Yellow Ribbon Program

The Yellow Ribbon Program can help you pay for higher out-of-state, private school, foreign school, or graduate school tuition and fees that the Post-9/11 GI Bill doesn’t cover. Keep reading to find out if you’re eligible and if your school takes part in this program.

Am I eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program?

You may be eligible for this program if you and your school meet these requirements.

* You must qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill at the 100% benefit level *

And at least one of these must be true:

• You served at least 36 months on active duty (either all at once or with breaks in service) and were honorably discharged, or
• You received a Purple Heart on or after September 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged after any amount of service, or
• You served at least 30 continuous days (all at once, without a break) on or after September 11, 2001, and were discharged or released from active duty for a service-connected disability, or
• You’re an active-duty service member who has served at least 36 months on active duty (either all at once or with breaks in service), or
• You’re a spouse using the transferred benefits of an active-duty service member who has served at least 36 months on active duty, or
• You’re a dependent child using benefits transferred by a Veteran, or
• You’re a Fry Scholar

Learn about the Fry Scholarship

Learn about transferring Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits

Your school must meet certain requirements.

All of these must be true:

• Your school is an institution of higher learning, and
• Your school offers the Yellow Ribbon Program, and
• Your school hasn’t offered the Yellow Ribbon benefit to more than the maximum number of students in their agreement with us, and
• Your school has certified your enrollment with us and provided Yellow Ribbon Program information

Find schools that offer the Yellow Ribbon Program this year

What benefits can I get through this program?

You can get money to help pay for tuition and fees at any of these types of schools:

• A private school that may have higher tuition and fees, or 
• A foreign school, or 
• A public school if you want to attend as a nonresident student

If you qualify, your school will contribute a certain amount toward your extra tuition and fees through a grant, scholarship, or similar program. We’ll match the contribution.

How do I get this benefit?

1. Apply for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits

   Apply for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits
   If you qualify for benefits, you’ll get a Certificate of Eligibility (COE).

2. Turn in your COE to your school

   Bring your COE to your school’s certifying official, or to the financial aid, military liaison, or other appropriate office. Ask to apply for your school’s Yellow Ribbon Program.

3. Wait for a decision

   Your school will decide:

   • Whether it has already enrolled the maximum number of students for the program period. Enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis. We have an agreement with each school about how many students they’ll cover each year.
   • How much funding you’ll receive. Your school decides this amount. They’ll add up tuition and mandatory fees, then subtract any aid you’ve received from other sources—such as scholarships, grants, and your Post-9/11 GI Bill tuition payment. Your school will apply the Yellow Ribbon Program benefit to this final amount.

Does my school participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program?

To find out if your school participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, you can use our tool to find a Yellow Ribbon school.

You can also search for participating schools using the GI Bill Comparison Tool. Use the GI Bill Comparison Tool

Learn more about the Yellow Ribbon Program

Get answers to other questions you may have about the Yellow Ribbon Program here.