VFW MN Post 246

Over 700 Schools Partner with VA to Help Veterans Pay for Education

Posted at 11:01 AM on Monday, June 8, 2009 by post246

WASHINGTON - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today [June 5] that it has entered into more than 700 agreements with institutions of higher learning across the nation to participate in the Post-9/11 GI Bill’s "Yellow Ribbon Program."  

Many schools signed agreements for participation in not only undergraduate programs, but graduate and doctoral programs as well.  Some schools entered into one agreement that covered all their campuses throughout the United States.  

"VA is very pleased with the wide-spread interest in the program," said Under Secretary for Benefits Patrick W. Dunne.  "We strongly encourage any interested universities to formally sign-up with the agency before the June 15 deadline to ensure participation in the 2009-2010 academic year."

The Yellow Ribbon Program is a provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill that allows degree-granting institutions to voluntarily enter into a formal agreement with VA to fund tuition and fee expenses that exceed the highest public, in-state undergraduate rates. 

The institution can contribute up to 50 percent of those expenses and VA will match this additional funding for eligible students.  This may enable qualified students to potentially attend school tuition-free.

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