Are you a school administrator? Yes No x to close
Find Schools Approved for VA Education Benefits

Florida Yellow Ribbon Schools

If you are a veteran or military dependent planning to attend college in the Sunshine State, the Post-9/11 GI Bill is a powerful tool. But not all want to attend a public college. Some may choose a private university in Florida where the GI Bill may not cover the full cost of school. That is where the Yellow Ribbon Program comes in.

The VA Yellow Ribbon program is an agreement between the Department of Veterans Affairs and participating institutions to address the tuition gap that standard GI Bill benefits cover at private schools. In Florida, this partnership can mean the difference between taking on student loans and earning a degree without large amounts of debt.

Qualifying for Yellow Ribbon Benefits in Florida

To apply for the Yellow Ribbon Program at a Florida school, you must qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill at the 100% benefit level. Troops and veterans typically meet this requirement if you served at least 36 months of active-duty service after September 10, 2001, or if you are a Purple Heart recipient who left the military after September 11, 2001.

Florida troops may have additional benefits waiting for them beyond GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon funds.

The Yellow Ribbon program also extends to dependents using transferred benefits from a service member who meets these criteria, as well as Fry Scholars, who are the surviving spouses and children of service members who died in the line of duty. The State of Florida offers a wide range of schools participating in the program, each with different levels of commitment.

RELATED:

Before You Apply

Before you apply for the Yellow Ribbon program, ensure you are not already covered by Florida state laws. Under Florida state law, out-of-state tuition fees are waived for honorably discharged veterans and their dependents who physically reside in Florida while enrolled.

If you receive this waiver, you pay the in-state rate, which the GI Bill already covers in full. This allows you to save your Yellow Ribbon eligibility for a time when a residency waiver might not be available or if you move on to a different school.