Applying for Aid | ROTC Students / Veterans and Military Families

ROTC
Student Veteran or
Military Family Member

The goal of these college-level programs is to train future officers to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. For students who qualify, the ROTC programs offer scholarships that cover some or all of the cost of their education. In exchange, there is an expectation that students fulfill active duty services in their chosen branch of the Armed Forces. The Army, Air Force, and Navy each have their own ROTC programs.

RIT is an ideal destination for those interested in the ROTC programs. Army and Air Force cadets are housed here on our campus and the Navy cadets are located at the University of Rochester, our partner school.

ROTC scholarship winners are selected during high school and will be offered a 3 or 4 year ROTC scholarship. These students (referred to as Advance Designees) will also be eligible for a RIT Room & Board Scholarship, starting their first year. This scholarship value will equal the cost of a double dormitory room and the default meal plan. Those students living at home with parents are not eligible for this room/board scholarship. Students who may acquire a scholarship once they are already enrolled at RIT, are also not eligible for the RIT Room & Board Scholarship.

Full tuition ROTC recipients are not eligible for RIT merit-based scholarships. Those with less than full tuition ROTC offers can keep their merit-based scholarships and the ROTC scholarships, as long as the combined value does not exceed the cost of tuition.

 RIT has a tradition of strong customer service and support for our military families. Whether you are a new student to RIT or a returning student, we are here to answer your questions regarding Veteran Administration (VA) benefits. The following information outlines the documents required in order to process VA Educational Benefits at RIT.

For information on the various types of VA benefits and additional information please visit the Admissions for Veterans and Military Families.

If you have not yet contacted the VA about your potential benefits you should contact Veteran Upward Bound here on the RIT campus. They can help you navigate the VA application process.

Using VA Benefits at RIT

Students must submit the appropriate paperwork to initiate, or continue, VA funding. June 1st for returning students and ASAP for new students.

Please upload required documents/forms using our secure file upload or mail to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. You can find our mailing address in the Contact section. We encourage you to get in touch with our office should you have any questions.

Eligibility for financial aid will be determined without regard to VA benefits until a student provides proof of VA benefits. Once VA benefits are confirmed, any financial aid previously offered for the academic year will be re-evaluated. Typically, federal aid is not impacted (Federal Direct Loans, Pell Grant, SEOG, and Federal Work-Study). However, individuals who receive VA benefits that fully cover tuition and fees (i.e. Chapter 33-Post 9/11^®-100% Tier) are ineligible for any RIT merit-based or need-based aid offers. Students are informed through their RIT email account when changes to previously offered aid are made.

New Students

All students applying to use VA benefits at RIT should already possess the VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) confirming benefits. If you do not have this form, you will need to complete the VON APP (VA application for benefits) found on the VA website. Once you have the Certificate of Eligibility and have been admitted to RIT, please submit the required documentation to our secure document uploader.

If you are planning on utilizing VA benefits at RIT the following documents must be submitted before benefits can be administered:

Military & Veteran Services Student Benefit Worksheet

Submission for the 2021 – 2022 Academic Year has closed.
2022-2023 RIT VA Benefit Worksheet

VA Certificate of Eligibility

• Change of Place of Training VA Form 22-1995 or 22-5495 (only required if benefits have been used at an institution prior to attending RIT)

Returning RIT Students

If you have received VA benefits at RIT in the past please submit the following documentation:

Military & Veteran Services Student Benefit Worksheet

Submission for the 2021 – 2022 Academic Year has closed.

Confirmation of remaining months of entitlement

• Veterans must provide either a recent VA award letter or an eBenefits printout
• Dependents must provide a recent VA award letter

Helen and Frederick Blaessig Scholarship

The RIT Helen and Frederick Blaessig Annual Memorial Scholarship was established by Monroe County Powers Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter 15 in honor of Frederick Blaessig, a 1941 RIT graduate.

A deserving disabled American veteran, or the spouse, child, or grandchild of a disabled American veteran will be selected annually for payment in the following year. The scholarship recipient will be selected based on current RIT GPA, financial need, and application. Candidates for this scholarship offer must be registered, matriculated students (full-time or part-time) at RIT during the year the scholarship is paid. 

The 2022 scholarship deadline has passed.  The scholarship application will become available in mid-March of 2023.

WAVE information (Chapters 30, 1606 & 1607)

All veterans using chapters 30, 1606, or 1607 must verify their enrollment each month to the VA in order to receive payment for that month. This monthly verification can be done by one of the two following ways:

• Phone: 1-877-823-2378
• Internet: Log into the program called  WAVE (Web Automated Verification of Enrollment)

NYS Veteran Tuition Award

NYS Veteran Tuition Awards are administered through New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC). Information on eligibility and the application process can be found on the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation website.