Benefits of the Yellow Ribbon Program

The Post-9/11 GI Bill will pay you:

  • all resident tuition & fees for a public school
  • the higher of the actual tuition & fees or the national maximum per academic year for a private school
    • an exception to this exists for students enrolled in private schools in AZ, MI, NH, NY, PA, SC or TX. In these cases we will pay the higher of the actual tuition & fees or the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition & fees

    Your actual tuition & fees costs may exceed these amounts if you are attending a private school or are attending a public school as a nonresident student.

    Institutions of Higher Learning (Degree Granting Institutions) may elect to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program to make additional funds available for your education program without an additional charge to your GI Bill entitlement.

    Institutions that voluntarily enter into a Yellow Ribbon Agreement with VA choose the amount of tuition and fees that will be contributed. VA will match that amount and issue payment directly to the institution.

    Click here for FAQs about the Yellow Ribbon Program

    For more information see our Yellow Ribbon Program Pamphlet

    Eligibility

    Only veterans entitled to the maximum benefit rate (based on service requirements) or their designated transferees may receive this funding. Active duty servicemembers and their spouses are not eligible for this program (child transferees of active duty servicemembers may be eligible if the servicemember is qualified at the 100% rate).

    Therefore, you may be eligible if:

    • You served an aggregate period of active duty after September 10, 2001, of at least 36 months;
    • You were honorably discharged from active duty for a service connected disability and you served 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001;
    • You 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.

    How will I Know My School is Participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program?

    You must be enrolled in an approved program offered by an IHL.

    A list of institutions participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program for the 2013-2014 school year will be posted on June 15, 2013.

    Search for Yellow Ribbon Program participating institutions for the 2012 - 2013 school year

    A list of institutions participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program participating institutions for the 2011 - 2012 school year

    A list of institutions participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program for the 2010 - 2011 school year is here

    A list of institutions participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program for the 2009 - 2010 schoool year is here

    State maximum Tuition & Fees - 2009-2010 (No Longer Effective August 1, 2011)

    The information provided in this table is in accordance with VA’s statutory requirement to determine the highest in-state, undergraduate, public tuition as specified in 38 USC 3313(c)(1)(A). This information has no relationship to, and should not be compared with, average costs of tuition and fees of public institutions within any state commonly referred to when considering educational options. The amounts in this table are effective only for the 2010 academic year which ends July 31, 2011.

    To receive benefits under the Yellow Ribbon Program:

    • You must be eligible for the maximum benefit rate under the Post-9/11 GI Bill;
    • You must not be on active duty or a spouse transferee of an active duty member
    • Your school must agree to participate in the Yellow Program;
    • Your school must have not offered Yellow Ribbon to more than the maximum number of individuals stated in their participation agreement;
    • Your school must certify your enrollment to VA, including Yellow Ribbon program information.