Georgia Colleges, VA Team Up to Improve GI Bill
Forty-five colleges, universities, and schools across Georgia have entered into Yellow Ribbon Program agreements with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to improve financial aid for veterans participating in the post-9/11 GI Bill program, the White House announced Monday.
The Yellow Ribbon Program is a provision of the new post-9/11 GI Bill that funds tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate and is set aside for veterans who served at least 36 months on active duty or served at least 30 continuous days and were discharged because of a service-related injury.
Schools can contribute up to 50 percent of tuition expenses and the VA will match this additional funding for eligible students.
“The post-9/11 GI Bill is an important part of fulfilling our promise to the men and women who have served our country so honorably,” Secretary of the VA Eric Shinseki said Monday. “Implementing this landmark legislation and providing even more veterans with a quality education is a top priority for the VA, and we are grateful so many schools are joining us as partners in this unprecedented effort.”
There are 1,100 schools participating nationally and those institutions have made 3,400 agreements so far. “This is a strong response to a new benefit,” Keith Wilson, Director of the VA’s Education Service, said. “We are pleased so many institutions are supporting our veterans.”
Click here to learn more about the GI Bill and the Yellow Program and click here to see which Georgia schools are participating in the program.