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Yellow Ribbon Open Season Letter
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Veterans Benefits Administration
Education Service
Washington, D.C. 20420
March 15, 2024
Higher Education Executive
All Institutions of Higher Learning
Dear Higher Education Executive:
VA is pleased to announce that the Post-9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon Program open season for the 2024-2025 academic year will run from March 15th through May 15th. During the open season, institutions can: (1) Request participation in the program, (2) Modify participation in the program, or (3) Withdraw from the program.
The Yellow Ribbon Program helps to cover tuition and fee charges that exceed the maximum amount payable under the Post-9/11 GI Bill for attendance at an Institution of Higher Learning (IHL). IHLs can contribute up to 50% of those expenses and VA will match that amount. The Yellow Ribbon Program is available to all Post-9/11 GI Bill beneficiaries eligible at the 100% benefit level including Veterans, Active Duty Service Members, Purple Heart recipients, dependents using transferred benefits, and recipients of the Fry Scholarship.
Institutions considering initial or continued participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program should review the Yellow Ribbon Program Agreement and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) at the Yellow Ribbon Program website.
Public Law 116-315, Section 1008, “Technical Correction to Clarify Eligibility for Participation in Yellow Ribbon Program of Department of Veterans Affairs,” allows foreign schools to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program. This law amends Section 3317(a) of title 38 USC. In accordance with the law, VA has implemented an open season timeframe of June 1st through July 31st for foreign schools to apply for the Yellow Ribbon Program. VA will announce foreign schools’ opportunity to apply for the Yellow Ribbon Program prior to the commencement of the open season.
Institutions with existing Yellow Ribbon Program Agreements
Please review your current agreement to determine whether any modifications are required. To find out if your school participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program or to view the terms of your current agreement, you can use our tool “Find a Yellow Ribbon School”, on our Yellow Ribbon Program site.
The Yellow Ribbon Program agreement is an open-ended agreement. Existing agreements will remain valid until modified or withdrawn. If your institution does not modify any information previously provided or withdraw from the program, no further action or communication is required. If your institution desires to change any elements of its agreement, or withdraw from the program, then your institution must submit a signed agreement via email attachment to YellowRibbon.VBACO@va.gov by May 15, 2024.
Institutions without existing Yellow Ribbon Program Agreements
Institutions that do not have an existing Yellow Ribbon Program agreement may request approval for the Yellow Ribbon Program by submitting a signed agreement via email attachment to YellowRibbon.VBACO@va.gov.
With your support, we can ensure that our nation’s Veterans and dependents receive the education benefits they deserve.
Respectfully,
Joseph Garcia
Joseph Garcia
Executive Director
