Beyond the GI Bill: A Guide to the Yellow Ribbon Program, Fry Scholarship & More
Explore additional education benefits including the Yellow Ribbon Program, Fry Scholarship, and Rogers STEM Scholarship to maximize your educational opportunities beyond the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides comprehensive education benefits, but there are additional programs that can enhance and extend these benefits even further. Whether you need help covering costs beyond the standard GI Bill, are a surviving family member, or want to pursue a STEM degree, these enhancement programs can help you achieve your educational goals.
The Yellow Ribbon Program allows institutions of higher learning (such as colleges, universities, and other degree-granting schools) in the U.S. and overseas to voluntarily enter into an agreement with VA to fund tuition and fees that exceed the amounts payable under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
How It Works
- The institution contributes a specified dollar amount toward tuition and fees that exceed Post-9/11 GI Bill coverage
- VA will match the institution's contribution, not to exceed 50% of the difference
- This partnership helps cover the full cost of tuition and fees at participating schools
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program, you must be:
- A Veteran receiving benefits at the 100% benefit rate
- An active-duty Service member receiving benefits at the 100% benefit rate
- An individual awarded a Purple Heart on or after September 11, 2001
- A Fry Scholarship recipient
- A transfer-of-entitlement-eligible dependent receiving benefit at the 100% benefit rate
Find Participating Schools:
Visit the Yellow Ribbon webpage at www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/post-9-11/yellow-ribbon-program for additional information about the program and to find out if your school is a participant.
The Fry Scholarship provides Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to the children and surviving spouses of Service members who died after September 10, 2001.
Qualifying Circumstances
The Service member must have died:
- While serving on duty other than active duty as a member of the Armed Forces
- From a service-connected disability while a member of the Selected Reserve
Benefits Provided
- Up to 36 months of benefits at the 100% level
- Full tuition and fees paid directly to the school for all in-state students at public schools
- For private or foreign schools, tuition and fees are capped at a statutory maximum amount per academic year
- Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) paid to the student
- Books and supplies stipend paid to the student
Eligibility for Surviving Children
- May begin an approved program of education before the age of 18
- Marital status has no effect on eligibility
- If the qualifying parent's death occurred before January 1, 2013, the child's eligibility ends on their 33rd birthday
- If the qualifying parent's death occurred on or after January 1, 2013, the child's eligibility never expires
Eligibility for Surviving Spouses
- Have no timeline on when they can use the benefit
- ⚠Will lose eligibility for this benefit upon remarriage
The Edith Nourse Rogers Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Scholarship provides up to nine months of additional benefits (to a maximum of $30,000) to qualifying Veterans and Fry Scholars.
Qualifying Programs
This scholarship is available to those who are:
- Seeking a qualifying undergraduate STEM degree alone or as part of a dual-degree program
- Have earned a qualifying post-secondary degree or graduate degree and are enrolled in a covered clinical training program for health care professionals
- Have earned a qualifying STEM degree and are seeking a teaching certification
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible, Veterans or Fry Scholars must meet ALL of the following criteria:
- Have exhausted or will exhaust their Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement within 180 days
- Have completed at least 60 semester credit hours (or 90 quarter credit hours) toward their degree already
- Be enrolled in a qualifying undergraduate STEM program that requires at least 120 semester (or 180 quarter) credit hours for completion, or be in a teaching certification program
Priority Consideration
Priority will be given to:
- Individuals who are entitled to 100% of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits
- Those who require the most credit hours
Important Limitations
- ⚠The Yellow Ribbon Program may not be used with this extension
- ℹSchools may apply Yellow Ribbon funding, but VA cannot match it
- ⚠These additional benefits cannot be transferred to dependents
Learn More:
For more information, please visit www.va.gov/education/other-va-education-benefits/stem-scholarship
Key Takeaways
- Yellow Ribbon Program helps cover tuition costs beyond Post-9/11 GI Bill limits through school-VA partnership
- Yellow Ribbon requires 100% benefit rate eligibility and participating school enrollment
- Fry Scholarship provides full Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to children and surviving spouses of fallen Service members
- Fry Scholarship children's eligibility never expires if parent died on/after January 1, 2013
- Surviving spouses lose Fry Scholarship eligibility upon remarriage
- Rogers STEM Scholarship provides up to 9 additional months ($30,000 max) for STEM degrees and health care clinical training
- STEM Scholarship requires at least 60 semester hours completed and GI Bill exhaustion within 180 days
- Yellow Ribbon cannot be combined with Rogers STEM Scholarship extension
Related Articles
Learn about the core Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits including tuition coverage, housing allowance, and books stipend.
Learn how to transfer your GI Bill benefits to eligible dependents and explore DEA scholarship opportunities for family members.