The Cooper Union is committed to helping active-duty military servicemembers and veterans achieve personal, academic, and professional goals. We welcome you to reach out to us directly regarding benefits, Veteran Affairs (VA) claims, or admissions process, etc. 

Types of Military Benefits 

Dependents Education Assistance (DEA) – Chapter 35

You may qualify for VA education benefits (Chapter 35) if you are the child or spouse of a servicemember or veteran who meets one of the following criteria:

• The veteran is permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability.
• The veteran died as a result of a service-connected disability.
• The servicemember died in the line of duty.
• The servicemember is missing in action or was captured in the line of duty by a hostile force for more than 90 days.
• The servicemember was forcibly detained or interned in the line of duty by a foreign entity for more than 90 days.
• The servicemember is hospitalized or receiving outpatient treatment for a service-connected permanent and total disability and is likely to be discharged for that reason.

If you are a dependent who does not meet the above criteria, you may still qualify for VA education benefits if the veteran or servicemember transferred some or all of their post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement to you while on active duty.
 

Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill

The post-9/11 GI Bill provides educational benefits to individuals who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001. Benefits are payable for training pursued on or after August 1, 2009 (no payments apply to training before that date).

You may receive up to 36 months of entitlement under the post-9/11 GI Bill. Once you elect to receive these benefits, you cannot receive benefits under a previous program.
Additional benefits include:

• A Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) based on the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rate for an E-5 with dependents at the school’s location (VA Education Benefits)
• For distance learners, a housing allowance equal to half the national average BAH rate
• An annual book stipend of up to $1,000, paid proportionately based on enrollment (Active-duty students and their spouses are not eligible for the MHA)

Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (VR&E) – Chapter 31

Veterans may be eligible for Chapter 31 benefits if they:

• Received, or will receive, a discharge under conditions other than dishonorable;
• Have a service-connected disability entitling them to VA disability compensation; and
• Require vocational rehabilitation due to an employment handicap caused by the disability.

Benefits may be provided for up to 48 months, generally within 15 years of being notified of VA compensation eligibility. Extensions may be granted in certain cases.

Entitlement is determined individually following an evaluation of the veteran’s interests, education, work experience, and abilities. Each school is assigned a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist to assist Chapter 31 students and school officials. The VA pays full tuition, fees, and book costs directly to the school. Students may also receive a subsistence allowance based on training status. 

Chapter 30 Montgomery GI BIll and Active Duty

The Montgomery GI Bill (Active Duty) provides education benefits for individuals who entered active duty after June 30, 1985, and contributed to the College Fund. Eligible participants must generally:

• Serve continuously on active duty for at least three years (or two years for a shorter initial obligation); or
• Serve two continuous years on active duty followed by four years in the Selected Reserve
• Participants must have a high school diploma or equivalent (or have completed at least 12 college credits) before the end of their first active-duty period
• Individuals serving at least three continuous years, even if initially obligated for less, receive a higher basic benefit rate.

Chapter 1606 Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserves

• This program provides benefits to members of the Selected Reserve and National Guard who enlisted, reenlisted, or extended their enlistment for at least six years after July 1, 1985.
• For eligibility details, contact the Veterans Affairs Regional Office (VARO) at 1-888-442-4551.
   

Chapter 1607 Reserve Educational Assistance Program

REAP provides educational assistance to reservists called to active duty in response to a war or national emergency declared by the President or Congress. Eligible reservists who served at least 90 days after September 11, 2001, may qualify for new or increased education benefits.

Applying for Benefits

Certificate of Eligibility

We encourage all active-duty military, veterans, and dependents to apply for Education Benefits (Certificate of Eligibility) as soon as you begin the admission process. Once you have submitted your application for education benefits, you should expect to receive your certificate of eligibility within four to six weeks. You do not need to receive the certificate of eligibility to begin the application process. Once it is received, please submit it to the Office of Admissions as soon as possible. All documents can be mailed or emailed to the following address:

The Cooper Union

Office
of Financial Services
The HUB
41 Cooper Square
New York, NY, 10003

DD-214/Separation Documentation

If you are currently on active-duty but think you will be eligible for early leave; The DD-214 is not required to start classes. If classes begin prior to the start date of your official leave, your initial BAH checks will be delayed until the DD-214 is submitted.

Transfer Students

VA Form 22-1995
This form should only be submitted by military and veteran applicants that will be transferring benefits from another two or four-year institution.
 

Dependent Students

The VA Form 22- 5495 form should only be submitted by dependents of military & veteran applicants that will be transferring benefits from another two or four-year institution.

Applying for Admission

Undergraduate Applicants

In addition to the application requirements for undergraduate admission, active duty military and veteran applicants are required to submit either the Joint Services Transcript (JST) or Air University Transcript.

Undergraduate applicants with a Joint Services Transcript or Air University transcript, should apply as a transfer applicant.

Applying to The Cooper Union

Graduate Applicants

Students pursuing graduate admission are not required to submit the JST or Air University transcript.

Applying to The Cooper Union

Joint Services Transcript (JST)

The Joint Services Transcript (JST) is required for veterans and active-duty military that have served in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, or Coast Guard. 
A majority of the coursework from your Joint Services Transcript will not be transferable, but we do require that you submit the documents.

Request your JST

Air University Transcript

The Air University Transcript is required for active-duty military and veterans that have served in the US Air Force. If you attended The Air University/Community College of the Air Force (CCAF), you can request your official transcript from the Air University website.

Contact Us

The Cooper Union
Office of Student Financial Services
The HUB
41 Cooper Square, New York, NY 10003
Email: financialaid@cooper.edu
Schedule a virtual appointment
Schedule an in-person appointment 

The Cooper Union does not currently participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Additional grant, loan, and scholarship opportunities can be found here.