JMU will continue their participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Yellow Ribbon is an optional provision within the overall Post 9/11 GI Bill® program. Yellow Ribbon is meant to help bridge the gap between what Post 9/11 covers (up to the instate portion of tuition/fees) and the total tuition/fees charged to out of state students. Instate students do not qualify for Yellow Ribbon.
Tuition/fee rates for instate and out-of-state can be found at www.jmu.edu/ubo.
JMU currently has three slots for undergraduate students, given on a first come first serve basis, offering $1500 per semester which is matched by VA ($3000 total per semester) to help cover the out-of-state tuition difference. It is only available to undergraduate students at JMU. Keep in mind, you will still have out of pocket expenses each semester for tuition as the Yellow Ribbon contribution does not fully cover the out-of-state tuition difference. If all spots are occupied, the student will be placed on the Yellow Ribbon waitlist. Yellow Ribbon is not available in summer terms.
Please review the Choice Act Eligibility to see if you would qualify for instate tuition. ONLY COMPLETE THE YELLOW RIBBON APPLICATION IF YOU DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THE CHOICE ACT PROVISION. You do not need Yellow Ribbon if you qualify for the Choice Act and receive the instate tuition rate.
Please read eligibility listed below and complete the application:
Please note - JMU accepts an unlimited number of Post 9/11 benefit users each semester. You can still use Post 9/11 benefits even if all Yellow Ribbon slots are occupied by other students. Keep in mind though, Post 9/11 only covers up to the instate portion of tuition/fees, if 100% eligible for Post 9/11. If you do not have a Yellow Ribbon slot, you would owe the entire out-of-state tuition difference each semester to JMU.
To be eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program:
- You must be eligible for the maximum benefit rate under the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (i.e. 100%)
- You must be charged out-of-state tuition and not eligible for the Choice Act instate tuition exemption
- Undergraduate student
- Starting 8/1/2022, Active Duty service members and spouses of active duty service members are eligible to use Yellow Ribbon. Dependents of active duty members are already eligible for Yellow Ribbon
- Starting 8/1/2018, Fry Scholarship and Purple Heart recipients are eligible to use the Yellow Ribbon program
- Your school must agree to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program
- Your school must have not offered Yellow Ribbon to more than the maximum number of individuals, as stated in their participation agreement
- Your school must certify your enrollment to VA and provide Yellow Ribbon Program information
JMU requires the Yellow Ribbon application completed by the student and a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility from VA. If all Yellow Ribbon spots are occupied, the student will be placed on the waitlist.
For more information about the Yellow Ribbon Program, please visit the Veterans Affairs website. To see which Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) are participating, please click here.