The Yellow Ribbon Program Explained

The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Program) is a provision of the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. The program is designed to help students avoid up to 100 percent of their out-of-pocket tuition and fees associated with education programs that may exceed the Post 9/11 GI Bill tuition benefit, which will only pay up to the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition.

If you are attending a private college, graduate school or attending in a non-resident status and that school is a Yellow Ribbon participating school, additional funds may be available for your education program without an additional charge to your entitlement. Like the other Post 9/11 GI Bill programs, Yellow Ribbon benefits are payable for training pursued on or after August 1, 2009.  No payments can be made under this program for training pursued before that date.

To qualify to receive the Yellow Ribbon benefits you must meet the following criteria:

• Served an aggregate period of active duty after September 10, 2001, of at least 36 months;
• Were honorably discharged from active duty for a service connected disability and they served 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001; 
• Are a dependent eligible for Transfer of Entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill based on a veteran's service under the eligibility criteria listed above. 

Students may search for VA GI Bill approved programs HERE. Students may also search for institutions that have participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program.

More program details:

The Yellow Ribbon program allows institutions of higher learning (degree granting colleges and universities) in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with VA to fund tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate.  Participating schools can waive up to 50% of those expenses and VA will match the same amount as the institution.

The Institution of Higher Learning (College or University) must agree to:

• Provide contributions to eligible individuals who apply for the Yellow Ribbon Program on a first-come first-served basis, regardless of the rate at which the individual is pursuing training in any given academic year;
• Provide contributions during the current academic year and all subsequent academic years in which the student maintains satisfactory progress, conduct, and attendance;
• Make contributions toward the program on behalf of the individual in the form of a waiver;
• Choose the percentage that will be waived and waive the same percentage (up to 50%) of established charges that exceed the in-State maximum for each student eligible;
• State the maximum number of individuals for whom contributions will be made in any given academic year.