Military Benefits

The VA Yellow Ribbon Program is a supplemental funding initiative that helps bridge the gap between the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and the actual cost of attendance at participating schools. It’s a partnership between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and approved institutions of higher learning.

The VA Yellow Ribbon Program can help you pay for higher out-of-state, private school, or graduate school tuition that the Post-9/11 GI Bill doesn’t cover. Through this VA Program, you can receive money to help pay for the higher cost of tuition. If you qualify, CIAT will contribute a certain amount toward your extra tuition and fees through a grant, scholarship, or similar program, and the VA will match the contribution.

This dual contribution from the school and the VA can significantly reduce the out-of-pocket costs for eligible students, making higher-cost educational opportunities more accessible and affordable.

You may be eligible for this program if you and your school meet the below-mentioned requirements.

You must qualify for the maximum benefit rate under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

To qualify, at least one of these must be true.

• Served at least 36 months on active duty (either all at once or with breaks in service) or
• Received a Purple Heart on or after September 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged after any amount of service

  or

• Served for at least 30 continuous days (all at once, without a break) on or after September 11, 2001, and were discharged after 60 days with a service-connected disability or
• Are a dependent child using benefits transferred by a Veteran or a service member who has served for at least 36 months on active duty and qualifies at the 100% level, or
• Are a Fry Scholar (eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program on or after August 1, 2018)

Note: Currently, you’re not eligible for the maximum benefit rate under the Post-9/11 GI Bill if you’re an active-duty service member or the spouse of an active-duty service member. But, as of August 1, 2022, you may become eligible if you’re an active-duty service member who qualifies at the 100% level or the spouse using the transferred benefits of an active-duty service member who qualifies at the 100% level.