Veterans Benefits
At RISD we are committed to assisting veterans and their families as you navigate your education benefits and college experience.
RISD is approved to certify our veteran and dependent students for education benefits provided by the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). You must be enrolled in one of our degree-seeking academic programs for benefit eligibility.
In addition, we partner with the VA in support of the Post 9/11 GI Bill® and the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program.
How to use your benefits
01
Determine your eligibility
You can use the GI Bill® Comparison Tool to determine your eligibility for VA educational benefits.
02
Apply for education benefits
Apply for education benefits online via www.va.gov.
03
Notify RISD
Email Chris Barrett at cbarre01@risd.edu to let us know your VA benefit eligibility status, even if you have yet to receive your Certificate of Eligibility (COE). See the next step for more on the COE requirement.
04
Obtain and submit your Certificate of Eligibility from the VA
To use GI Bill® benefits you must obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the VA, and submit it to us before the fall semester of each year you attend RISD. Send your certificate to Chris Barrett at cbarre01@risd.edu.
05
Verify your enrollment with the VA (Post-9/11 Gill Bill® or Montgomery GI Bill® beneficiaries)
If you are receiving Post-9/11 Gill Bill® or Montgomery GI Bill® benefits, the VA requires you to verify your course enrollments every month by text, email or by calling the VA. Learn more on www.va.gov.
Resources
In accordance with Section 1018 of Public Law 116-315, Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, we’ve assembled the below resources to help you navigate and plan your college career.
Learn about the resources and offerings available through the VA for veterans and services members including current education benefit rates.
Use this tool to explore and compare your estimated benefits with approved schools and employers.
Find detailed tuition, fees, housing, dining and other costs of attending RISD, as well as financial aid and student account resources.
Complete the FAFSA to be considered for federal, state and institution grants, as well as scholarships. These can be used alongside your VA benefits. Our school code is 003409.
Visit RISD Global to learn about our international study programs. To confirm your eligibility consult with Chris Barrett, RISD’s school certifying official.
Calculate your estimated monthly student loan payments and borrowing costs through the Federal Student Aid loan simulator.
Disclosures
For GI Bill® students, our tuition policy complies with 38 USC 3679 (e), which means a GI Bill® student will not be charged or otherwise penalized due to a delay in VA tuition and fee payments. For more information on tuition payment deadlines, visit Student Financial Services.
Leaves are generally limited to one year unless you are called to active military service. In this event, the leave of absence may run for the duration of your military service.
While we do not accept credit for life experience, workforce or military training, we do accept transfer credits from accredited universities, AP exam credits and more.
Visit the course catalog to view your program’s graduation requirements.
Graduation rates for undergraduate students in degree programs are available through the Institutional Effectiveness Office’s online dashboard.
Find information on internships and professional engagements from RISD Careers.
Student loan debt notice: Dependent undergraduate students who borrow the maximum allowed under the federal loan program each year for four years can expect to graduate with an estimated $27,000 in outstanding principal.
Independent undergraduate students (those not claimed as a dependent on a tax return) who borrow the maximum allowed under the federal loan program each year for four years can expect to graduate with an estimated $36,000 in outstanding principal.
Graduate students who borrow the maximum allowed under the federal loan program each year for two years can expect to graduate with an estimated $41,500 in outstanding principal.
Campus contacts
School certifying official
Chris Barrett
401 454-6368
cbarre01@risd.edu
Student Financial Services
Academic support and disability services
US Department of Veterans Affairs
Yellow Ribbon Program
RISD participates in the Post 9/11 GI Bill® Yellow Ribbon Program, which provides additional financial assistance to qualifying veterans.
The eligibility criteria for the Yellow Ribbon Program include:
- having served an aggregate period of active duty after September 10, 2001, of at least 36 months.
- being honorably discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability having served 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001.
- being a dependent of a veteran who is eligible for Transfer of Entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill® based on a veteran’s service under the eligibility criteria listed above.
Through this program, we provide scholarship assistance which is matched by the federal government. While RISD’s contribution is not capped for students who entered prior to summer 2025, the federal government may cap the amount awarded. For students entering in summer 2025 and after, the annual maximum contribution is $17,022.53.
Participation is limited to 25 students. Veterans Affairs (VA) regulations stipulate that assistance be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis.
To be considered for this program you must provide a copy of your VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for the Yellow Ribbon to Chris Barrett at cbarre01@risd.edu. Qualified students seeking assistance for the upcoming academic year can begin submitting certificates on April 1; application materials submitted prior to April 1 are not accepted.
Scholarship assistance cannot exceed tuition and fees from all sources. If the total of scholarship assistance from RISD, the Yellow Ribbon Program and Chapter 33 benefits exceed tuition and fees, the scholarship assistance offered by RISD will be reduced commensurately. Find more detailed benefit information through Veterans Affairs.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Contact us
Hours
Mon–Thu: 8:30 am–4:30 pm
Fri: 8 am–1 pm
Contact
Office of the Registrar
Rhode Island School of Design
20 Washington Place
Providence, RI 02903