Military and Veteran Benefits
Nazareth University salutes your service to our country and values your contributions to the campus community. We are committed to providing you with the highest level of student and financial services, and are here to assist with any issue that may arise. We can also guide you to federal and state military benefits you are eligible for.
If you served on active duty, you might be eligible for education benefits offered by the Department of Veteran Affairs.
If you are the spouse or child of a service member, you may be eligible for transfer of the service member's Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits.
If you are currently serving in the military, you may be eligible for funding offered through the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance program. If you are interested in using this benefit, you must first visit your installation’s education office or liaison.
Tips: How to apply for benefits
GI Bill®: Chapter 30, 33, 35, 1606
- Go to U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs' How to apply for the GI Bill® and related benefits
- Select the "Find your education benefits form" button
- Answer the dropdown questions regarding your situation
- Using for the first time will be Form 1990
- Updating your information for another degree will be Form 1995
- Select "Apply now"
- Select "Start your application without signing in" if you have time to complete in one sitting.
- Select "Sign in to start your application" if you will need to finish at a later time.
- Fill out application
- Choose your benefit. You will give up a benefit if eligible for more than one.
- Screenshot or save the confirmation for your files.
School information for Application:
Nazareth University
4245 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14618
Upon completion, you will receive your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by mail or email. Send it to Dillon Smith, dsmith81@naz.edu.
How to apply for Recruitment Incentive & Retention Program (RIRP)
Recruitment Incentive & Retention Program (RIRP)
For current New York Army/Air Force National Guard members.
Deadlines:
- Fall Semester: August 15
- Spring Semester: December 15
Steps
1. Have your income tax information handy.
2. You will need to have four documents handy to send at once:
- RIRP Application (MOU & DMNA Form 96-1)
- FAFSA Student Aid Report
- NY State TAP Award Certification
- College/ University Acceptance Letter
3. For RIRP Application (MOU & DMNA Form 96-1):
4. FAFSA Student Aid Report: Complete FAFSA and obtain your student aid report (SAR).
- Go to the FAFSA website and log in.
- Scroll down to "You Can Also"
- Select: "Print Student Aid Report"
- Select: "View Student Aid Report (PDF)" and save it to your computer
5. NY State TAP Award Certification: Complete TAP and obtain the TAP Award certification.
- Log in to your Higher Education Services Corporation account
- Next to "Tuition Assistance Program," select "Details"
- Screenshot or save the page! You will need the information that is listed under "NYS Tuition Assistance Program"
6. You will need your letter of acceptance from Nazareth.
7. Email all 4 documents to: Education Service Representative
- RIRP Application (MOU & DMNA Form 96-1)
- FASFA Student Aid Report
- NY State TAP Award Certification
- College/ University Acceptance Letter
Do not fill out anything below your signature.
8. Upon completion, please notify Dillon Smith, dsmith81@naz.edu.
Financial Assistance
GI Bill® Chapters
Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33)
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) helps you pay for school. If you or a loved one served on active duty after September 10, 2001 you may qualify for the benefit.
What to expect at Naz:
- Tuition & fees: If you qualify for the maximum benefit, the VA will cover the full VA rate. If you qualify for an eligibility rate below 100%, your award amount will be prorated accordingly.
- Book stipend: up to $1,000/year, prorated based on your eligibility rate. Paid directly to the veteran in a lump sum each semester.
- Monthly stipend: Qualified students are eligible for a monthly housing allowance equivalent to an E-5 rank with dependents based on your benefit percentage and the zip code of the location where the majority of your classes are taken.
- Yellow Ribbon eligibility: Yes if at 100% eligibility
Veteran Readiness & Employment (Chapter 31)
The Veteran Readiness & Employment (Chapter 31) (formerly called Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment) helps you explore employment options and address education or training needs. This chapter can help If you have a service-connected disability that limits your ability to work or prevents you from working.
What to expect at Naz:
- Tuition & Fees: Qualified veterans will receive 100% tuition and fees Book Stipend: Full cost of books paid directly to the veteran.
- Monthly Stipend: Program provides a monthly subsistence allowance for living expenses to assist qualified veterans with service-connected disabilities.
- Yellow Ribbon Eligibility: No
Montgomery GI Bill® Active Duty (Chapter 30)
The Montgomery GI Bill® Active Duty (Chapter 30) can help you pay for education and training programs. If you’ve served at least 2 years on active duty. It provides up to 36 months of financial assistance for educational pursuits, including college, vocational/technical training, correspondence courses, apprenticeships/on-the-job training, flight training, high-tech training, licensing and certification tests, entrepreneurship training courses, and national examinations. Generally, your MGIB-AD benefits are paid directly to you on a monthly basis.
What to expect at Naz:
The amount you’ll receive depends on these factors:
- your length of service, and
- the type of education or training program you choose, and
- your category (located on the VA website), and
- whether you qualify for a college fund or kicker, and
- how much you’ve paid into the $600 Buy-Up program
Survivors & Dependents Assistance (Chapter 35 or Fry Scholarship)
The Survivors & Dependents Assistance (Chapter 35 or Fry Scholarship) may provide a dependent spouse or child, or the surviving spouse or child of a Veteran, Chapter 35 benefits, or job training.
What to expect at Naz:
- Tuition & Fees: No
- Book Stipend: No
- Monthly Stipend: The VA will pay the monthly amount directly to the student. The current monthly payment for full-time students can be found at the current VA Rates.
- Yellow Ribbon Eligibility: No
Montgomery GI Bill® - Selective Reserve (Chapter 1606)
The Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606) program offers up to 36 months of education and training benefits. If you're a current member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard, or Air National Guard, you may be eligible for this benefit.
What to expect at Naz:
- Tuition & Fees: No
- Book Stipend: No
- Monthly Stipend: You can get up to the max per month amount in compensation (payments) for up to 36 months. View the current VA Rates. Service members can also receive their "kicker" bonus in addition to these rates.
- Yellow Ribbon Eligibility: No
Military Tuition Assistance
Contact your military branch
New York State Veterans Benefits
Veterans Tuition Award and more
Veterans Tuition Award Scholarship
Veterans Tuition Awards (VTA) are awarded for full-time study and part-time study for eligible veterans enrolled in an approved program at an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting institution or in an approved vocational training program in New York state. You must be a legal resident of New York state and have lived in the state for 12 continuous months before the beginning of the term.
Other veterans' benefits for New Yorkers
NYS programs for veterans
Yellow Ribbon Program
Nazareth University participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which makes additional funds available to qualifying students on top of the typical VA amount. This program provides eligible full-time undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students up to $7,500 per year, matched by the VA. These amounts together, on top of the typical VA amount, help cover the full yearly cost of a Nazareth education.
Federal info: VA Yellow Ribbon Program
Nazareth Veteran's Scholarship
General award of up to $8,000 for full-time undergraduate students who are not eligible for the Nazareth Yellow Ribbon award. Awarded to any post-Sept. 11 honorably discharged veteran who has served at least six months of active duty or Chapter 33-approved transferee with veteran tuition benefits eligibility. For more about this Nazareth scholarship, contact financial aid: finaid@naz.edu