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Yellow Ribbon Program

Yellow Ribbon Program – Domestic Institutions

The open season timeframe to apply or make changes to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program for academic year 2024-2025 was March 15th to May 15th, 2024.  

Please refer to the cover letter and FAQs to learn more about the program. The next open season will permit schools to apply for initial participation, modify existing open-ended agreements, or withdraw from the Yellow Ribbon Program.

VA’s website reflected participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program for the 2024-25 academic year in June.

Schools participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program for the 2024-25 academic year are currently available.
List of current schools participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program

The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Program) is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. This program allows institutions of higher learning (degree granting institutions) in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with VA to fund tuition expenses that exceed either the annual maximum cap for private institutions or the resident tuition and fees for a public institution.

The institution can contribute up to 50% of those expenses and VA will match the same amount as the institution.

The Institution of Higher Learning (IHL) must agree to:

  • Provide contributions to eligible individuals who apply for the Yellow Ribbon Program on a first-come first-served basis, regardless of the rate at which the individual is pursuing training in any given academic year;
  • Provide contributions during the current academic year and all subsequent academic years in which the IHL is participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program and the student maintains satisfactory progress, conduct, and attendance;
  • Make contributions toward the program on behalf of the individual in the form of a grant, scholarship, etc;
  • State the dollar amount that will be contributed for each participant during the academic year;
  • State the maximum number of individuals for whom contributions will be made in any given academic year.

Available Benefits and Eligibility Veterans and dependents entitled to the maximum benefit rate, (including recipients of the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship) may receive this funding. Effective August 1, 2022, active duty service members may participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Yellow Ribbon Program – Foreign Schools

The passage of Public Law 116-315, Section 1008, “Technical Correction to Clarify Eligibility for Participation in Yellow Ribbon Program of Department of Veterans Affairs,” allows foreign schools to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program. This law amends Section 3317(a) of title 38 USC. In accordance with the law, VA has implemented an open season timeframe of June 1st through July 31st for foreign schools to apply for the Yellow Ribbon program. The announcement for foreign schools to apply for the Yellow Ribbon program will be provided prior to the commencement of the open season.

Please allow VA until September to update the 2024-25 participation list with Foreign School participants.

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