Yellow Ribbon Program

Schools that cover tuition beyond the GI Bill cap

What is the Yellow Ribbon Program?

The Yellow Ribbon Program is a provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill that allows participating schools to voluntarily cover tuition and fee costs that exceed the GI Bill's national maximum for private and out-of-state schools. The VA then matches the school's contribution, potentially covering the full remaining cost.

How It Works

1. School contributes

The participating school agrees to cover a portion of tuition and fees that exceed the Post-9/11 GI Bill cap.

2. VA matches the contribution

The VA matches the school's contribution dollar for dollar. In many cases, this covers the entire remaining balance.

3. No separate application required

You do not need to apply separately for Yellow Ribbon. The school enrolls eligible students automatically. Just confirm with the school's financial aid or veterans office.

Key Facts

•Only available to veterans eligible for 100% Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits (based on service time)
•Only at participating schools - not all schools participate, and each school sets its own contribution amount and number of spots
•No separate application required - the school handles enrollment
•Availability may be limited each year (schools cap the number of students they accept into the program)
•Also available to Fry Scholarship recipients and dependents receiving transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits at the 100% level
•Active-duty service members and their spouses using transferred benefits are not eligible for Yellow Ribbon while the member is on active duty

Find Participating Schools

Use the VA's official Yellow Ribbon search tool to find schools in your area, see how much they contribute, and how many spots are available.

What's Next