The GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program:
What You Need To Know
The Post-9/11 GI Bill is an education benefit program that provides veterans with financial assistance to
attend an accredited in-state public college or university.
Veterans are eligible for:
Up to 100% tuition and fee coverage.
A monthly living stipend.
Up to $1,000 per year for books and other supplies.
To download this fact sheet or get more
information, visit: www.activeminds.org/veterans
The Post-9/11 GI Bill, which went into effect in August 2009, is increasing the number of veterans on college
campuses across the country.
In the first year of the program, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates that more than
550,000 veterans applied for the benefit and more than 267,000 attended classes on the Bill.
Veterans may be eligible for these benefits for up to 15 years after completing their service.
The Yellow Ribbon Program, a provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, is designed to help students avoid paying outof-pocket for additional expenses that the GI Bill will not cover.
As part of the Yellow Ribbon Program, veterans have the opportunity to attend a private university,
graduate school, or an out-of-state school while still receiving financial assistance.
Participating Yellow Ribbon Schools waive up to half of the additional cost not covered by the Post9/11 GI Bill and the other half is paid for by the VA.
So this means…
There are an increasing number of veterans on your campus.
Due to the new GI Bill and its extended benefits, older veterans may return to college as nontraditional students.
Many student veterans report feeling isolated and alone when they return to campus. Many may also
be facing mental health challenges. There are a variety of ways that you can reach out to veterans to
help them make the transition! Contact your school’s chapter of Active Minds for more information.
Information obtained from:
The Department of Veterans Affairs Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 Pamphlet on July 14, 2009
Military.com. GI Bill: The Yellow Ribbon Program. Visited on July 14, 2009 [http://www.military.com/money-for-school/gi-bill/yellow-ribbon-program-explained]
Military.com. GI Bill: New GI Bill Overview. Visited on July 14, 2009 [http://www.military.com/money-for-school/gi-bill/new-gi-bill-overview]