Yellow Ribbon Program

Get Tuition Fully Covered Beyond GI Bill Limits

🎗️ Participating schools and the VA share the cost of tuition that exceeds the Post-9/11 GI Bill cap — potentially covering 100% of your tuition.
Section 1

🎗️ What Is the Yellow Ribbon Program?

The Yellow Ribbon Program is a provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill that allows colleges and universities to voluntarily enter into an agreement with the VA to cover tuition costs that exceed the GI Bill's maximum benefit.

🏫 The school contributes a portion of the uncovered tuition
🏛️ The VA matches the school's contribution dollar-for-dollar
💰 Many schools offer unlimited Yellow Ribbon funds — covering full tuition
✅ No additional cost to you — it's free money on top of the GI Bill
Section 2

✅ Who Is Eligible?

📋 You Must Meet ALL of These

  • Entitled to the maximum Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit (100% tier)
  • Attending a participating school
  • School has not filled its Yellow Ribbon slots for the year
  • Enrolled in a degree-granting program

👥 Also Eligible

  • Fry Scholarship recipients (children/spouses of service members who died in the line of duty)
  • Purple Heart recipients (qualify for 100% GI Bill benefit level)
  • Transfer of Entitlement (TEB) dependents — if the veteran was at 100% benefit level
Important: Veterans at less than 100% Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit level (e.g., 80% or 90%) are NOT eligible for Yellow Ribbon.
Section 3

⚙️ How It Works

💡 Example Scenario

Let's say tuition at a private university is $50,000/year and the GI Bill maximum is $28,937.94/year:

1
GI Bill pays the maximum: $28,937.94
2
Remaining gap: $21,062.06
3
School covers half the gap: $10,531.03
4
VA matches the school's contribution: $10,531.03
✅
Your out-of-pocket cost: $0.00 — tuition fully covered!
Section 4

🔍 How to Find Participating Schools

1
2
Filter by state, degree level (undergraduate, graduate, etc.), and school name
3
Check how many slots the school offers and the maximum contribution per student
4
Contact the school's VA certifying official to confirm availability
Pro tip: Many top schools (Stanford, MIT, Harvard, etc.) offer unlimited Yellow Ribbon slots with unlimited funding. Always check — you might be surprised which schools participate.
Section 5

📝 How to Apply

1
Apply for the Post-9/11 GI Bill using VA Form 22-1990 at VA.gov
2
Confirm you're at 100% benefit level on your Certificate of Eligibility
3
Enroll at a participating Yellow Ribbon school
4
Contact the school's financial aid or VA office to opt into the Yellow Ribbon Program
5
The school and VA handle the rest — no separate VA application for Yellow Ribbon
Section 6

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

A: No. Yellow Ribbon funds are in addition to your GI Bill entitlement. They do not reduce your months of GI Bill benefits.

A: Yes, if the school offers Yellow Ribbon for graduate programs. Each school decides which degree levels and programs to include. Check the VA's participating schools list for details.

A: If all slots are filled, you would need to wait until the next academic year or pay the remaining tuition out of pocket. Apply early to secure a spot.

A: Yes, if the online school participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Some fully online schools do participate.

A: No. Yellow Ribbon funds are tax-free, just like the rest of the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.