The Yellow Ribbon Program: Tuition & Housing Explained
The **Yellow Ribbon Program** is a provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill that can make expensive private universities or out-of-state public schools affordable for veterans. But how does it interact with your housing allowance?
What It Covers
The Post-9/11 GI Bill pays 100% of inst-state tuition at public schools. If you attend a private school or are an out-of-state student, there is a cap (approx. $27,000/year). The Yellow Ribbon Program works by the school and the VA splitting the difference of any remaining tuition cost.
Does It Affect MHA?
Directly? **No.**
Your Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) is determined by the school's ZIP code and your rate of pursuit (full-time vs part-time). Being in the Yellow Ribbon Program doesn't increase or decrease your MHA rate.
However, it Indirectly Helps Your Budget:
Without Yellow Ribbon, you might have to pay thousands of dollars in tuition gaps out of pocket, which would likely eat into your housing allowance fund. By covering tuition fully, the Yellow Ribbon Program frees up your entire MHA to be used for what it was intended for: Rent and Living Expenses.
Who is Eligible?
- You must be eligible for the **100% benefit level** of the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
- You generally cannot be on active duty (though some recent changes allow active duty spouses to use it in certain cases).
- The school must participate in the program (it is voluntary for them).
Action Steps
- Check your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to confirm you are at the 100% tier.
- Use the VA's comparison tool to see if your target school participates.
- Apply early! Some schools have a limit on how many "Yellow Ribbon" students they accept per year on a first-come, first-served basis.