GI Bill® & Veterans Benefits for MBA Applicants
Yellow Ribbon Program
The Yellow Ribbon Program offers financial assistance to students of the armed forces. Kellogg has awarded grants through this program since its inception in 2009.
Pre-qualification
In order to qualify for financial assistance, you must first be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Please contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to inquire about your eligibility for benefits and to request your Certificate of Eligibility.
According to the VA:
"Only veterans entitled to the maximum benefit rate (based on service requirements) or their designated transferees may receive this funding. Active duty service members and their spouses are not eligible for this program (child transferees of active duty service members may be eligible if the service member is qualified at the 100% rate)."
VA regulations state that you must exhaust your full Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit for the academic year up to the tuition and mandatory fee cap for private schools (if eligible for the academic year) before any Yellow Ribbon Program funding is paid.
Eligibility
For the 2023–2024 school year, there will not be a cap on the number of eligible students who may receive the Yellow Ribbon Program Grant. The maximum Kellogg Yellow Ribbon Grant is $22,000 which is matched by the VA. The annual award amount cannot exceed tuition and mandatory fees.
To qualify for Yellow Ribbon Program benefits, you must meet the following criteria:
- Receive admission to one of the following programs: Full-Time MBA Programs (1Y, 2Y, MMM, MiM), Evening & Weekend evening or Saturday MBA, or Executive MBA (EMBA).
- Prior to matriculation, confirm your intent to enroll by submitting your tuition deposit to the Full-Time, Evening & Weekend, or Executive MBA programs.
- Submit your Certificate of Eligibility from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to the Northwestern University Registrar’s Office, as well as a copy to your school's Financial Aid Office stating you are 100 percent eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.
Rules and regulations
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA):
- Students must exhaust their full Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit for the academic year before Yellow Ribbon funding is paid.
- The maximum grant that a student can receive from Kellogg through the Yellow Ribbon Program is $22,000 per academic year.
- The amount a student receives from Kellogg is matched by the VA. The amount cannot exceed tuition and mandatory fees as listed by the VA.
- Grants are awarded to eligible students on a first-come, first-served basis.
Benefits distribution
Receiving payment for VA educational benefits
Payment for the Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty (Ch. 30), Montgomery GI Bill-Reserves (Ch. 1606), and REAP (Ch. 1607) will be made directly to you. Contact the VA at 888.442.4551 for information on how payments will be issued.
Receiving payment for the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Ch. 33)
Payment will be issued after the VA receives and processes your enrollment certification from Northwestern University.
The VA will not provide a payment timeline to Northwestern University. You must contact the GI Bill hotline at 888-GIBILL1 (888.442.4551) for information on when payments will be issued.
Please note:
- Living stipends (BAH / MHA) will be issued directly to you by the VA monthly.
- During your required summer internship, you are considered a full-time student and our Certifying Official will certify your housing allowance with VA.
- Payment for tuition and fees will be issued directly to Northwestern University by the VA and will be credited to your account. The amount paid is determined by the VA and may not cover the full cost of tuition and fees.
- Northwestern will place an "anticipated credit" on your account for the portion of the tuition and fees that you will be receiving from the VA until tuition and fee payments are received. This means that you will not be required to front the money expected from the VA and will not be issued late fees on your account for the amount expected by VA.
- The anticipated credit is Northwestern's best guess at what you will receive in payment based on your Certificate of Eligibility and enrollment for the academic term. If the actual payment received by the VA is less than what was estimated, you will be responsible for paying the difference out-of-pocket or through financial aid.
- Yellow Ribbon payments from the VA will be issued directly to Northwestern University and will be credited to your account.
- The Yellow Ribbon match provided by Northwestern will be credited to your account at the same time the VA Yellow Ribbon payment is credited.
Submission exemption
If you meet the following three criteria, you will automatically be included in the applicant pool for the 2023–2024 academic year, and are not required to resubmit your Certificate of Eligibility:
- Received the Yellow Ribbon Program benefits in previous years.
- Are enrolled in your academic program for the 2023–2024 academic year.
- Are still eligible for Yellow Ribbon Program benefits from the VA.
If you’re eligible, submit the required documents via postal mail, email, or fax to:
Registrar's Office
Northwestern University
Office of the Registrar
633 Clark Street Evanston, IL 60208
Attn: Charmaine Nicholson
Email: c-nicholson@northwestern.edu
Fax Number: 847.491.8458
Financial Aid Offices
Full-Time MBA Program
Kellogg School of Management
Northwestern University
Office of Admissions and Financial Aid
Kellogg Global Hub
2211 Campus Drive
Evanston, IL 60208
Attn: Jake Achey
Email: jake.achey@kellogg.northwestern.edu
Evening & Weekend MBA Program
Northwestern University
Office of Financial Aid- Chicago
710 N. Lake Shore Drive, Suite 629
Chicago, IL 60611
Attn: Julia Jenkins
Email: julia.jenkins@northwestern.edu
Executive MBA Program
Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
James L. Allen Center
2169 Campus Drive
Evanston, IL 60208
Attn: Jake Achey
Email: jake.achey@kellogg.northwestern.edu
Completing Steps to the VA
Students eligible for GI Bill or Veterans Benefits should contact:
Office of the Registrar
633 Clark Street
Evanston, IL 60208-1280
847.491.5234
You are responsible for completing any necessary steps as directed by the VA to ensure that Northwestern University receives the Post-9/11 GI Bill tuition payment and the VA’s portion of the Yellow Ribbon payment. Please refer to your Certificate of Eligibility or call 1.888.GIBILL1 (442.4551) to verify that you have completed all necessary steps with the VA.
For information regarding the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program, please visit http://www.gibill.va.gov.