What is the Yellow Ribbon Program?
The LMU Yellow Ribbon Program provides extended benefits when the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) doesn’t fully cover the cost of your education. If you’re eligible for the 100% benefit rate, the GI Bill typically offsets the total cost of attending an instate institution. The Department of Veterans Affairs uses average instate tuition rates across the country to calculate the dollar amount of these benefits each year.
The Yellow Ribbon Program isn’t offered under the Montgomery GI Bill. You should take this into account if you’re eligible for both benefits and are still deciding which program to utilize.
Dependent Eligibility
Children of veterans who are eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits may also receive Yellow Ribbon funding. To transfer benefits to a child, the veteran parent must qualify for 100 percent of their GI Bill benefits.
School Participation
Yellow Ribbon Program eligibility also depends on where you plan to complete your education. The VA provides an updated list of Yellow Ribbon schools each academic year. Keep in mind that the Yellow Ribbon Program does not cover the full cost of tuition; rather, the VA contributes an amount equivalent to what your school offers toward your tuition.
Benefit Amount
Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you must be eligible for the maximum benefit amount from serving on active duty for at least 36 months. The dollar amount of veteran benefits is prorated based on your service period and the national average cost of tuition. For example, the national average cost in 2022 is $26,381.37. While you can earn the full reimbursement for 36 months of active duty, serving the minimum period of 90 days earns you 40 percent of the benefit, or $10,552.55.
Yellow Ribbon Benefit at LMU
LMU offers a cumulative total of 85 undergraduate student placements, 10 placements for GR MBA and EMBA students, and 10 placements for graduates not in the MBA program. Spots on the lists become available as students graduate or leave LMU.
Federal law states that Yellow Ribbon awards must be made on a first-come, first-serve basis after a student has been accepted into LMU.
Yellow Ribbon may only be applied after the Post-9/11 (Chapter 33) tuition cap has been met.
The sum total of the Post-9/11 (Chapter 33) benefit and Yellow Ribbon scholarship may not exceed the cost of tuition and fees.
Apply for the YR Program
- New students must be accepted by LMU Admissions for initial eligibility.
- Obtain your certificate of eligibility (COE) from the VA and send a copy of the COE to the school certification officer at va.certification@lmu.edu.
- Register for classes at your appointed time.
- After registration, fill out and submit the Semester Benefits Enrollment Form.
- Confirmation of participation in the YR program will be sent to you by the LMU VA Certification Office.
Participation in the YR Program
Once accepted in the YR program, LMU guarantees continued participation in Yellow Ribbon with the following conditions:
- You must be accepted into the LMU YR program.
- You have VA eligibility in each fall and spring semester.
- Submit the Semester Benefits Enrollment form immediately after registration in a term in which you wish to use benefits.
- LMU certifies you for participation in the YR program each semester.
- You maintain continuous enrollment during your academic career (fall and spring semesters only) at LMU.
- If you take a Leave of Absence or otherwise not enroll for a semester, the resumption of YR benefits is not guaranteed. Every effort will be made to place you again in the YR program.
Financial Aid and Yellow Ribbon
- See Financial Aid Yellow Ribbon information for academic year benefits.