Veterans Education Benefits
Heinz College values the tremendous service of our nation’s veterans, and to recognize their contribution and sacrifice we invest directly in their educational success. It is a priority for us to provide scholarship and other types of support for veterans who wish to pursue graduate studies as the next step in their lives and careers.
Pittsburgh is home to 33,000 veterans, and 15 percent of western Pennsylvania’s population is made up of veterans. Our region is a great place for veterans and their families, and our city is home to a number of veterans resources, including the University Drive Division of VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum, and numerous social and professional organizations such as the Veterans Leadership Program of Western Pennsylvania.
Please see below for detailed information about Financial Aid Benefits for Veterans and Additional Resources for Veterans.
Financial Aid Benefits for Veterans
Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces can contact Carnegie Mellon University's Certifying Official to receive more information about veteran's education benefits, or to arrange an appointment to discuss eligibility. All students who receive benefits from the VA must notify Mike Danko, the Certifying Official and VA Liaison for Heinz College and Carnegie Mellon. If you are a prospective student who is a veteran, we encourage you to contact Mike via email at URO VA Ed Benefits to get more information about the programs, for help in applying for benefits, or to arrange an appointment to discuss your VA benefits. You can also fax documents to Mike at 412-268-6381.
Carnegie Mellon University's Certifying Official works closely with the CMU's Office of Financial Aid and the Heinz College Office of Admissions to determine the amount of each veteran's eligibility.
Please see below for detailed information about the GI Bill, the Yellow Ribbon Program, the U.S. Military Veterans Scholarship, and answers to additional frequently asked questions.
Eligible veterans first enrolling at Heinz College for the 2024-2025 academic year have maximum Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits of $28,937.09 per year. The amount of your eligibility is limited by factors such as:
- when you first began enrollment in your academic program
- the amount of eligible costs (may include tuition or net tuition, fees, and Carnegie Mellon health insurance) and/or
- whether you have also been awarded an institutional scholarship, and whether that scholarship is designated for the sole purpose of paying tuition and fees
Heinz College is a Yellow Ribbon participant. You must have 100 percent Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program at Heinz College. Once your eligibility is determined by the VA certifying official at Carnegie Mellon, the Carnegie Mellon Office of Financial Aid Office determines the amount of Yellow Ribbon eligibility by subtracting the amount of the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits eligibility from your actual costs of tuition, fees, and university health insurance, limited by an institutional maximum participation amount determined annually.
U.S. military veterans who are not receiving 100 percent tuition benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs are eligible to receive a scholarship of up to 30 percent of tuition costs. This scholarship benefit is available to the spouses and children of U.S. military veterans. Applicants should indicate their eligibility within their application for admission.
Students can be awarded additional scholarship support above and beyond this particular award by the Admissions Committee.
The Heinz College Fallen Heroes Scholarship program aims to provide scholarship support to the surviving spouses/partners and children of our fallen heroes. Visit our Fallen Heroes page for additional information on program eligibility and benefits.
The Pat Tillman Foundation identifies remarkable military service members, veterans, and spouses, empowering them with academic scholarships, lifelong leadership development opportunities, and a diverse, global community of high-performing mentors and peers. Our scholars are making an impact as they lead through action in the fields of healthcare, business, public service, STEM, education, and the humanities.
Our scholarship is available to:
- Active-duty service members
- Veterans
- Military spouses
You can find answers to commonly asked questions about financial aid benefits for veterans at Heinz College here.
Additional Resources for Veterans
If you are a prospective student and would like to connect with a current student or a graduate of Heinz College who is also a military veteran, please email the Office of Admissions to submit your request (with the Subject line: Ambassador Request: Military Veteran).
The Heinz Veterans Association is a non-partisan, student-led veterans group at Heinz College. We exist to support military veterans and to help our student veterans smoothly make the transition from military to civilian life while ensuring academic success. Our group is dedicated to providing a base where student veterans can meet in a friendly atmosphere and openly encourage participation of non-veterans. The Heinz Student Veterans Association wants to build an environment on campus that is supportive of and friendly to veterans.
For more information on campus organizations, CMU support, and resources in the Pittsburgh community, please visit the Carnegie Mellon University's Veterans resources page.
Make the Connection, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' website, features resources and guidelines for student veterans.
All full-time Carnegie Mellon University students must have medical insurance that meets the University’s requirements. VA Medical Benefits meets the University’s requirements but must be established in Pittsburgh up to two months in advance of classes. Please read the following document about VA Medical Benefits for details.