Check this to list to find out if the school you hope to attend is one of the Yellow Ribbon schools.
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.
NOTE: For a quick breakdown of what you need to know about Yellow Ribbon Schools, view our “3 Quick Facts” portion of this article.
RELATED:
- Learn more about the Yellow Ribbon Program
- The Definitive List of Military Friendly Colleges
- Start Your Search in our School Search Tool For Yellow Ribbon Schools
Yellow Ribbon Schools List 2020
(jump to a state)
Yellow Ribbon Schools List By State:
Alabama
Alaska
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
| Boise State University |
| Idaho State University |
| Lewis-Clark State College |
| North Idaho College |
| Northwest Nazarene University |
| The College Of Idaho |
| University Of 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
| University of Cincinnati – Online |
| Colorado Christian University Online |
| Kansas State University Online |
| Post University Online |
| University of Louisville Online |
| Taylor University Online |
| Drexel University Online Programs |
| Western Governors University |
| Norwich University Online |
RELATED: Where Should I Go To School?
Yellow Ribbon Schools – What Are They?
Colleges and universities that are participating Yellow Ribbon Schools make additional funds available for veteran students. These funds help cover charges above the what is covered by the GI Bill.
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, though that is not always the case.
Now all public universities offer in-state tuition for veterans. This was originally a part of the Yellow Ribbon schools program. As a result the main 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 Yellow Ribbon?
Only Veterans entitled to the maximum benefit rate, as determined by service requirements, or their designated transferees may receive yellow ribbon schools funding.
Active duty service members and their spouses are not eligible for this program.
Yellow Ribbon Schools: 3 Quick-ish Facts
However, when it comes to 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
For eligible students, if you 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.”
Who’s Eligible?
- Veterans enrolling within 3 years of discharge, or their dependents.
- Fry Scholarship recipients enrolling within 3 years of their parent’s date of death.
- 100% online programs at public schools may charge the higher non-resident rate if the GI Bill recipient doesn’t live in-state.
- GI Bill recipients will lose their eligibility if a second or subsequent enrollment is more than 3 year from the date of discharge in the cases where they:
- stop using their GI Bill for at least a semester (not a summer semester)
- transfer schools and lose more than 12 credit hours in the transfer
- GI Bill recipients who were originally within the 3 year time period when they started school before July 2, 2015 but are now past their 3 year eligibility are not covered or “grandfathered” with this program. They still have to pay the non-resident rate, unless the school has made an exception.
- Active duty service members, and their spouses and children are not eligible while they are serving.
The Yellow Ribbon program would apply to your situation if:
- If you’re attending a private school where the costs exceeds the GI Bill payment limit
- If you’re attending a 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 amount covered by the Yellow Ribbon is predetermined by the VA and the school – it may not fully cover your out-of-pocket cost.
The Yellow Ribbon agreement between the VA and 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 nore does it cover 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
You must be eligible for the maximum benefit rate under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
You are eligible if one of the following applies to you:
- Served 36 months on active duty
- Received the Purple Heart and an honorable discharge (with any length of service)
- Were discharged after 60 days with a service-connected disability and served 30 continuous days after Sept. 10, 2001
- Are a dependent using transferred benefits.
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
Active duty service members and active duty spouses are not eligible.
While it is good to research Yellow Ribbon schools, you shouldn’t necessarily make it a determining factor when searching for a school. The fact is that you may eliminate an excellent school based on a program that may not even apply to your situation.
RELATED: Yellow Ribbon Program Overview