A quality education is essential but shouldn’t be the only factor to consider when choosing a college. You’ll want to attend a school that is affordable, welcoming and understands your needs as a veteran student and provides an excellent education.
If you’re looking for the best school you can attend to meet your educational, financial and personal needs, you’ll want to seriously consider schools that participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program.
Cost Savings
One of the most obvious reasons for attending a Yellow Ribbon school is the financial coverage. Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you are given a certain amount of funds to cover the costs of your tuition, books, supplies and more. However, these funds don’t always cover the total amount of your educational expenses.
This is where the Yellow Ribbon Program—an initiative that covers fees not covered by the GI Bill—can be beneficial. These fees can include the additional costs of attending an out-of-state, private, foreign and/or graduate school and other mandatory fees required by your program.
Only schools that choose to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program (Yellow Ribbon schools) can offer these benefits, thus decreasing the cost of attendance for veterans. The amount of money provided for veterans varies and can depend on how many students the school admits into the Yellow Ribbon Program. Acceptance is often first-come, first-served to eligible veteran students and qualified dependents. It’s important to see if your desired school offers this program and to research their participation criteria.
Committed to Veteran Students
Schools that agree to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program are often schools that understand the needs of the veteran community. It can be challenging to acclimate and find other students who can relate to your experiences when transitioning from service to campus life.
To feel supported and accepted as you step into this next chapter of your life, you’ll want to attend an institution that understands the needs of veterans and puts in the effort to meet these needs.
Participating schools appreciate the veteran community’s needs and provide special activities, clubs and resources to help veterans better acclimate to their new environment.
Provisions can include:
- Accepting BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing).
- Offering class credit for military training.
- Hosting events and clubs for veteran students to bond.
- Exclusive scholarships for veterans.
- Full-time counselors specifically trained to support veteran needs.
- Participating in the Veteran Upward Bound Program, which provides mentoring, instruction and academic tutoring for veterans.
Distinguished Schools
Among other things, the Yellow Ribbon Program is designed to help cover the costs of private or foreign institutions. These institutions are usually known for their academic excellence, experienced professors and overall prestige. In other words, Yellow Ribbon schools typically excel in areas inside and outside the veteran community’s needs.
In a full circle assessment, you want to ensure that the school you attend fulfills your academic needs, financial situation and your needs as a veteran student. Make sure you thoroughly research the institution and program before accepting admission to your school. When all of these boxes are checked, you are setting yourself up for the best possible educational experience you can have.
Sources: The VA, Military.com
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