Benefits and Services for Veterans

To ensure you can enroll in the courses necessary to complete your degree in a timely manner, and as a sign of our commitment to elevate the veteran student experience, we provide priority registration to all eligible veterans.

We know your life as a service member can be unpredictable. If you are called to active duty, your academic advisor and veterans services coordinator will assist with all the paperwork involved, so you can take a temporary leave from your studies. In addition, should you have to unenroll from Mercyhurst University due to military service, Mercyhurst University aligns its readmissions policy with Chapter 3 Vol 2 of the Federal Student Aid Handbook. Mercyhurst University will promptly readmit a service member with the same academic status as he/she had when last attending the school or accepted for admission to the school.

Mercyhurst is a proud participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program and is honored to be just one of two in Pennsylvania designated as a Purple Heart University. Our participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program offers veterans and their dependents help paying tuition that the Post-9/11 GI Bill® does not cover.

In 2018, we were named a Purple Heart University by the Military Order of the Purple Heart for our support of U.S. military men and women wounded or killed while serving in the line of duty. Purple Heart recipients (or their spouses/dependents) receive a $1,000 credit on each graduate course. The up to 40% savings on tuition is in recognition of the veteran’s service to our country.

One of the best graduate schools for veterans hoping to become teachers, Mercyhurst offers a special tuition rate for veterans pursuing teaching certification (grades 7 through 12) through our Secondary Education master’s degree program.

Our military-friendly university provides educational opportunities for undergraduates. Career transition programs cover a range of interests:
•    Certificates, including our Municipal Police Training Academy
•    Associate degrees, including Hospitality Management
•    Bachelor’s degrees, including health-related careers

We respect the experience you gained in the military. Our graduate programs allow you to build on your knowledge and successfully transition from service. Popular graduate degrees among veterans are Applied Intelligence, Criminal Justice Administration, and Organizational Leadership:
•    Applied Intelligence Master of Science (M.S.)
•    Applied Intelligence Online 12-Credit Graduate Certificate
•    Criminal Justice Administration Online Master of Science (M.S.)
•    Criminal Justice Administration Online 12-Credit Graduate Certificate
•    Organizational Leadership Online Master of Science (M.S.)
•    Organizational Leadership Online 9-Credit Graduate Certificate

We are here to support you as you apply for VA benefits to attend Mercyhurst University. Veterans, or those using Chapter 33, should complete an online application to the Department of Veterans Affairs:

• Chapter 1606, 30, and 33 - New students should use VA Form 22-1990. Transfer students should use VA Form 22-1995
• Chapter 35 - Use VA Form 5490 (Application for Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance) for new applicants and VA Form 5495 for transfer students
• Chapter 31 - Your VA Rehabilitation Case Manager must provide you with VA form 28-1905 (Authorization and Certification of Entrance or Reentrance into Rehabilitation and Certification of Status). A new form must be provided to Mercyhurst for each semester you wish to claim VA educational benefits
• Reservists or members of the National Guard obtain a Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE) from their unit. Then complete an online application to the Department of Veterans Affairs
• All VA beneficiaries should provide the veterans services program manager with a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility (this document will be mailed to you from the VA after your application has been processed and your educational benefits have been approved). National Guard beneficiaries should provide the veterans services program manager with a copy of your Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE) provided to you by your unit
• All active duty, reserve, and veterans should provide Mercyhurst with a copy of your military transcript for review. Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy affiliates can obtain their transcript from the Joint Service Transcript System. Air Force affiliates can obtain it from the Air Force
• Veterans must provide Mercyhurst with a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy)
• Apply for financial aid by submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you have never applied, first obtain a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID. Use Mercyhurst's school code, 003297, when completing these materials

You don’t have to wait! Apply for your benefits and apply to Mercyhurst at the same time. Doing this will help expedite the admissions process.

For individuals who entered the military on or after July 1, 1985, had their basic military pay reduced by $100 per month for the first 12 months, and have an honorable discharge.

Provides training and rehabilitation for veterans with a service-connected disability with a rating of at least 20%.

For individuals who served 90 aggregate days of active-duty service on or after September 11, 2001, and have an honorable discharge. Starting in 2009, active-duty service members may be eligible to transfer their Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement to dependents and/or spouses. Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, students may be eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program.

For dependents of a veteran who is 100% disabled or who has died from a service-related injury or illness. A dependent may be a child under 26 or a surviving spouse.

For persons who have enlisted, reenlisted, or extended an enlistment in the Selective Reserve on or after July 1, 1985, and served for a period of not less than six years following the date of such action.

Public Law 111-32, the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship, amends the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) to include the children of service members who die in the line of duty after Sept. 10, 2001.

In addition to standard veterans education benefits you may also be eligible for non-VA military benefits such as:

• Tuition assistance for active duty and reservists through their military branch and Department of Defense (DoD)
• Pennsylvania state grants for children of POW-MIA
• Pennsylvania state grants for eligible veterans
• Pennsylvania National Guard Education Assistance Program (EAP) for members of the Pennsylvania National Guard attending a Pennsylvania college or university
• If you want to use non-VA military benefits, contact your base’s Education Office, education service officer (ESO), or an education counselor within your military service before enrolling at Mercyhurst University
• The Mercyhurst veterans services coordinator processes the enrollment verification for all VA and DoD beneficiaries, assists in the admissions process for veteran applicants, and helps as needed with the admissions process for VA and DoD beneficiaries

Considering using VA or DoD education benefits? Contact our veterans services coordinator to ensure that you receive proper certification.