EDUCATION AND TRAINING

POST-9/11 GI BILL: YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM

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 enter voluntarily into an 

agreement with VA to fund tuition and fee expenses that exceed VA’s maximum amount payable. The 

institution can contribute a specified dollar amount of those expenses and VA will match the same 

amount as the institution not to exceed 50% of the difference.

PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS AGREE TO: 

• 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 institution 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 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. 

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

Only individuals entitled to the maximum benefit level (based on service requirements) may receive 

this funding. Servicemembers and spouses of Servicemembers are eligible for Transfer of Entitlement 

and Fry Scholarship recipients, are not eligible. Other individuals who may be eligible are those who: 

• Served an aggregate period of Active Duty after September 10, 2001, of at least 36 months 

• Were honorably discharged from Active Duty for a service-connected disability and served 30 

continuous days after September 10, 2001

Disabilities determined by VA to be related to your military service can lead to monthly non-taxable compensation, enrollment in the 

VA health care system, a 10-point hiring preference for federal employment and other important benefits. Ask your VA 

representative or Veterans Service Organization representative about Disability Compensation, Pension, Health Care, Caregiver 

Program, Career Services, Educational Assistance, Home Loan Guaranty, Insurance and/or Dependents and Survivors’ Benefits.
• Is a dependent eligible for Transfer of Entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill based on an 

individual’s service under the eligibility criteria listed above 

HOW DOES THE YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM BENEFIT A PARTICIPANT? 

The Post-9/11 GI Bill pays up to all public in-state tuition and fees. A participant may have tuition and 

fees that exceed that amount if s/he is attending a private institution, or attending in an out-of-state 

status. If s/he is enrolled at a Yellow Ribbon participating institution and the tuition and fees that 

exceed VA’s maximum amount payable, additional funds may be available for an education program 

without an additional charge to 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. 

For more information, call toll-free 1-888-442-4551 (1-888-GI BILL 1) or visit our GI Bill website.

Education and Training – February 2015