The following information is courtesy of:
- https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/post-9-11/yellow-ribbon-program/
- https://www.militaryonesource.mil/benefits/yellow-ribbon-program/
- https://benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets/education/Post-911_Yellow_Ribbon.pdf
- https://www.military.com/education/gi-bill/the-yellow-ribbon-program-explained.html
It can be difficult for military veterans to receive a higher education due to the rising costs of attending university and graduate school. The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 was created to help cover some of the costs of attending college for veterans, and the Yellow Ribbon Program was added to extend the coverage of this bill to include costs such as tuition and fees for private, out-of-state, foreign, and graduate-level schools for military veterans.
This blog will go over what the Yellow Ribbon program is, the benefits of enrolling in the program, the Yellow Ribbon Program requirements, and answer some frequently asked questions about the program.
Table of Contents
What is a Yellow Ribbon School?
A Yellow Ribbon School is a higher education school that participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Not all colleges and universities participate in the program, so students need to double-check that the school they are interested in attending participates in the program. Trying to figure out whether a particular school is a part of the program? The Department of Veterans Affairs has resources to look up whether a school participates in the program, or it can be found on the school’s website.
What is the Yellow Ribbon Program? And How Does it Work?
The Yellow Ribbon Program provides financial assistance to military veterans who are interested in attending a private, foreign, out-of-state, or graduate college or university. Veterans who are registered for the Post-9/11 GI Bill can apply to join the Yellow Ribbon Program for additional financial assistance. Both the school and the student must meet certain requirements to maintain Yellow Ribbon eligibility.
The Benefits of Enrolling in a Yellow Ribbon School
Yellow Ribbon Schools will contribute a certain amount of money toward a student’s tuition and fees via a scholarship, grant, or a similar program. After that, the Department of Veterans Affairs will match that contribution towards covering the student’s tuition and fees. These funds can only go towards a student’s tuition costs and any mandatory or required fees.
Who Is Eligible For the Yellow Ribbon Program?
Students are eligible for Yellow Ribbon scholarship if they meet the following criteria:
- Served in the military for at least 36 months after September 11, 2001, and was honorably discharged.
- Were honorably discharged from active duty due to disability related to their service and served for 30 consecutive days after September 11, 2001.
- Are a dependent eligible for a Transfer of benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
- Are a Fry Scholar.
How much does the Yellow Ribbon Program cover?
How to Get This Benefit?
The Yellow Ribbon Program is designed to help military veterans post-9/11 earn a college degree by covering some or all of the tuition and fees not covered by the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008.
To qualify for the program, a student must have served in the military post-9/11 or be a dependent of a veteran who qualifies for a transfer of benefits. If students are interested in joining the program, they must attend a college or university that participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which can be checked on the school’s website or by visiting the website of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Contact Heavy Equipment Colleges of America with any further questions, as they are approved for VA education.
FAQs
The amount of funding a student receives from the Yellow Ribbon Program depends on the agreement between the school and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
The Yellow Ribbon Program will cover some or all of the tuition and fees not covered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
The Yellow Ribbon Program helps post-9/11 military veterans pay for the tuition and fees needed to attend a higher private, out-of-state, foreign, or graduate school.
If a student is a military veteran who qualifies for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, then they can apply to join the Yellow Ribbon Program with a participating school.
This will depend on the agreement between the school and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The school agrees to contribute a certain amount that the VA will match, and that varies depending on the school.
Yes, students will be automatically enrolled in the next school year as long as:
- They make acceptable progress toward the completion of their degree,
- They remain enrolled without a break, and
- They have money left in their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.
Funds from the Yellow Ribbon may cover any mandatory fees. This does not include room and board, study abroad, and any penalty fees.
