The GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by the VA is available at the official U.S. government website at benefits.va.gov/gibill/.
For the most up to date and detailed information, please view the Veterans Affairs Benefits Handbook or visit the DigiPen Veterans Benefits website.
Veterans Benefits
Selected programs of study at DigiPen Institute of Technology are approved by the Washington Student Achievement Council’s State Approving Agency (WSAC/SAA) for enrollment of persons eligible to receive Veterans Affairs (VA) educational benefits. The following VA educational assistance benefits are available at DigiPen:
- Chapter 30 (Title 38, U.S. Code)—Montgomery GI Bill® for Active Duty and Veterans
- Chapter 31 (Title 28, US. Code))—Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&E).
- Chapter 32 (Title 38, U.S. Code)—Veterans Educational Assistance Program
- Chapter 33 (Title 38, U.S. Code)—Post 9/11 GI Bill®
- DigiPen participates in the Yellow Ribbon program for those students who may be eligible.
- Chapter 35 (Title 38, U.S. Code)—Dependents of Disabled/ Deceased Veterans
- Chapter 1606 (Title 10, U.S. Code)—Montgomery GI Bill® for National Guard & Selected Reserves
Eligibility for the various VA educational benefits programs is determined, in part, by the student’s date of enlistment, and the student must be a degree-seeking student with a declared major at DigiPen. In all cases, the Department of Veterans Affairs makes the final determination of eligibility. Application forms for VA benefits are available at va.gov.
Prospective students who believe they might be eligible for VA educational benefits should contact DigiPen’s Office of Financial Aid for more information and to begin the application process. The Office of Financial Aid may assist veterans in seeking other sources of financial aid in addition to their VA educational benefits.
Certification
In order to start the initial certification process, students will need to provide the School Certifying Official with a copy of their Certificate of Eligibility (obtained from the VA), copy of DD-214 (if a veteran), and complete DigiPen’s VA Benefits Certification Request Form.
The Office of Financial Aid will send out an email with the VA Benefits Certification Request Form attached each semester for completion. Submitting the VA Benefits Certification Request Form indicates a student’s interest in being certified for the semester and confirms courses registered for count towards the student’s degree program or declared minor.
Students will not be certified for the semester until the VA Benefits Certification Request Form is completed and signed by the student and their Student Success Advisor.
VA Benefits & Late Certification
All chapter 31 or 33 VA students who have submitted a copy of their Certificate of Eligibility to the School Certifying Official by the first day of classes will not receive a late fee, be denied access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, have their account frozen or be required to cover any VA covered portion of their financial obligation due to delayed disbursement funding from the VA.
VA benefits must be certified within the first 30 days of the semester to ensure timely payment from the VA. Documents turned into the School Certifying Official after the 30-day deadline will be processed, but payment for that semester is at the discretion of the VA.