GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Benefits of the Yellow Ribbon Program
The Post-9/11 GI Bill
® will pay you:
- all resident tuition & fees for a public school
- the higher of the actual tuition & fees or the national maximum per academic year for a private school
- an exception to this exists for students enrolled in private schools in AZ, MI, NH, NY, PA, SC or TX. In these cases we will pay the higher of the actual tuition & fees or the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition & fees.
Your actual tuition & fees costs may exceed these amounts if you are attending a private school or are attending a public school as a nonresident student.
Institutions of Higher Learning (Degree Granting Institutions) may elect to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program to make additional funds available for your education program without an additional charge to your GI Bill
® 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.
Click here for FAQs about the Yellow Ribbon Program
For more information see our Yellow Ribbon Program Pamphlet
Eligibility
Only veterans entitled to the maximum benefit rate (based on service requirements) or their designated transferees may receive this funding. Active duty service members and their spouses are not eligible for this program (child transferees of active duty service members may be eligible if the service member is qualified at the 100% rate).
Therefore, you may be eligible if:
- 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.
To receive benefits under the Yellow Ribbon Program:
- You must be eligible for the maximum benefit rate under the Post-9/11 GI Bill®;
- You must not be on active duty or a spouse transferee of an active duty member
- 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.
Applicable to individuals:
- with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001
- or discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days.
- Received an honorable discharge
- Benefits may be transferred by active duty service member to spouse or dependents
- Becomes effective for training on or after August 1, 2009.
- On October 1, 2011, VA will begin paying benefits to members of the Army National Guard and Air National Guard for qualifying service under title 32.
This program will pay the eligible individuals:
- Generally entitled to 36 months of educational assistance.
- Tuition & fees directly to the school not to exceed the national maximum of yearly (Aug 1 - Jul 31) funding set by VA for those enrolled in a private school.
- A monthly housing allowance, for the eligible students attending more than 1/2 time rate, based on the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents at the location of the school.
- USW is located at zip code 78209
- Effective October 1, 2011. Individuals only enrolled in distance learning courses will be eligible for a monthly housing allowance equal to 50% of the national average of all Basic Allowances for Housing.
- An annual books & supplies stipend of $1,000 paid proportionately based on enrollment. Individuals eligible at the 100% benefit level may receive $41.67 for each credit hour certified up to 24 credit hours each academic year. The books and supplies stipend will be paid in a lump sum amount for each term or semester certified.
Additional VA Educational Benefits:
Vocational Rehabilitation Chapter 31