Yellow Ribbon Program

What is a Yellow Ribbon?

The Yellow Ribbon Program allows private schools to enter into an agreement with the VA to fund the tuition and fee costs that exceeds the yearly national cap of $28,937.09 for students enrolled in private institutions (after Aug. 1, 2024). The Yellow Ribbon Program is utilized in conjunction with student's Post 9-11 GI Bill® and funds are paid directly to the school when the enrollment certification is processed. UIW will match the 50% VA contribution and fund 50% of the remaining unmet tuition and fee charges for all eligible students.

To Qualify

• Must be using Chapter 33 Post 9-11 Benefits at 100% eligibility.
• Must have remaining time/months of benefits. Yellow Ribbon does NOT cover tuition/fees if benefits are exhausted/expired.
• Registered for Spring/Summer and total yearly tuition cost.

Who Is Eligible?

• Only Veterans and their spouses using transferred entitlement, eligible at the 100% benefit level (based on service requirements) may receive this funding.
• Children are eligible for Yellow Ribbon if the sponsor is eligible at the 100% benefit level, regardless of the sponsor’s active duty status.
• Fry Scholarship recipients
• Veterans or service members awarded the Purple Heart for service after Sept. 11, 2001.
• As of Aug. 1, 2022, active duty service members who have served at least 36 months on active duty and are eligible at the 100% benefit level qualify.
• As of Aug. 1, 2022, spouses of active duty service members who have served at least 36 months on active duty and are eligible at the 100% benefit level qualify.

Who Is Currently Not Eligible?

• Non Ch 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefit users.
• Ch 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefit users who are less than 100% eligible for the benefit.

To Apply

Login to Cardinal Apps to complete the Yellow Ribbon Application, which is made available in November of every academic year. A current COE (< 6 months), eBenefits enrollment page, or Vets.gov Statement of Benefits Statement must be uploaded along with the application. You will receive an e-mail confirmation that we received your application. You will be contacted by e-mail within 5-7 business days to inform you of your Yellow Ribbon Application approval.

See directions to apply for Yellow Ribbon.

*Incomplete applications will NOT be accepted

*The 2024-2025 Yellow Ribbon Application will not be made available till Nov. 1, 2024. Please note we are still in the 2023-2024 Yellow Ribbon year until Aug. 1, 2025.

*The 2024-2025 Yellow Ribbon Application will be made available Nov. 1, 2024

Important Notes

• Awards are made to qualified applicants on a first-come, first-served basis.
• The amount each student will receive from UIW will vary according to the cost of their degree program and any tuition-specific scholarships or grant they may have been awarded. The Yellow Ribbon Program award cannot be combined with other University of the Incarnate Word institutional awards to result in a surplus for the student.
• Yellow Ribbon contributions will not be adjusted after the last day to drop classes without a W assigned. Any costs accrued due to adding or dropping classes after that date each semester will be the responsibility of the student.
• Once UIW receives the Yellow Ribbon funding from VA and has been posted to the student’s account, the UIW Office of Financial Assistance will add the matching amount. Please be aware, the standard processing time for the VA is 4-6 weeks.
• Once selected for the Yellow Ribbon Program at UIW, students will be funded each year they are in their current program of study as long as UIW continues and is approved to renew its agreement with the VA each academic year. UIW has the right to reduce awards or discontinue the program at the end of each academic year.