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The Yellow Ribbon Program: What Is It, and How Does it Affect Veterans?

Aug 10, 2009 Jennifer Williamson, Distance Education.org Columnist | 0 Comments

As part of the Post 9/11 Veterans Assistance Act of 2008, Congress implemented an initiative called the Yellow Ribbon Program to help returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan pay for college.

Here’s an overview of the benefits you can expect to get from the program, and how to tell if you’re eligible.

What It Pays For

Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, veterans can have their college tuition paid for up to the highest tuition and fee costs found in public in-state undergraduate schools.  For example, let’s say your college tuition at a private or out-of state public college amounts to approximately $6,000 for 12 credit hours and $1,100 in fees for a single semester.  The most expensive in-state public university in your state charges $4,000 for 12 credit hours and $1,000 in fees.  Under the new Bill, $4,000 of your tuition and $1,000 of your fees will be paid for.

The GI Yellow Ribbon Program allows more expensive private schools to help fund veterans’ education by contributing as much as one to one with the government, up to 100% of the cost—so you can get more in tuition assistance than is charged at your state’s most expensive public school.

If your tuition costs exceed what’s covered by both the GI Bill and the Yellow Ribbon Program combined, you may also be able to draw additional aid for your education in the forms of grants, scholarships or loans without changing the amount you’re entitled to under the Yellow Ribbon Program.
Army GI BIll

Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, veterans can have their college tuition paid for up to the highest tuition and fee costs found in public in-state undergraduate schools.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 Who’s Eligible

To be eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program, you must also meet the eligibility requirements of the Post-9/11 GI Bill as a whole. To do that, you must fall under one of these descriptions:

  • You served at least 36 months of total active duty starting sometime during or after September 11, 2001.
  • You served at least 30 continuous days of active duty starting on or after September 11, 2001 and you were honorably discharged as a result of a service-connected disability.
  • You are the dependent of a veteran, and you’re eligible for a Transfer of Entitlement under the Bill. An explanation of who’s eligible for Transfer of Entitlement rights can be found here.

Funds received under the Yellow Ribbon Program can only be applied to training programs pursued on or after August 1, 2009—and you have to be enrolled in a participating school to apply.

How It Works

The Yellow Ribbon Program is distributed on a first-come, first served basis.  As part of the program requirements, colleges must offer the program assistance as a grant or scholarship—not as a loan. They’re also required to continue offering the benefits to students who have proven themselves eligible throughout their college career.

Which Schools Participate

Not every school is a participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program. If your school is a participant, every student who qualifies for the Post 9/11 GI Bill’s full list of benefits is also eligible to apply for the GI Yellow Ribbon Program—and the application process will change depending on your school’s financial aid application processing policies.

Another part of the Yellow Ribbon requirements involves disclosure. Schools that participate are required to disclose publicly how many of their students receive funding under the program, as well as how much Yellow Ribbon aid is offered by the school each year.  The schools you’re interested in should publicly disclose their involvement with the Yellow Ribbon Program.

A complete listing of participating colleges can be found here.

As a veteran, it can be difficult to catch up with your education after you get out of the service. The Yellow Ribbon Program is just one of several programs dedicated to helping returning service members continue or start their education, with the overall goal of helping veterans start a successful civilian life. If you go to a participating school and meet the requirements of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you may be able to receive funding that will make it possible for you to earn a degree—and land a good job after graduation.

The Yellow Ribbon Program: What Is It, and How Does it Affect Veterans?

As part of the Post 9/11 Veterans Assistance Act of 2008, Congress implemented an initiative called the Yellow Ribbon Program to help returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan pay for college.

Here’s an overview of the benefits you can expect to get from the program, and how to tell if you’re eligible.

What It Pays For

Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, veterans can have their college tuition paid for up to the highest tuition and fee costs found in public in-state undergraduate schools.  For example, let’s say your college tuition at a private or out-of state public college amounts to approximately $6,000 for 12 credit hours and $1,100 in fees for a single semester.  The most expensive in-state public university in your state charges $4,000 for 12 credit hours and $1,000 in fees.  Under the new Bill, $4,000 of your tuition and $1,000 of your fees will be paid for.

The Yellow Ribbon Program allows more expensive private schools to help fund veterans’ education by contributing as much as one to one with the government, up to 100% of the cost—so you can get more in tuition assistance than is charged at your state’s most expensive public school.

If your tuition costs exceed what’s covered by both the GI Bill and the Yellow Ribbon Program combined, you may also be able to draw additional aid for your education in the forms of grants, scholarships or loans without changing the amount you’re entitled to under the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Who’s Eligible

To be eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program, you must also meet the eligibility requirements of the Post-9/11 GI Bill as a whole. To do that, you must fall under one of these descriptions:

  • You served at least 36 months of total active duty starting sometime during or after September 11, 2001.
  • You served at least 30 continuous days of active duty starting on or after September 11, 2001 and you were honorably discharged as a result of a service-connected disability.
  • You are the dependent of a veteran, and you’re eligible for a Transfer of Entitlement under the Bill. An explanation of who’s eligible for Transfer of Entitlement rights can be found here.

Funds received under the Yellow Ribbon Program can only be applied to training programs pursued on or after August 1, 2009—and you have to be enrolled in a participating school to apply.

How It Works

The Yellow Ribbon Program is distributed on a first-come, first served basis.  As part of the program requirements, colleges must offer the program assistance as a grant or scholarship—not as a loan. They’re also required to continue offering the benefits to students who have proven themselves eligible throughout their college career.

Which Schools Participate

Not every school is a participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program. If your school is a participant, every student who qualifies for the Post 9/11 GI Bill’s full list of benefits is also eligible to apply for the Yellow Ribbon Program—and the application process will change depending on your school’s financial aid application processing policies.

Another part of the Yellow Ribbon requirements involves disclosure. Schools that participate are required to disclose publicly how many of their students receive funding under the program, as well as how much Yellow Ribbon aid is offered by the school each year.  The schools you’re interested in should publicly disclose their involvement with the Yellow Ribbon Program.

A complete listing of participating colleges can be found here.

As a veteran, it can be difficult to catch up with your education after you get out of the service. The Yellow Ribbon Program is just one of several programs dedicated to helping returning service members continue or start their education, with the overall goal of helping veterans start a successful civilian life. If you go to a participating school and meet the requirements of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you may be able to receive funding that will make it possible for you to earn a degree—and land a good job after graduation.

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Jennifer Williamson

Jennifer worked as a GED teacher for an adult education nonprofit for two years. Her students came from all walks of life, and ranged in age from sixteen to sixty-eight. During that time, she became knowledgeable about the unique needs of non-traditional and adult learners. She counseled hundreds of students about their higher education options, including online degree programs.

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