The Cleveland Institute of Art is approved for Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits and is a “Yellow Ribbon” school. The Registrar’s Office certifies education benefit recipients’ enrollments to the VA each semester the recipient is in attendance. New students must be accepted for admission to the BFA program (see specific degree requirements in Section 6), have made an Admissions deposit, and provide the Certification of Eligibility letter from the VA to the Registrar; continuing students must have registered for courses for the next semester before enrollment certifications can be submitted.

Certification processing to the VA begins in August for the fall semester and in January for the spring semester. Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill®) and Yellow Ribbon tuition benefits are disbursed directly to CIA and are applied toward the student’s tuition and fees after scholarships and grants. Benefits are normally disbursed four to six weeks after certifications are received by the VA.

Benefits for students attending under Chapter 35 (Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance) are sent directly to the student for payment of tuition and fees to CIA. Benefits under Chapter 35 are sent monthly at the standard rate based on the enrollment status of the student (full-time, part-time, etc.).

Additional information for Chapters 33 and 31 Benefits Payments

CIA, in compliance with the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, allows Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill®) and Chapter 31 (Vocational Readiness & Employment) education benefit recipients to participate in the course of education at CIA for a period of time before payment is disbursed by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, starting on the date CIA receives the benefit recipient’s Certificate of Eligibility or VA Form 28-1905 and until either 1) CIA receives payment from the VA, or 2) 90 days have elapsed following CIA’s certification or invoicing of tuition and fees to the VA. In the event of delayed disbursement, these Chapter 33 and Chapter 31 recipients will:

• Not be assessed a late fee
• Not be required to borrow funds to pay the interim balance for which the VA is responsible
• Maintain access to course registration
• Retain full use of library and campus resources

If a Chapter 33 or Chapter 31 recipient has a balance that exceeds their expected VA contribution, the student must pay the difference by the stated registration deadline each semester.

Veteran Student Priority Registration

Veteran students at CIA who are scheduling for sophomore or junior courses enjoy priority registration, as defined by having access to registration before the rest of their classes, starting on the date at which the senior class is open to register. To take advantage of this priority registration opportunity, rising and current sophomore and junior veteran students should contact the Registrar’s Office via email at [email protected].

Questions regarding VA benefits should go to the Registrar at 216.421.7321 or [email protected]. Questions regarding academic advising should go to [email protected]. Questions regarding financial aid should go to the Office of Financial Aid at [email protected]. Questions regarding disability services should go to [email protected].