The deadline passed Monday for universities across the country to apply for a new financial aid program for military veterans seeking undergraduate or graduate degrees.
The Yellow Ribbon Program, a provision of the newly revised Post-9/11 GI Bill, increases financial aid to veterans at institutions of higher education. UT will not be participating in the program.
Under the current GI Bill, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides financial aid for higher education at the undergraduate level for veterans or their dependents up to the cost of the most expensive public school in the veteran’s state.
In the proposed program, both public and private universities can choose to provide additional funding which would be matched by the federal government. They can choose to provide assistance for undergraduate or graduate-level study.
“We are aiming to expand the opportunities for veterans to get an education,” said a representative from the Department of Veterans Affairs, speaking anonymously because the program is not finalized.
As of Friday, 573 schools were committed to the program — 25 of which are in Texas. UT-Arlington is the only UT System school participating. Other schools participating are Texas A&M, Texas Tech and St. Edwards universities.
“It’s important that we alleviate tuition stress for veterans,” said Anita Perez, UT-Arlington financial aid office spokeswoman. “However, we don’t think most of the veterans on campus will be clamoring to be in the Yellow Ribbon Program, because the GI Bill will cover their tuition without our help.”
She said there are about 525 veterans or dependents of veterans receiving GI Bill aid at UT-Arlington. The university’s tuition is low enough that most of them receive full assistance.
Certain restrictions will apply to veterans seeking aid through the new program. Since 9/11, applicants must have either been on active duty for at least three years or had an honorable discharge due to injury after at least 30 days on active duty. Dependents of veterans will also be eligible.
Participating schools can limit the number of veterans they want to extend scholarships to and can decide on the amount of each scholarship. UT-Arlington will only offer 10 Yellow Ribbon scholarships, valued at $2,000 each. The program is set to go into effect on Aug. 1.
