The Yellow Ribbon program provides additional coverage for veterans who are eligible at the 100 percent benefit level of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. “This is a great opportunity for vets to get some additional financial help,” says William Parshall, executive director of Temple’s Center City and Ambler campuses.
The GI Bill covers tuition and mandatory fees, up to the highest in-state undergraduate tuition at a public university in the state. (In Pennsylvania, that’s Penn State’s $14,412.) Of course, private universities probably charge more than that. Even at a public university, though, the amount may be higher for a graduate or professional program, or for out-of-state tuition.
With the Yellow Ribbon program, an approved school will contribute half of the amount needed above what the GI Bill covers, and the VA will match the school’s contribution. “In this way, the Yellow Ribbon program may cover the vet’s entire tuition,” Paschall says.
Participating schools have discretion about how much to award for particular programs or majors, and there may be a limit to the number of recipients at each school, so check with the school for more details.
