What is the Yellow Ribbon Program?
The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program
(Yellow Ribbon Program) is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans
Educational Assistance Act of 2008. This program allows institutions
of higher learning (degree granting institutions) 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.
The institution can contribute up to 50% of those expenses and VA will
match the same amount as the institution.
- 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 IHL is participating in
the Yellow Ribbon Program and the student maintains satisfactory
progress, conduct, and attendance;
- Make contributions toward the program on behalf of the
individual in the form of of a grant, scholarship, etc;
- State the dollar amount that will be contributed for
each participant during the academic year;
- State the maximum number of individuals for whom
contributions will be made in any given academic year.
How Does the Yellow Ribbon
Program Benefit Me?
The Post-9/11 GI Bill pays up to the highest public
in-state undergraduate tuition and fees. You may have tuition and fees
that exceed that amount if you are attending a private institution,
graduate school or attending in an out-of-state status. If you are
enrolled at a Yellow Ribbon participating institution and the tuition
and fees exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition or
fees, additional funds may be available for your education program
without an additional charge to your 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.
- 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.
You
may search the list of institutions that are participating in the
Yellow Ribbon Program during the 2010 - 2011 school year by clicking
here.
A
list of participating institutions for the 2009 - 2010 school year is
here.
When Will Benefits under the
Yellow Ribbon Program Be Available?
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.
How Much Money Will I Receive
Under the Yellow Ribbon Program?
Question: What portion of tuition and
fees charges will be considered under the Yellow Ribbon Program?
Answer: The difference of the amount
charged to the student and what has been paid by VA as educational
assistance.
The following steps are provided to determine the
difference for one student:
- Student’s enrolled credit hours reported by the
institution to the VA x Maximum Credit Hour Charge for the State =
Maximum Tuition Payable
- Compare the Maximum Tuition Payable with the amount
charged the student. VA will pay the institution the lesser amount
- Compare the Maximum Single Term Fees for your State
with what you have charged the student. VA will pay the institution
the lesser amount.
- Add the amounts VA has paid for tuition and fees
and compare that with the total amount charged to the student.
Institution charges that exceed what has already been paid by VA are
the difference that could be applied to the Yellow Ribbon Program.
- Determine how much of the difference, up to
one-half of that amount, that the institution will agree to cover with
funds of the institution and the VA will match that amount.
Example: The student enrolled in 12
credit hours during the Fall term and the institution charged the
student $5,000 for tuition and $1,200 in fees. The Maximum Charge Per
Credit Hour for the State = $250 and the Maximum Fees for a single term
= $1,000:
- 12 credit hours x $250 = $3,000 - VA will pay $3,000
of the $5,000 tuition charged
- VA will pay $1,000 of the $1,200 fees charged
- VA has paid $4,000 of the $6,200 charged the
student. $2,200 could be applied to the Yellow Ribbon Program
- Your institution can choose to contribute up to
$1,100 of this amount and VA will match that contribution.
How do I apply for the Yellow
Ribbon Program?
Schools that intend to participate in the Yellow Ribbon
program will establish application procedures for eligible students.
The school will determine the maximum number of students that may
participate in the program and the percent of tuition that will be
contributed. VA is currently accepting agreements from institutions for
participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program. You may wish to inquire
at your school about their intent to participate and the application
procedures they plan to establish for the Yellow Ribbon Program.
Please remember that you must be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill at
the 100% rate to be considered for the Yellow Ribbon Program.
How Do I Apply for Benefits
under Post-9/11 GI Bill?
The Department of Veterans Affairs is now accepting and
processing applications for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. You should complete
and submit the application form available online and will receive
written notification explaining VA’s decision regarding your eligibility
for the program. If you are eligibile, your Certificate of Eligibility
will also advise you if your service meets the requirements for the
Yellow Ribbon Program. If your school has volunteered to participate
in the Yellow Ribbon Program, you should take your Certificate of
Eligibility to your school and ask your school to certify your
enrollment to VA, including Yellow Ribbon. You cannot certify your
participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program directly to the VA. Your
school must report this information on your enrollment certification.
Remember, to receive benefits under the Yellow Ribbon
Program:
- You must be eligible for the maximum benefit rate
under the Post-9/11 GI Bill;
- 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.