Post-9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon Program
Schools and the Government are Covering Vets' Leftover Tuition Costs
Oct 14, 2009
Veterans have been getting big boosts in educational benefits this year. With the new Post-9/11 GI Bill replacing the outdated Montgomery GI Bill, not only is school much more affordable, but there is a new program that will not only allow veterans to attend four-year institutions, but attend any school at any price.
The program is called the Yellow Ribbon Program. Through it, students will be able to go to any school that participates, regardless of cost, as they focus on getting good grades, making contacts, and preparing for a better and brighter future. Financial worries related to education will be a thing of the past.
How Does the Yellow Ribbon Program Work?
The Post-9/11 GI Bill covers the cost of the highest state school tuition in each state. In Wyoming, it is $94/credit hour; in Texas it is $1,471/credit hour.
The Yellow Ribbon Program eliminates additional costs that would be incurred at private schools.
For example, if a student is attending a school in California that costs $501/credit hour, where the Post-9/11 GI Bill covers $287/credit hour, then the school will cover half the amount that is beyond the veteran's benefits, which would be $107 for each credit hour. If the student attended school full-time all year, the school would cover a difference of $3,531, which would also be matched by the federal government.
The result is that veterans going to a school like the one above will be saved from having to spend over $7,000 on tuition, which could be much better used to support themselves while they adjust back into civilian life as they strive to get the best grades they can.
Does the Yellow Ribbon Program Just Cover Tuition?
Another great aspect of this program is that it covers all fees, such as registration or enrollment charges. Schools that participate want veterans to have as easy a time as possible rather than be struggling with money while attending school.
Text books are not mentioned as being included as a fee for attending school. For this purpose, students are much better off renting textbooks. It will allow them to save a significant amount each semester that will add up to nearly $2,000 after four years.
When things did not look as though they could get any better for veterans with the new GI Bill coming out, this new program raises the bar higher than it's ever been. The Yellow Ribbon Program is doing for veterans today what the Montgomery GI Bill did for them after World War II.
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