The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Program) is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. This program allows institutions of higher learning (degree-granting institutions) in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with VA to fund tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate.
To receive benefits under the Yellow Ribbon Program:
- You must be eligible for the maximum benefit rate under the Post-9/11 GI Bill®*
- You must not be on active duty or a spouse using transferred entitlement
- Your school must agree to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program
- Your school must have not offered Yellow Ribbon to more than the maximum number of individuals, as stated in their participation agreement
- Your school must certify your enrollment to VA and provide Yellow Ribbon Program information
You may be eligible if you fit the following circumstances:
- You served an aggregate period of 36 months in active duty after Sept. 10, 2001
- You were honorably discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability and you served 30 continuous days after Sept. 10, 2001.
- You are a dependent eligible for Transfer of Entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill® based on the service eligibility criteria listed above.
Students will need to submit the UMD VA Enrollment Certification Request form. Per federal regulations, eligible recipients will be selected on a first-come, first-serve basis.
*GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website.
2020-2021 Yellow Ribbon Agreement Details:
College or School | Degree Level1 | Maximum No. of Students | Scholarship Amount |
College of Arts and Humanities |
Undergraduate | 2 | $500 |
College of Arts and Humanities | Graduate | 1 | $500 |
College of Behavioral and Social Sciences | Undergraduate | 2 | $2,000 |
College of Behavioral and Social Sciences | Graduate | 2 | $2,000 |
Robert H. Smith School of Business | Graduate | 5 | $10,000 |
College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences | Undergraduate and Graduate | 2 | $1,000 |
College of Education | Undergraduate | 5 | $1,000 |
College of Education | Graduate | 2 | $2,500 |
A. James Clark School of Engineering | Undergraduate | 2 | $2,500 |
College of Information Studies | Undergraduate and Graduate | 2 | $1,000 |
School of Public Health | Undergraduate | 3 | $1,000 |
School of Public Health | Graduate | 3 | $1,000 |
School of Public Policy | Graduate | 2 | $1,000 |
1) Schools or colleges listing "Undergraduate and Graduate" in the Degree Level column are permitted to offer a Yellow Ribbon Program scholarship to the associated maximum number of students regardless of degree level.