Fairfield University thanks all veterans for their service to our country and is delighted that you are considering our university to attain your higher education goals. At Fairfield we highly value the qualities you have exemplified during your military service - those of dedication, responsibility, and leadership. As students at our University, veterans bring a wide range of experiences from their service into their academic pursuits and they add much to the fabric of our undergraduate and graduate student populations.
Fairfield University is especially pleased to announce that all veterans who qualify for educational benefits with the Veterans Administration will receive additional bonus benefits to attend Fairfield.
Fairfield University welcomes all veterans and is dedicated to assisting those who have served our country to attain their educational goals. Through this web portal, we have provided contact information and important links to veteran sites that can provide you with more detailed benefits information. We are delighted that you are considering Fairfield University to attain your higher education goals and look forward to the opportunity to welcome you in the near future to our university community.
Contact Us
Questions about benefits/ eligibility?
School Certifying Official
Allison Henderson
ahenderson@fairfield.edu.
Questions about admissions?
Undergraduate Student Contact
Paul Hovey
(203) 254-4100, ext. 2171
phovey1@fairfield.edu
Graduate Student Contact
Suzanne Strazza
(203) 254-4000, ext. 2500
sstrazza@fairfield.edu
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
The College of Arts and Sciences takes pride in serving our veterans, just as they take pride in having served our country. As part of our commitment to helping these individuals attain their educational goals, The College is proud to offer a number of graduate level veterans fellowships to former servicemen and servicewomen interested in pursuing a master’s of fine arts (MFA) in creative writing or a master’s of public administration (MPA) from Fairfield University.
Each of our fellowships range from $3,000 to $10,000 and are available to veterans enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences’ MFA or MPA Programs who have exhausted all or a portion of their GI Bill® educational benefits. Documentation verifying veteran and VA benefits status must be provided in order to apply. Students that are awarded a veteran’s fellowship are required to re-apply for a continuation of funds each year, as continued funding is not guaranteed.
If you are a veteran enrolled in Fairfield University’s MFA program and would like to apply for a veteran’s scholarship, please send a writing sample of up to 20 pages, a one-page personal statement, and a DD214 form to Carol Ann Davis, MFA program director, at cdavis13@fairfield.edu.
If you are a veteran enrolled in Fairfield University’s MPA program and would like to apply for a veteran’s scholarship, please send a one-page personal statement, a copy of your current transcripts, and a DD214 form to Gayle Alberda, MPA assistant professor, at galberda@fairfield.edu.
The College of Arts and Sciences Veteran’s Fellowships were established through the generosity of the H.W. Wilson Foundation, a philanthropic enterprise that supports educational and charitable programs dedicated to improving the mind, body, and spirit.
Fairfield’s MFA in Creative Writing Veterans Community
Explore what Fairfield University has to offer academically, as well as culturally and spiritually. Read our admission applications and deadline information.
For assistance before or during your application process, please contact:
Office of Undergraduate Admission
(203) 254-4100
Office of Graduate Admission
(203) 254-4184
For more detailed information on Post-9/11 GI Bill® or to find out if you are eligible to receive educational veteran benefits, please visit: U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill®, or Chapter 33 benefit, offers veterans who have served after September 10, 2001, a chance to pursue higher education.
Those having served at least 90 days of continuous active duty after September 10, 2001
OR
Those having served at least 30 days of continuous active duty after September 10, 2001 discharged due to a service-related disability.
The amount of financial assistance made available to an individual is set by the VA at the federal level. See the VA rate tables page for current rates. A veteran's length of service after September 10, 2001 determines the benefit eligibility as follows:
| Member Serves | Percentage of Maximum Benefit Payable |
|---|---|
| At least 36 months | 100% |
| At least 30 continuous days on active duty and must be discharged due to service-connected disability or received a Purple Heart (Purple Heart effective August 1, 2018) | 100% |
| At least 30 months, but less than 36 months | 90% |
| At least 24 months, but less than 30 months | 80% |
| At least 18 months, but less than 24 months | 70% |
| At least 6 months, but less than 18 months | 60% |
| At least 90 days, but less than 06 months | 50% |
These rates have been updated as of May 2022 to reflect the current VA rate table according to the Forever GI Bill Summary.
For final VA-approved rates in Connecticut, please visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs rate tables page. Educational benefit rates for the current year will be made available from the VA every August.
Graduate students are eligible. However, individuals auditing a class or those who are considered visiting students do not qualify for assistance.
Fairfield University currently participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, in cooperation with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Through this program, the institution can waive up to 50% of additional tuition costs. The VA will then match that same amount, making it possible for all qualified veterans to receive up to 100% coverage of tuition and fees.
Only veterans who qualify for 100% eligibility under the Post-9/11 GI Bill® can receive this additional funding.
Yes. Fairfield University is happy to waive the application fee for undergraduate students who have served in active duty. Please contact Paul Hovey.
Yes. For veterans receiving aid through other GI Bill programs such as the Reserve Educational Assistance Program, the Montgomery GI Bill or for Post-9/11 veterans who are eligible for less than 100% of Post-9/11 benefits, Fairfield University will offer a bonus grant equal to 20% of their current veteran educational benefit amount. This amount will be applied to the veteran's tuition bill in the form of a grant. The combination of the VA educational benefit and Fairfield bonus grant cannot exceed the cost of tuition for the student's program in any given semester.
Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill®, veterans may receive a monthly housing stipend determined by the zip code of the campus where the student physically attends the majority of classes. However, those enrolled at a half-time status and individuals currently on active duty are not eligible to receive the housing allowance, although they still receive tuition assistance. Students enrolled in exclusively online classes will receive a lesser rate set by the VA.
Participants will also receive up to $1,000 per academic year to help cover the costs of books, supplies, and any additional fees. Depending upon how the academic year is divided, equivalent portions of this stipend will be disbursed during the first month of every semester, term, trimester, etc. Active duty members do not qualify for the stipend.
Generally veterans are entitled to 36 months of the educational benefits. Individuals who elect to enroll in Chapter 33 after previously receiving benefits from the Montgomery Bill (Chapter 30) are only entitled to the number of months they had remaining under Chapter 30.
Effective August 1, 2019, eligible veterans enrolled in certain STEM programs may apply for additional benefits. See Forever GI Bill Summaries for details.
Veterans who left active duty prior to January 1, 2013, must utilize their benefits within 15 years of the date of discharge or release from active duty of at least 90 consecutive days. This limitation does not apply to Veterans who left active duty on or after January 1, 2013, children who became eligible for the Fry Scholarship on or after January 1, 2013, and all Fry Scholarship eligible spouses.
Yes, benefits are potentially transferable if the veteran meets criteria outlined by the VA. Benefits made available through the Yellow Ribbon Program are also transferable to dependents of eligible veterans.
This information was gathered from the website of the Department of Veterans Affairs and is accurate to the best of our knowledge. Veterans should rely on official VA documentation and policies in determining their individual eligibility for educational benefits.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.