The Ultimate List of Yellow Ribbon Schools & Programs
The Yellow Ribbon Program is a valuable resource for military-affiliated students seeking higher education benefits. This program helps to cover tuition costs that exceed the standard GI Bill benefits, making higher education more accessible for veterans and their families.
Yellow Ribbon Program and Schools: Find the Perfect Fit for Your Education
Welcome to the ultimate list of Yellow Ribbon Schools, your comprehensive guide to finding the perfect fit for your education. Whether you’re a military service member, veteran, or dependent, this list will help you navigate through the vast options available to you.
Yellow Ribbon Schools are institutions that have partnered with the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide additional financial aid to military-affiliated students. These schools provide additional education benefits to help cover tuition and fees not covered by the GI Bill. With so many schools participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program, choosing the right one for you can be overwhelming.
In this article, we have compiled an extensive list of Yellow Ribbon Schools across the United States. Our team has gathered the most up-to-date information to ensure accuracy, so you can confidently make an informed decision about your education. Whether you’re interested in pursuing an undergraduate degree or graduate program, we have options for your educational aspiration. From Ivy League universities to community colleges, this list covers a wide range of institutions that offer various fields of study.
Get ready to discover the perfect Yellow Ribbon School for your educational journey. Let’s dive in and find the opportunity that matches your goals and aspirations!
What Is the Yellow Ribbon Program?
Colleges and universities that participate in the Yellow Ribbon program will cover some or all of the costs above what the Post 9/11 GI Bill will pay, providing essential education benefits to eligible veterans and their dependents. This program aims to bridge the gap between the cost of tuition and the funds provided by the GI Bill for eligible veterans and their dependents.
By partnering with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Yellow Ribbon Schools commit to providing additional financial assistance to cover the remaining tuition and fees not covered by the GI Bill.
Check this list to find out if the school you hope to attend is one of the Yellow Ribbon schools.
What Is a Yellow Ribbon School?
Yellow Ribbon Schools are colleges and universities participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Yellow Ribbon Schools make additional funds available for veteran students. These additional funds help cover charges above what is covered by the GI Bill. These additional funds are part of the education benefits provided to help cover charges above what is covered by the GI Bill. The costs would otherwise have to be covered by the veteran themselves. The Yellow Ribbon funds can help veterans avoid out-of-pocket costs for tuition.
>> Take me to the list of Yellow Ribbon schools already!
The school can cover up to 50% of the tuition expenses that exceed the annual maximum cap. The VA then agrees to match the same amount that the school contributed. In some cases, this covers 100% of any additional cost. However, this is not always the case.
The Post 9/11 GI Bill will pay for all tuition and fees for a public school, and the lower of the actual tuition and fees or the national maximum per academic year for a private school.
However, what happens if you go to a school that costs more than what the GI Bill will provide? That is where the Yellow Ribbon Program can help.
Those who are attending a private school or a public school as a non-resident would benefit from the Yellow Ribbon Program. Your school will need to elect to participate in the program. If they do, the Yellow Ribbon Program will make additional funds available for your educational program without additional charges to your GI Bill entitlement.
Institutions of Higher Learning will enter in a Yellow Ribbon Agreement with the VA and will choose the amount of tuition and fees that will be given. The VA will then match that amount and will issue the payments directly to your school.
Yellow Ribbon Colleges and Universities
You may know that education expenses for tuition and fees may exceed the amount covered by the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Which means you could end up paying for things out of your own pocket.
Schools participating in the Yellow Ribbon program have joined with the VA to help offset any tuition expenses not covered by the GI Bill. These schools have partnered with the VA to provide additional education benefits to help offset any tuition expenses not covered by the GI Bill.
>> Start your search with our School Finder for schools participating in the Yellow Ribbon program.
Yellow Ribbon Schools List
The following is a comprehensive list of Yellow Ribbon Schools that provide additional education benefits to eligible students.
(jump to a state)
Yellow Ribbon Schools By State
Alabama
Alaska
| Alaska Pacific University |
| Charter College-Anchorage |
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
| Delaware State University |
| Goldey-Beacom College |
| University of Delaware |
| Wesley College |
District of Columbia (D.C.)
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
| Sierra Nevada College |
| University Of Nevada-Las Vegas |
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
| St John’s College |
| University of The Southwest |
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
| North Dakota State University-Main Campus |
| University Of Jamestown |
| University Of Mary |
| University Of North Dakota |
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
| Brown University |
| Johnson & Wales University-Providence |
| New England Institute of Technology |
| Providence College |
| Rhode Island School of Design |
| Roger Williams University |
| Salve Regina University |
South Carolina
South Dakota
| Augustana College-South Dakota |
| Dakota Wesleyan University |
| Mount Marty College |
| University Of Sioux Falls |
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
| Casper College |
Online Yellow Ribbon Schools
All Public Universities Now Offer In-State Tuition for Veterans
It is important to note that all public universities offer in-state tuition for veterans for up to 3 years after discharge. As a result, the primary benefit of the program is reserved for those looking to attend a participating private school where the cost exceeds the Post 911 GI Bill.
Are You Eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program?
You will need to be eligible for the maximum benefit rate under the Post 9/11 GI Bill, this includes:
- Having served 36 months (may be aggregate) on active duty
- If you have received the Purple Heart with an honorable discharge and any amount of service
- You were discharged after 60 days with a service-connected disability and also served 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001
- You are a child using transferred benefits
- If you are a child using transferred benefits and your service member transfer is at the 100% level
Only Veterans entitled to the maximum benefit rate, as determined by service requirements, or their designated transferees are eligible to receive funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs and participating institutions.
The school must not have also offered the Yellow Ribbon Program to more than the maximum amount of people as stated in the participation agreement. Your school must also certify your enrollment to the VA and provide Yellow Ribbon Program information.
Active duty service members and their spouses are not eligible for this program.
How Do I Know If a School Is a Yellow Ribbon Program Participant?
You can view which military-friendly colleges and schools are participating on our Yellow Ribbon Schools list. Also, within the CollegeRecon School Search tool, you can select Yellow Ribbon as one of your filter criteria.
Do You Automatically Receive the Yellow Ribbon Program Benefits?
No, not in all cases. Even if you qualify and your school participates in the Yellow Ribbon program, the answer may still be no.
In addition, there could be limits. The school may limit which degree programs the Yellow Ribbon program applies to. Or the school may limit the amount of students that can receive the Yellow Ribbon benefits at your school. In this case it is determined on a first-come, first-served basis. Your best bet is to apply through your school as soon as you can do so.
What Else Do I Need to Know About the Program?
Schools can have the flexibility to designate the number of students and contributions based on the student’s status. This means that the school could have different availability and amounts for:
- Undergraduates
- Graduates
- Doctoral students
And different amounts for the different schools the institution has – college or professional schools.
Just because you were able to get the Yellow Ribbon Program benefits one year, it doesn’t mean you will 100% get them the next year.
Criteria for Continuing with the Yellow Ribbon Program
The agreements between the school and the VA need to be in effect for each year. If your school is still a part of the program, then you will need to have these things to continue with the program:
- Must maintain satisfactory progress in your educational program.
- Remain continuously enrolled per the school’s policy.
- You have the remaining entitlement with your Post-9/11 GI Bill.
- If you want to transfer to another school, that school must also participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program and accept your application. Just because the first school lets you into the program doesn’t mean the second school has to.
- The Yellow Ribbon Program does not always cover all tuition and fees. This depends on the school’s agreement with the VA.
- The fees included with the Yellow Ribbon Program are typically mandatory fees for the program you are in. Fees such as room and board or any other non-mandatory fees are not included.
- You do not have to attend school full-time to be in the Yellow Ribbon Program.
- Sometimes, you can receive funds during the summer term if your school has them available.
How Do You Apply?
After you submit an application for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, and you are eligible at the 100% benefit level, the VA will issue you a Certificate of Eligibility and advise you that you are potentially eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program. You can then apply for the program at your school with that Certificate, and they will determine if spots are available. Your school will notify you if you have been approved for the program.
The Yellow Ribbon Program can be a great way to get the education you need and have everything paid for. See if your school or a potential school has the program, and apply if you can receive the benefit.
Yellow Ribbon School Facts
However, regarding your unique situation, the Yellow Ribbon program may not apply.
What do we mean?
Here are a few facts to help you understand how a school’s participation in the Yellow Ribbon program may or may not be important to your situation.
#1 Applies Differently
If eligible students wish to attend a public school, 100% of your in-state tuition is covered under both the original Post 9/11 GI Bill and the current “Forever GI Bill.”
The VA official site notes, “You must qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill at the 100% benefit level,” and at least one of the following must apply:
- You served at least 36 months on active duty and were honorably discharged;
- You received a Purple Heart on or after September 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged;
- You served at least 30 days in a row on or after September 11, 2001, and were released from active duty for a service-connected disability;
- You served at least 36 months on active duty;
- You’re a spouse using the transferred benefits of an active-duty service member who has served at least 36 months on active duty;
- You’re a dependent child using transferred benefits;
- You’re using the Fry Scholarship.
The Yellow Ribbon program may apply to your situation if you’re attending a:
-
- Private school where the costs exceed the GI Bill payment limit
- Public school as a non-resident and are ineligible based on the criteria above where the tuition cost exceeds the GI Bill payment limit
BUT, even then…
#2 You May Not Be 100% Covered
The VA and the school predetermine the amount covered by the Yellow Ribbon program – it may not fully cover your out-of-pocket cost.
The Yellow Ribbon agreement between the VA and the school sets:
-
- The maximum value of the coverage
- The maximum number of veterans that can use the program at any given time
- Which majors and degree programs are covered
As such, it does not cover all students or the full amount in all cases.
You’ll need to get more details like:
-
- How much of the tuition cost is covered?
- Are there open slots for you to take advantage of the program?
#3: You Must Be Eligible; The School Must Participate
You must be eligible for the maximum benefit rate under the Post-9/11 GI Bill (see above.)
In addition, the school must:
-
- Agree to participate in the Program
- Have not offered Yellow Ribbon to more than the maximum number of individuals as stated in their participation agreement
- Certify your enrollment to VA and provide Yellow Ribbon Program information.
Introduction to Yellow Ribbon
The Yellow Ribbon Program is a valuable resource for military-affiliated students seeking higher education. It is a provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill that helps cover the remaining tuition and fees not covered by the GI Bill. The program is a partnership between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and participating schools, which agree to waive a portion of their tuition costs that exceed the national maximum Post-9/11 GI Bill reimbursement. The VA will match the amount of the waiver, providing additional financial aid to eligible students. To be eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program, students must be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill at the 100% benefit level and attend a school that participates in the program.
Academic Year Considerations
When considering the Yellow Ribbon Program, it’s essential to think about the academic year and how it affects eligibility. The program is available to eligible students who are pursuing higher education, and the benefits can be used to cover tuition and fees for undergraduate and graduate programs. The academic year is typically defined as August 1 to July 31, and students must remain continuously enrolled to receive the Yellow Ribbon benefits. The program is designed to help veterans and their dependents avoid paying out-of-pocket for tuition and fees, and it can be used in conjunction with other VA benefits, such as the GI Bill. The Yellow Ribbon Program is a valuable resource for military-affiliated students, and it’s essential to understand the eligibility criteria and how to apply for the benefits.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Yellow Ribbon Program is a vital resource for military-affiliated students seeking higher education. The program provides additional financial aid to eligible students, helping to cover the remaining tuition and fees not covered by the GI Bill. By partnering with the Department of Veterans Affairs, participating schools can provide eligible students with the funding they need to pursue their educational goals. The Yellow Ribbon Program is available to eligible students who are pursuing higher education, and it can be used to cover tuition and fees for undergraduate and graduate programs. To find out more about the Yellow Ribbon Program and to see if you are eligible, you can search for Yellow Ribbon schools on the VA’s website or contact the Department of Veterans Affairs directly. Remember to review the eligibility criteria and application process carefully to ensure you receive the benefits you deserve. The Yellow Ribbon Program is an excellent example of how the Department of Veterans Affairs is committed to supporting veterans and their dependents in their pursuit of higher learning.
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About the author
Terry Howell is a retired Coast Guard veteran, where he served for 20 years.
He is currently the Executive Director for Veterans' Legacies, a non-profit that works to preserve veterans personal stories to help educate our youth.
Terry is also the author of The Military Advantage, an annually updated guide to military and veteran benefits.
