❮ Veteran Resources

Yellow Ribbon Program Resource Guide

About this resource guide

The Yellow Ribbon Program finances the remaining tuition not covered by the GI Bill for students whose schools and programs fit certain criteria. How does the program work? The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs pays a part of the tuition, and then the school pitches in to cover a percentage or stated amount of the rest. Because agreements between the schools and the department are subject to change, this resource guide will help you check if you are eligible for the program, see if a specific school participates, and view how much money the school provides for a certain number of students.

What can you expect?

  • Eligibility link: Check if you meet the Yellow Ribbon Program's requirements
  • College Navigator: Search for and compare institutions
  • Yellow Ribbon Program Finder: See if a school participates in the program

Near the end of the page, you can download an infographic to access the links and information mentioned in this resource guide.

Finding out if you are eligible

The Yellow Ribbon Program pays "for higher out-of-state, private school, or graduate school tuition that the Post-9/11 GI Bill doesn't cover" [1]. Educational institutions opt in by creating "an agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)...to cover tuition and fee expenses that exceed VA's maximum payable amount" [2]. To find out if you are eligible for the program, click the link below.

U.S. Department of Education Quote, Number of Schools Graphic, and Contact Info Help

Using the College Navigator search engine

College Navigator is a search engine that helps you find and compare institutions/programs. To look for programs and services for veterans at a particular school, click the search result and scroll down to the “Servicemembers and Veterans” section. Watch the video below to learn how to conduct a search.

Using the Yellow Ribbon Program finder

The Yellow Ribbon Program online database helps you check if your school participates and how much funding is available for the upcoming academic year. The school’s certifying officials can answer any questions you have about the program. Watch the video below to learn how to search the database.

Infographic Download

Infographic Download

Quiz

1. Every school participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program.
  1. True
  2. False
2. Who do you contact at the school about the Yellow Ribbon Program?
  1. Administrator
  2. Certifying Official(s)
  3. Major Advisor
3. Check the checkbox for the institution(s) that are financed by the Yellow Ribbon Program.
  1. Out-of-state college/university
  2. Private college/university
  3. Graduate school
4. Veterans need to apply for their GI Bill benefits before applying for the Yellow Ribbon Program.
  1. True
  2. False
5. Schools can limit the number of students who will receive Yellow Ribbon Program funding.
  1. True
  2. False

More Resources

Other GIENC Lessons

Finding out if you are eligible

[1] U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2021, September 14). Yellow Ribbon Program. Yellow Ribbon Program | Veterans Affairs. Retrieved November 16, 2021, from https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/post-9-11/yellow-ribbon-program/

[2] U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2020, April). Post-9/11 GI Bill: Yellow Ribbon Program. VA Post-9/11 GI Bill: Yellow Ribbon Program Fact Sheet. Retrieved November 16, 2021, from https://benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets/education/Post-911_Yellow_Ribbon.pdf

[Image Quote] Institute for Education Sciences: National Center for Education Statistics. (2014). IPEDS Data Explorer | Number and percentage distribution of Title IV institutions offering services and programs for servicemembers and veterans, by level and control of institution: United States, academic year 2014-15. The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Retrieved November 16, 2021, from https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/Search?query=VETERAN&query2=VETERAN&resultType=table&page=1&sortBy=date_desc&surveyComponents=Institutional&surveyComponents=Institutional%20Characteristics%20(IC)&collectionYears=2014-15&overlayTableId=12135

[Image: Who can you contact?] U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2021, September 14). Yellow Ribbon Program. Yellow Ribbon Program | Veterans Affairs. Retrieved November 16, 2021, from https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/post-9-11/yellow-ribbon-program/

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2021, September 14). Yellow Ribbon Program. Yellow Ribbon Program | Veterans Affairs. Retrieved November 16, 2021, from https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/post-9-11/yellow-ribbon-program/

Using the College Navigator search engine

Institute for Education Sciences: National Center for Education Statistics. (n.d.). College Navigator. College Navigator - National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved November 16, 2021, from https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/

Using the Yellow Ribbon Program finder

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (n.d.). Find a Yellow Ribbon school. Find A Yellow Ribbon School | Veterans Affairs. Retrieved November 16, 2021, from https://www.va.gov/education/yellow-ribbon-participating-schools/

More Resources

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2021, December 30). About GI Bill benefits. GI Bill | Veteran Affairs. Retrieved November 16, 2021, from https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (n.d.). GI BillⓇ Comparison Tool. GI BillⓇ Comparison Tool: VA.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2021, from https://www.va.gov/gi-bill-comparison-tool/

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (n.d.). Welcome to Ask VA (AVA). Home Custom Portal. Retrieved November 17, 2021, from https://ask.va.gov/