The Unlimited Yellow Ribbon Option
The VA Yellow Ribbon program allows veterans to attend private universities and avoid excessive out-of-pocket education costs.
While the Post-9/11 GI Bill typically provides full tuition benefits at public universities, it features a “ceiling” of benefits for private and foreign institutions. For institutions where tuition exceeds this celiling, the Yellow Ribbon Program bridges the gap through school contributions and matching federal funds. Not all schools participate in Yellow Ribbon, but many do.
The Unlimited Yellow Ribbon Option
More universities are moving away from “capped” Yellow Ribbon agreements, hoping to attract more veteran applicants. Historically, schools have limited the number of students eligible for the VA Yellow Ribbon program and/or imposed a cap on the amount provided.
An unlimited agreement removes these barriers, allowing any eligible veteran accepted into the program to get up to 50% of the remaining gap. This provides financial predictability for the student.
Yellow Ribbon Eligibility
Access to the unlimited Yellow Ribbon option is for those with 100% eligibility for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. This includes veterans with at least 36 months of active duty service after September 10, 2001, or those discharged for a service-connected disability after 30 days of service.
Eligibility also extends to Purple Heart recipients, Fry Scholars, and dependents using benefits transferred from a service member who meets the 100% criteria. Since 2022, active-duty service members and their spouses who meet the service requirements have been permitted to participate in the program.
Legal Authority For Yellow Ribbon Unlimited Contributions
The authority for an unlimited contribution is established by 38 U.S.C. § 3317, which lets the Department of Veterans Affairs enter into agreements with colleges and other institutions to cover tuition and fees that exceed the maximum.
Under 38 CFR § 21.9700(d)(6), institutions must state the maximum amount they will contribute per individual.But there are instructions for the contract between the school and the government, VA Form 22-0839, which provides schools with the unlimited Yellow Ribbon option.
The instructions on this form state that if an institution wishes to cover 50% of each student’s unmet charges, they should enter the word “unlimited.”
Because 38 U.S.C. § 3317(d) requires the VA to provide matching funds for the amount the school contributes, this choice triggers a match from the federal government. This covers the remaining balance.
Universities Offering Unlimited Yellow Ribbon Options
The following institutions currently offer or have offered unlimited Yellow Ribbon agreements. Some schools apply this to all students, while others designate specific programs as unlimited. Your experience will vary depending on the institution.
- George Washington University has provided unlimited slots and unlimited dollar contributions for undergraduate, graduate, and law students.
- Northeastern University has provided unlimited funding across undergraduate and graduate programs.
- Washington University in St. Louis has offered unlimited student seats and dollar contributions for undergraduate divisions and several graduate schools.
- Brown University has provided unlimited matching for undergraduate students and has expanded this coverage to graduate and doctoral programs.
- University of the Incarnate Word pledged to fund 50% of the remaining unmet tuition for every eligible student at every degree level.
- University of Michigan-Dearborn has agreed to unlimited Yellow Ribbon options for an unlimited number of Chapter 33 beneficiaries.
About the author
Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter/editor for Air Force Television News and the Pentagon Channel. His freelance work includes contract work for Motorola, VALoans.com, and Credit Karma. He is co-founder of Dim Art House in Springfield, Illinois, and spends his non-writing time as an abstract painter, independent publisher, and occasional filmmaker.
