The Department of Veterans Affairs recently approved the University of Central Florida’s application to participate in the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program, which helps out-of-state veterans cover educational tuition costs.
The program is a provision of the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, and qualifying veterans who attend UCF are now eligible for an additional funding for education programs. Up to 30 undergraduates can receive up to $6,000, and up to 10 graduates can receive up to $6,800.
“This agreement is one more of many pieces of evidence of our commitment to being a veteran-friendly campus,” said Brian Boyd, university registrar. UCF has about 1,300 veteran students.
The program allows schools to work with VA to fund tuition and fee expenses that exceed either the annual $17,500 cap on private institutions or the in-state tuition and fees charged out-of-state residents attending public institutions.
Institutions can contribute up to 50 percent of those expenses and VA will match that amount for eligible students.
This program is available for veterans at the 100 percent benefit level who since Sept. 11, 2001, have served at least 36 months on active duty or served at least 30 continuous days and were discharged due to a service-related injury.
Effective Aug. 1, 2011, a law passed by Congress set a cap on the maximum payment of tuition and fees at $17,500 per academic year for private and foreign schools. The law also provides for full payment of in-state tuition and fees (undergraduate, graduate or doctoral) at public institutions.