The Yellow Ribbon Program works in partnership with the Post-9/11 GI Bill to provide students with additional funding that can help them pay for higher education-related fees that are not covered by the GI Bill alone. As an example, the Post-9/11 GI Bill limits the financial benefits available to students who wish to attend private schools; the Yellow Ribbon Program allows these schools to partner with the Department of Veterans Affairs to reduce their costs for students. In combination, benefits from the Post 9/11 GI Bill and the Yellow Ribbon Program can greatly decrease or even eliminate the cost of postsecondary education for a student.
Who is eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program?
First, to qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program, a servicemember or veteran must qualify for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits at the 100% level. (Check Post-9/11 GI Bill qualifications.)
Further, at least one of the following criteria must be met:
- You are a veteran who served at least 36 months on active duty and were honorably discharged, or
- You received a Purple Heart on or after September 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged, or
- You served at least 30 days on or after September 11, 2001, and were discharged for a service-related disability, or
- You are currently an active duty servicemember and have served for at least 36 months on active duty, or
- You are the spouse of an active duty servicemember who has served at least 36 months on active duty and the servicemember has transferred benefits to you, or
- You are the dependent child of a veteran using transferred benefits, or
- You are a Fry Scholar.
What institutions participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program?
Not all institutions of higher learning participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Funds are only accessible if eligible students enroll in a participating institution.
What can the Yellow Ribbon Program help pay for?
Yellow Ribbon Program funds can be applied to tuition and fees at a private school with higher costs than are covered by the Post 9/11 GI Bill, at a foreign institution, or at a public school – specifically for individuals who will be considered out-of-state students (and therefore will be charged higher out-of-state tuition rates).
Yellow Ribbon Program funds cannot be applied to costs associated with room and board, elective study abroad programs, or penalties or fees incurred by the student (e.g., late registration fees, withdrawal fees, or parking fines).
Note: While the Yellow Ribbon Program does not provide funding for student housing, the GI Bill does pay a housing stipend. However, it may not cover the full cost of housing (the remainder of which would become the responsibility of the student).
How much funding will the Yellow Ribbon Program provide?
The amount of funding available through the Yellow Ribbon Program depends on the institution. Any funds that are contributed by the institution are then matched by the Department of Veterans Affairs, which effectively doubles the benefit amount available to students.
Institutions may offer different funding amounts depending on:
- Degree level (undergraduate, graduate, or doctorate)
- Type of program (e.g., a school may choose to offer a higher award to individuals in their medical program as opposed to those in their general studies program)
Note that you may still have to cover some tuition and fees out of pocket even after Post-9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program funds are applied. Students must also pay for their own room and board, no matter their award level, after any housing stipend from the GI Bill is applied.
After receiving Yellow Ribbon Program funding for an academic year, students will continue to receive funds during subsequent years provided that they continue to make progress toward completing their degree programs, continuously enroll in classes (i.e., do not take a leave of absence), and still have Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlements remaining.
However, if a student elects to transfer to a new institution, funding does not automatically continue. There is no transferability of benefits between institutions; students must reapply for Yellow Ribbon Program benefits at their new institutions (provided the new institutions offer the Yellow Ribbon Program) and have their applications accepted.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill offers up to 48 months of education benefits to eligible servicemembers, veterans, spouses, and dependent children. For those who want to attend a more expensive institution, the Yellow Ribbon Program can provide additional funding. Together, these programs can dramatically reduce the cost of attendance for students. Navy Mutual’s Education and Veterans Services team can help answer any questions you may have about applying for education benefits. They can be reached here.