The Yellow Ribbon Program

What is the Yellow Ribbon Program?

It is a voluntary agreement between a school and the VA to handle the tuition that sits above the Post-9/11 GI Bill cap. The GI Bill already covers full in-state tuition at public schools, so Yellow Ribbon is aimed at the expensive cases: private schools, foreign schools, and out-of-state public tuition (the nonresident, or out-of-state, rate).

Here is the mechanism. The school agrees to contribute a certain amount toward your extra tuition and fees through a grant or scholarship. The VA then matches that contribution. Each school sets its own dollar amount and decides how many students it covers each year.

Covers tuition above the GI Bill cap

The whole idea on one page. The GI Bill pays up to the national cap, your school chips in toward the gap, and the VA matches that contribution. There is no cap on the combined amount.

1. The GI Bill pays up to the cap. At a private or out-of-state school, the Post-9/11 GI Bill covers tuition up to the national cap ($29,920.95 for the 2025–2026 year, rising to $30,908.34 for 2026–2027 starting August 1, 2026).
2. The school contributes. A participating school contributes a set amount toward the leftover gap through a grant or scholarship.
3. The VA matches. The VA matches the school's contribution dollar for dollar.
4. No cap on the total. There is no cap on the combined Yellow Ribbon amount.

What that means for you

The upside: A generous school can erase the whole difference. Each school sets its own dollar amount and how many students it covers each year (first come, first served).

Aimed at the expensive cases: private, foreign, and out-of-state public tuition.

Source: VA.gov

Who is eligible?

First rule: you have to qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill at the 100% level. On top of that, at least one more thing has to be true, like 36 or more months of active duty and an honorable discharge, a Purple Heart, or a discharge for a service-connected disability.

One change matters. Under the Forever GI Bill, active-duty service members and the spouses using their transferred benefits are fully eligible to use Yellow Ribbon, which was not the case in the program's early years. Dependent children using transferred benefits and Fry Scholars can also qualify.

You must be at 100%, so move fast

Two things decide whether Yellow Ribbon works for you: being at the 100% GI Bill level, and applying before the school runs out of slots for the year.

You are eligible if

• You qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill at 100%.
• 36+ months active duty and an honorable discharge.
• A Purple Heart, or a service-connected disability discharge.
• Active-duty members and spouses using transferred benefits now qualify.

The risk if you wait

Slots run out: Apply right after your admission offer, not after you confirm enrollment. A late application can miss the allocation even when money is left, leaving you on the hook for the gap.

Turn your Certificate of Eligibility in to the school's certifying official and ask to apply.

Source: VA.gov

How do I get it?

Apply for the Post-9/11 GI Bill and get your Certificate of Eligibility, or COE, from the VA. That letter is your proof of how much benefit you have earned.

Turn in your COE to your school's certifying official, or SCO, the staff member (often in the registrar, financial aid, or military or veterans office) who certifies enrollment to the VA. Ask to apply for Yellow Ribbon. The school then checks whether it has open slots for the year (first come, first served) and sets your funding amount after subtracting other aid. It will notify you whether you got in and how much you receive.

Move fast. Because slots run out, apply right after you receive your admission offer, not after you have confirmed enrollment. A late application can miss the allocation even when the program still has money, leaving you on the hook for the gap.

Do this now

1. Confirm you are at the 100% GI Bill level. Yellow Ribbon is only for the 100% benefit (or Fry Scholars and certain dependents using transferred benefits).
2. Check the VA Yellow Ribbon school finder for your school and year. Participation and amounts are set annually.
3. Get your Certificate of Eligibility from the VA. Apply for the Post-9/11 GI Bill if you have not already.
4. Apply through the school's certifying official the moment you are admitted. Do not wait until you confirm enrollment.

FAQ

What is the Yellow Ribbon Program?

An agreement between a school and the VA to cover tuition above the Post-9/11 GI Bill cap. The school contributes an amount, and the VA matches it dollar for dollar.

Do I have to be at 100% for Yellow Ribbon?

Yes. The program is only for those entitled to the Post-9/11 GI Bill at the 100% benefit level, or Fry Scholars and certain dependents using transferred benefits.

Is there a cap on how much Yellow Ribbon pays?

No cap on the combined Yellow Ribbon amount. The limit is practical: the school sets its own contribution and the number of students it accepts each year.

Can active-duty members use Yellow Ribbon?

Yes. Active-duty members with at least 36 months of service, and the spouses using their transferred benefits, are eligible under current rules.

How do I find a Yellow Ribbon school?

Use the VA's Yellow Ribbon school finder or the GI Bill Comparison Tool. Participation and amounts are set each year, so confirm for the year you plan to attend.

New to the GI Bill or not sure how your benefit applies? Use the VetraFi GI Bill tool to understand how to use your education benefits.

Sources & links

• VA, Yellow Ribbon Program: va.gov
• VA, Find a Yellow Ribbon school: va.gov
• VA, GI Bill Comparison Tool: va.gov
• VA, Post-9/11 GI Bill rates (current cap): va.gov