The Cleveland Institute of Art is approved for Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits and is a “Yellow Ribbon” school with no limit on the number of students who may utilize Yellow Ribbon benefits. 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, submitted the Admissions deposit, and must provide the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) letter from the VA; continuing students must have registered for courses for the next semester before enrollment certifications can be submitted. Visit https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/ for more information.

Certification processing to the VA is done through the Registrar’s Office after students are enrolled. Post-9/11 (Ch.33) and Yellow Ribbon tuition benefits are disbursed directly to CIA and are applied toward the student’s tuition and fees. Benefits are normally disbursed 4–6 weeks after certifications are received by the VA. Benefits for students attending under Ch. 35 are sent directly to the student for tuition and fee payment. Benefits are disbursed monthly

Questions regarding VA benefits should be directed to the Registrar by email ([email protected]).

Chapters 33 & 31 Benefits Payments

CIA, in compliance with the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, allows Chapter 33 and Chapter 31 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 the Cleveland Institute of Art 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. First-year veteran students are registered for courses by the Registrar’s Office, just as is the entire first-year class. 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].