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Yellow Ribbon Program Meaning
The Yellow Ribbon Program can help you pay for higher out-of-state, private school, foreign school, or graduate school tuition and fees that the Post-9/11 GI Bill doesn’t cover. Keep reading to find out if you’re eligible and if your school takes part in this program.
Yellow Ribbon doesn't just cover service members themselves, however. Additionally, Fry Scholarship recipients or dependent children who have received Post-9/11 benefits transferred by a parent are eligible. Until August of 2022, Yellow Ribbon boosts were restricted to only veterans and the children of vets.
Requirements for the Yellow Ribbon Program
You must qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill at the 100% benefit level.
And at least one of these must be true:
- You served at least 36 months on active duty (either all at once or with breaks in service) and were honorably discharged, or
- You received a Purple Heart on or after September 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged after any amount of service, or
- You served at least 30 continuous days (all at once, without a break) on or after September 11, 2001, and were discharged or released from active duty for a service-connected disability, or
- You’re an active-duty service member who has served at least 36 months on active duty (either all at once or with breaks in service), or
- You’re a spouse using the transferred benefits of an active-duty service member who has served at least 36 months on active duty, or
- You’re a dependent child using benefits transferred by a Veteran, or
- You’re a Fry Scholar
Your school must meet certain requirements:
- Your school is an institution of higher learning, and
- Your school offers the Yellow Ribbon Program, and
- Your school hasn’t offered the Yellow Ribbon benefit to more than the maximum number of students in their agreement with us, and
- Your school has certified your enrollment with us and provided Yellow Ribbon Program information
If you are eligible, you will need to determine if your school participates as a Yellow Ribbon School. You can access a list of participating schools through the Department of Veterans Affairs website.
What Benefits Are Available Through the Post-9/11 GI Bill?
In general, the Post-9/11 GI Bill provides benefits by making tuition payments to colleges and universities on behalf of veterans. The legislation also offers veterans monthly living allowances and stipends for textbook purchases. The law pays 100% of in-state tuition for public universities and approximately $20,000 per year for tuition at private universities.
What Additional Benefits Are Available Through the Yellow Ribbon Program?
Yellow Ribbon benefits supplement financial support available through the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Specifically, Yellow Ribbon benefits support veterans whose tuition costs exceed the limits in the GI Bill.
This supplemental assistance allows veterans to attend expensive private universities or to attend public universities on an out-of-state basis. Schools that agree to participate as Yellow Ribbon Schools provide their own benefits in the form of loan forgiveness or grants, and the Department of Veterans Affairs matches the school’s contribution in order to cover the full cost of tuition.
What Are the Limitations on Yellow Ribbon Benefits?
Eligibility for Yellow Ribbon benefits does not necessarily ensure full tuition support in any program at a participating school. You should check with your school regarding any institutional limitations for your specific program or degree. In addition to these limitations, your school must continue to participate as a Yellow Ribbon school for each academic year in which you enroll as a student. Your school will be able to confirm your eligibility and access to Yellow Ribbon benefits for the upcoming academic year.
There are certain types of educational costs that will never be covered by Yellow Ribbon benefits, even at a participating school. Those non-eligible education costs include study abroad fees, room and board, and any penalties caused by late registration, parking tickets, or other violations by the student.
The Yellow Ribbon Program offers increased financial support for veterans attending costly schools and educational programs. This support occurs in addition to the base benefits provided by the Post-9/11 GI Bill, but veterans should not assume that this program will cover 100% of their undergraduate or graduate tuition at any institution. Rather, it is important to check with both the Department of Veterans Affairs and the specific school to determine the exact level of available benefits.
