West Virginia is a Yellow Ribbon State!

Yellow Ribbon

About the Program

Through the Post 9/11 GI Bill, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will pay eligible veterans' tuition for programs offered by colleges and universities.

Tuition payments are limited to the highest in-state undergraduate rate at a public institution in the same state. Tuition at private and graduate schools, and for out-of-state residents, may exceed the maximum the VA can pay.

The New GI Bill's Yellow Ribbon program provides additional funds to help cover this excess tuition for veterans who are eligible for full benefits under the bill.

Participating Yellow Ribbon schools cover up to half of the difference between the maximum and the actual tuition. The VA matches the school's contribution, resulting in no out-of-pocket expenses for the veterans.

Passed during the 2009 session of the West Virginia Legislature, HB 2335 requires all West Virginia public colleges and universities to participate fully in the federal Yellow Ribbon program for all eligible undergraduate veterans at the full contribution level.

The new state law allows out-of-state undergraduate veterans to attend a West Virginia public institution free of charge.

The VA and the schools will cover the tuition in full. Many West Virginia private schools also have elected to participate in the Yellow Ribbon program. The VA's website has complete details about the federal program at https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/ New Window icon.

Interested veterans should contact the admissions office of the institution they would like to attend. The institution will work with the veteran and the VA to determine eligibility.

Veteran's Resources