Yale College’s connections to the military are long-standing, and the admissions office welcomes inquiries and applications from veterans of the U.S. armed forces. A Yale education is especially affordable for veterans, who may choose to apply for Yale’s generous need-based financial aid or use veterans benefits. Yale participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. The office of undergraduate admissions automatically grants application fee waiver requests from candidates who are serving or have served in the U.S. military.
Watch below to hear from three members of Yale’s diverse undergraduate veteran community who share their stories of transitioning from the military to Yale College to pursue bachelor’s degrees.
Application options for veterans:
Many veterans find that the Eli Whitney Students Program (EWSP) for nontraditional students is their best application option, but veterans are also welcome to apply as first-year applicants or transfer applicants. The three application processes are similar, but standardized test scores are not required for admission through the Eli Whitney Students Program.
Eli Whitney students receive the same BA or BS degrees as other Yale undergraduates, attend in-person classes, and have access to the same classes and majors, but they have the flexibility to attend on a part-time or full-time basis. Eli Whitney students are eligible for need-based financial aid to cover the full cost of attendance: tuition, fees, housing, meals, and estimates for books, personal expenses, and travel.
Review the Veterans Application Checklist to prepare an application through any of the above admissions programs.
Resources for veterans at Yale:
- Yale Veteran and Military Affairs
- Yale Military Benefits and Financial Aid
- Free Yale shuttle to West Haven VA Medical Center
Contacts for veterans:
- Patricia Wei, Director of Veterans Outreach and Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions; contact with questions about admissions and the undergraduate experience.
- Alyssa Corvi, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Financial Aid; contact with questions about Yale financial aid for veterans.
- Holly Hermes, University Liaison for Veteran and Military Affairs & USAF veteran; contact with questions about support for Yale veteran population including students, employees and alumni.
Questions regarding Yale’s graduate programs or admissions should be directed to the admissions offices for the specific graduate or professional schools.
Service to School Podcast with Navy Veteran and Yale Alumnus Jimmy Hatch
Yale College graduate Jimmy Hatch, a former Navy SEAL and founder of Spike's Canine Fund, shares his remarkable journey from military service to Yale. He discusses the challenges of transitioning from combat to civilian life, the importance of mental health, and the profound bond between humans and dogs. Jimmy emphasizes the need for veterans to seek help and the value of education in reshaping perspectives on life and trauma. He shares his journey to Yale, highlighting the self-doubt he faced and how he overcame it. Additionally, he reflects on the transformative power of literature in his life, using it as a means of self-discovery and healing.
Service to School Podcast with Navy Veteran and Yale Alumna Hillary Browning
Hillary is an enlisted Navy veteran and first-generation college student in the Yale College Class of 2020. Hillary is currently a student at the Yale Law School. In this Service to School podcast episode, Hillary discusses the ups and downs of the college and law school admissions processes.
Service to School Podcast with Patricia Wei & Air Force Veteran Alec Buffi
Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions Patricia Wei and third year Yale student veteran Alec Buffi discuss Yale's Eli Whitney Students Program as an alternative pathway to admissions for veterans, how the experience differs from a regular admissions pathway, what makes a strong application profile for EWSP, and how to determine the best path on the podcast Service to School Stories.