Veterans
The Fletcher School has a long history of welcoming veterans, active-duty military, reservists, and their families to the school and community. These students have had a significant role and impact at Fletcher. We are dedicated to working with our veterans, their dependents, or current active-duty military students to help achieve both their academic and career goals.
Your experience in the armed forces will enhance your studies at The Fletcher School. Our Associate Director of Veterans Affairs, Nora McMillan, who has worked for many years at the school, is confident that the education you receive at Fletcher, alongside the people you meet – from the professors to fellow students, to the alumni network, and the staff – will serve you well as you surge forward on your personal, educational, and career journeys. Our doors are always open, and we look forward to serving you during your time at Fletcher.
Nora Moser McMillan
Associate Director of Veterans Affairs
Email: nora.mcmillan@tufts.edu
Programs
The Fletcher School is an approved institution for veterans' benefits. Programs included are:
The Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) benefits.
The Fletcher School is pleased to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program in which additional financial assistance supplements the base educational benefits provided by CH33. The Fletcher School’s annual contribution to Yellow Ribbon is a maximum of $8,000 per year (beginning August 1, 2023). The Yellow Ribbon amount awarded is part of the overall financial aid package offered by The Fletcher School. The Fletcher School does not limit the number of Yellow Ribbon participants. In order to receive Yellow Ribbon funding, participants must be 100% eligible for Post-9/11 benefits or a spouse of an active duty service member who has served at least 36 months on active duty, or a dependent child using benefits. Students using Yellow Ribbon must be in a degree seeking program and will accrue a total of tuition and fees amount that is more than the Post-9/11 private tuition maximum for the academic year. For VA purposes, the academic year starts on August 1. For an overview on how benefits work in the residency program, please go to this powerpoint presentation.
The Montgomery GI Bill – Chapter 30 – Active Duty (MGIB-AD)
The Montgomery GI Bill – Chapter 30 – Selective Reserves (MGIB-SR)
VR&E - Chapter 31 (Veteran Readiness & Employment)
DEA – Chapter 35 (Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance
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Your Eligibility for VA Educational Benefits
At Fletcher, the majority of our current VA students are studying using the Chapter 33: Post 9.11 GI Bill benefit. In order to obtain more information regarding your eligibility for other VA educational benefits, such as Chapter 30: Montgomery Bill, please refer the Department of Veterans Affairs website.
Using VA Benefits for Your Fletcher Degree
New Students
Once your VA benefit application is approved and you receive the Certificate of Eligibility statement from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, you need to complete the following steps to certify the use of your benefit for the first time at Fletcher:
- Send a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility to Nora McMillan, Associate Director of Veteran Affairs at: nora.mcmillan@tufts.edu.
- Complete the following survey: VASCO – Academic Status Update Form
- A school certifying officer will evaluate and verify your VA benefit details and certify your tuition, fees and Yellow Ribbon award through the VA ONCE database.
- Provisional credit information of your VA benefit will be sent to the Tufts University Bursar's Office, based on your Certificate of Eligibility information. The amount of the expected VA benefit will be reflected in your University account as "Pending Credit."
- After receiving your certifying information, the VA transfers your educational benefit directly to your Tufts University financial account.
Continuing Students
Approximately one month before billing for the upcoming term (typically July for fall; November for Spring; and May for summer), students will receive a request to complete the VASCO – Academic Status Update Form. Students are required to complete this survey to update his/her academic progression as well as the remaining VA educational benefit duration. Students do not need to submit their Certificate of Benefits UNLESS there has been a change.
Based on the information on the form as well as your VA benefits eligibility, a school certifying official will certify your tuition, fees, and Yellow Ribbon award (if applicable) for the upcoming semester through the VA ONCE database.
A school certifying official will then request that the Tufts University Bursar's Office enter a provisional credit of the VA benefit amount for each eligible student.
After receiving the certifying information, the VA will transfer the educational benefit directly to the student's Tufts account. It will be listed as "VA BENEFIT." If the student is eligible to receive the Yellow Ribbon award, it will be listed as "Fletcher Scholarship."
Educational Benefit
Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) Payment Rates can be found here.
Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018: In compliance with S2248 PL 115-407 Section 103, veterans and eligible dependents who have notified Tufts that they are using VA educational benefits such as the Post 9/11 GI Bill will not be imposed a late fee, be denied access to facilities, or receive another penalty due to a late payment of tuition and/or fees from the VA directly to Tufts. This applies if payments have not been received within 90 days of the beginning of the term and applies only to the amount of the expected VA payment.
Yellow Ribbon
The current Yellow Ribbon Scholarship award at Tufts is a maximum of $5,000 annually for students enrolled in the Fletcher School. Beginning August 1, 2023, the Yellow Ribbon Scholarship award will increase to a maximum of $8,000. Additional information can be found here.
Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018: In compliance with S2248 PL 115-407 Section 103, veterans and eligible dependents who have notified Tufts that they are using VA educational benefits such as the Post 9/11 GI Bill will not be imposed a late fee, be denied access to facilities, or receive another penalty due to a late payment of tuition and/or fees from the VA directly to Tufts. This applies if payments have not been received within 90 days of the beginning of the term and applies only to the amount of the expected VA payment.
Additional Information
Massachusetts Department of Higher Education
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Regional Processing Offices
U.S. Department of Education: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Tufts University Financial Services
(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 Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.)
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Useful links
- New England area healthcare system
- 10-10EZ, the online application for health benefits
- Services and programs available to veterans residing in Massachusetts
- Other benefits offered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- VA medical centers in Massachusetts
- VA hospitals abroad
For questions regarding health benefits, please contact:
- VA Boston Healthcare Someone is available to assist you during regular business hours at 1-800-865-3384 ext. 46780 (or direct line 1-857-364-6780).
- Ruth Aguila, Insurance Coordinator, Tufts Health Services, 617-627-5176
- GI Bill Hotline: 888-GIBILL-1 (Within the U.S.) OR 001-716-857-3196 (Outside the U.S.)
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Fletcher School participates in a wide variety of programs that offer substantial financial assistance to US active-duty service members, as well as US veterans and their families:
Advanced Civil Schooling (ACS) Program
Foreign Area Officers (FAOs)
Expanded Graduate School Program
General Wayne Downing Scholarship Program
Navy Political Military Scholarship Program (POL-MIL)
Fleet Scholar Education Program (FSEP) - The program is geared for junior and mid-level unrestricted Line (URL) and Information Warfare Community (IWC) officers. FSEP selectees can choose any accredited graduate school in the continental U.S., Alaska, or Hawaii and attend for up to 24 months.
Arthur S. Moreau Scholarship
US Navy Government Voucher Program
Marine Corps - One mid-career MA selected
Chief of Staff Air Force Prestigious PhD Program
ISSP Military Fellows
Commissioned Officers with Graduate School Option (GRADSO)
Army Performance-Based Graduate Incentive Program
Strategic Thinkers Program, US Department of Defense
