an ArtCenter College of Design degree program and enrolled in classes which meet requirements for an approved bachelors or masters degree.

If you have any questions regarding the certification process please contact the ArtCenter VA Certifying Official:

Dalia Hernandez, VA Certifying Official
ArtCenter College of Design
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 in the Financial Aid Office and submit all of the following documents.

• Complete the VONAPP (Veterans Online Application)
• Copy of the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) letter to the Financial Aid Office available after your complete the VONAPP.
• 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

Air Force 

Please Note: If your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) has changed, please submit an updated copy to the Financial Aid Office.

Transfer Students

In addition to the above listed items, Veterans and/or their dependents who have never attended ArtCenter but who have applied for benefits at another institution must also submit one of the following applicable forms. You may be able to submit requests to the VA electronically.

Begin with apply for benefits:

• VA Form 22-1995 - Request for Change of Program or Place of Training
• VA Form 22-5495 - Dependents' Request for Change of Program or Place of Training
• VA Form DD-2384 - Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE) - Reservist Only

Continuing Students

Once your benefits have been established, you will need to register 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 enrolled in courses. 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.

Tuition and Fees for Chapter 31 and 33 are paid directly to ArtCenter.

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 BAH, Books/Supplies, or tuition from the student as of the date of the enrollment change.

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.

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.

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.