Military Affiliated Education Benefits

Eligible Programs

• Most degree programs
• Standalone certificates
  • Duke Divinity School (theology and health care)
  • Pratt School of Engineering (AI foundations, business foundations)
  • School of Nursing (adult gerontology NP acute care, adult gerontology NP primary care, cardiology, endocrinology, executive leadership, family nurse practitioner, health informatics, HIV, neonatal nurse practitioner, nursing and health care leadership, nursing education, oncology, orthopedics, palliative care, pediatric behavioral and mental health, pediatric NP acute care, pediatric NP primary care, psychiatric mental health, veteran health care, women’s health)

Ineligible Programs

• Bachelor of Laws
• Master of Legal Studies
• Admitting programs in The Graduate School (cognitive neuroscience, developmental and stem cell biology, integrated toxicology and environmental health)
• Executive education programs (short term) in all schools, including Fuqua School of Business, Sanford School of Public Policy
• Continuing education (all credit and non-credit programs)

Programs Pending Approval

• Innovation for Defense Certificate (Pratt School of Engineering)
• Master of Arts in Applied Ethics and Policy (The Graduate School)
• Master in Business, Climate, and Sustainability (Fuqua School of Business and Nicholas School of the Environment)
• Master of Nursing (School of Nursing)
• Orthoptic Fellowship Certificate (School of Medicine)
• Radiation Therapy Certificate (School of Medicine)

All approvals are subject to change.

• Apply for benefits: https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply.
  • When completing VA’s application to use your benefits at Duke, use the degree name of the program you are pursuing, i.e., Master of Business Administration, Master of Science, Master of Engineering. Do not use the track or major name.
  • Questions about your specific eligibility must be directed to VA.
• Submit the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) or a screenshot of your eBenefits page and a copy of your Program of Acceptance Letter via email, fax or in person to:
  • veteranseducation@duke.edu
    Office of the University Registrar
    1121 West Main Street, Suite 1200
    Durham, NC 27701
    (919) 684-4500 (fax)
• Receive and review on-boarding email Using VA Benefits at Duke from the VA Education Benefits team.
• Submit all required Duke VA file documents requested by VA Education Benefits team.
  • VA requires Duke to collect all prior college experience transcripts. Submit all prior post-secondary transcripts directly to your school’s admission office even if the transcript was not required for the application/admission process.
• Receive and review File Complete email notification from VA Education Benefits team.
• Receive and review Yellow Ribbon Participation email notification from VA Education Benefits team (if applicable).

See Certification Process dropdown (+) for next steps.

New Students

• The Duke VA file is completed.
• Student submits a Certification Request during the onboarding process.
• Student is registered for the term.
  • Late payment fees will not be assessed for those who submit the Certification Request to initiate the use of VA educational benefits.
  • Deposits must be paid .
• Enrollment certification is submitted to VA.
  • The enrollment certification submitted to VA will reflect the dates of the course enrollment and the academic calendar published in the bulletin and approved by the North Carolina State Approving Agency.
  • Students are responsible for reviewing enrollment certification notices received from VA and reporting discrepancies to veteranseducation@duke.edu.

Continuing Students

• Student submits a Certification Request.
• Student is registered for the term.
  • A Certification Request form will be provided via student email annually in late spring.
  • Late payment fees will not be assessed for those who submit the Certification Request to initiate the use of VA educational benefits.
• Enrollment certification is submitted to VA.
  • The enrollment certification submitted to VA will reflect the dates of the course enrollment and the academic calendar published in the bulletin and approved by the North Carolina State Approving Agency.
  • Students are responsible for reviewing enrollment certification notices received from VA and reporting discrepancies to veteranseducation@duke.edu.

Certification Process Graphic (Chapter 31)

• Divinity School, The Fuqua School of Business, Graduate School, Law School, Nicholas School of the Environment, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, Pratt School of Engineering, Sanford School of Public Policy, and Trinity College of Arts and Sciences

Certification Process Graphic (Chapter 33) 

• Divinity School, Graduate School, Law School, Nicholas School of the Environment, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, Pratt School of Engineering, Sanford School of Public Policy, and Trinity College of Arts and Sciences
• The Fuqua School of Business (Global MBA, Management Studies, Quantitative Management, and Weekend MBA)
• The Fuqua School of Business (Daytime MBA)

Students are responsible for:

• Submitting the Certification Request annually.
  • The Certification Request informs Duke of your intention to use VA benefits.
    • New students will receive a link to the Certification Request as part of the onboarding and file creation process.
    • Continuing students will receive an emailed link to the Certification Request during late spring for the following academic year.
• Completing their Duke VA file before certification of enrollment is submitted to VA.
• Submitting written notification to veteranseducation@duke.edu when a change to any of the following has occurred or is necessary:
  • Class schedule
  • Tuition and fees
  • Program of enrollment or declared major
  • VA education benefit program
  • Certification Request
• Reviewing for accuracy all enrollment certification notices received from VA and reporting discrepancies to veteranseducation@duke.edu.

Students should know:

• The Certificate of Eligibility (COE) must be in the attending student’s name.      
• Chapter 31 and 33 funding is sent directly to Duke for tuition and fee expenses.
• Chapter 30, 35, and 1606 stipends are sent directly to the student.
• Entitlement limits, payment caps, eligible stipend allowances and additional specifics about the VA benefit program they will use.
• Classes can be attended while Duke awaits payment from VA.
• Late fees are not charged to those who have initiated the process of using VA benefits.
• Only courses, and their credits, that are required for degree completion can be certified to VA.
• Failed, withdrawn, or dropped courses may cause an encumbrance to VA or Duke or both.
• The tuition and fee payment policy for Duke and their respective school.
• It can take 60-90 days for VA to make tuition and fee payment to Duke.
• Unsatisfactory academic progress may be reported to VA.

Duke University is a participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program. The Yellow Ribbon Program is a contractual partnership with the Department of Veteran Affairs to enhance financial access for military affiliated students.

Yellow Ribbon Eligibility

Student participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program is dependent on the following:

• 100% eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® or a Purple Heart Recipient.
• Enrolled in a degree-seeking program.

Ongoing student participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program is dependent on the following:

• Duke schools continue to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program.
• Student remains continuously enrolled in the program for which they initially received the Yellow Ribbon award.
• Student complies with all VA and Duke required deadlines and procedures.

Award Notification

Yellow Ribbon awards are determined on a first-come first-served basis, upon receipt of the Certificate of Eligibility and Letter of Acceptance from the school.  A separate application is not required to participate. A final Yellow Ribbon award notification will be provided via student email when the Duke VA file is completed.

Yellow Ribbon Awards

All Duke schools are participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program for the 2025-2026 academic year. The number of awards listed in the chart below are total awards approved for the academic year. Duke may not expand its Yellow Ribbon offering during the academic year. Each institution must enroll in the program annually. Once enrolled, commitments are finalized for the academic year.

"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 website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

2024-2025 Academic Year

The VA academic year is August 1, 2024 – July 31, 2025. Terms beginning before August 1 are considered part of the 2023-2024 VA academic year and subject to the VA education benefit maximum for that year.

June 15, 2024
Pre-certification for Fall 2024 semester begins.
See Certification Process dropdown on the Veterans Education Benefits page for more information about the dual certification process.

August 1, 2024
Fall 2024 bills are due. See https://finance.duke.edu/bursar.
Students who initiated the process of using VA education benefits at Duke by submitting the Student Data Form (SDF) will have a notation on their account indicating VA education benefits are pending. No late fees will be assessed. See Certification Process dropdown on the Veterans Education Benefits page for more information about the dual certification process.

September 6, 2024
Drop/add ends. Amended certification with tuition and fee information will be submitted to the VA.
Students will receive an email confirmation from the VA when their certifications are submitted.

October 30, 2024
Registration for Spring 2025 begins.

December 1, 2024
Pre-certification for Spring 2025 semester begins.
See Certification Process dropdown on the Veterans Education Benefits page for more information about the dual certification process.

January 7, 2025
Spring 2025 bills are due. See https://finance.duke.edu/bursar.
Students who initiated the process of using VA education benefits at Duke by submitting the Student Data Form (SDF) will have a notation on their account indicating VA education benefits are pending. No late fees will be assessed. See Certification Process dropdown on the Veterans Education Benefits page for more information about the dual certification process.

January 22, 2025
Drop/add ends. Amended certification with tuition and fee information will be submitted to the VA.
Students will receive an email confirmation from the VA when their certifications are submitted.

February 17, 2025
Registration for Summer 2025 begins.

April 1, 2025
Pre-certification for Summer 2025 semester begins.
See Certification Process dropdown on the Veterans Education Benefits page for more information about the dual certification process.

April 2, 2025
Registration for Fall 2025 begins.

April 15, 2025
Student Data Form (SDF) for 2025-2026 academic year sent to students for completion.

May 2025 (date to be determined)
Summer 2025 bills are due. See https://finance.duke.edu/bursar.
Students who initiated the process of using VA education benefits at Duke by submitting the Student Data Form (SDF) will have a notation on their account indicating VA education benefits are pending. No late fees will be assessed. See Certification Process dropdown on the Veterans Education Benefits page for more information about the dual certification process.

June 15, 2025
Pre-certification for Fall 2025 semester begins.
See Certification Process dropdown on the Veterans Education Benefits page for more information about the dual certification process.

Contact Duke’s School Certifying Officials (SCOs) at veteranseducation@duke.edu.

The VA requires institutions to submit academic progress and graduation information for students using VA benefits. The reporting of graduation rates is very specific to students using Chapter 33 benefits and only students who use their benefits in their final term at Duke. Duke feels that methodology does not accurately reflect the graduation rate of students using VA benefits. Below is a more accurate picture of the graduation rate for all students who used VA benefits, any benefit program, for any portion of their Duke education.