Title: Graduate School Expands Yellow Ribbon Program for Veterans and Military-Connected Students

The Graduate School of Arts & Sciences has increased tuition benefits for veterans and military-connected students, an expansion that will cover the annual cost of full-time tuition for most graduate programs.

Through the Yellow Ribbon Program, the Graduate School will nearly double its tuition maximums from $10,300 to $20,000 per student annually for those who qualify for programs in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences and Biomedical Graduate Education — the school’s largest, single increase to the program to date. The investment underscores the school’s commitment to making graduate education more financially accessible for military-connected students, says Alexander Sens, dean of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.

“The Graduate School could not be more excited that we are expanding support to our military-connected students,” says Sens. “Military students are a tremendous asset to our community. We are deeply grateful for their service to our country and the perspectives they bring to the classroom and beyond.”

The Yellow Ribbon Program

The Yellow Ribbon Program (YRP) is an agreement between higher education institutions and the Department of Veterans Affairs to cover all or a portion of tuition and fees not covered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill®, which offers educational benefits for military members who served after September 10, 2001. The YRP will take effect once an eligible participant has met the Post-9/11 GI Bill® private tuition maximum of $27,120 for an academic year.

Without the YRP, military-connected students would be responsible for securing financing to cover this tuition balance. This $9,700 increase per student will go into effect on August 1, 2023.

“I am so thankful to the staff, faculty, administrators and students who made this expansion possible,” says Wesley Wilson, director of Georgetown’s Military and Veterans’ Resource Center. Wilson, a veteran himself, has seen the impact of this program firsthand.

“I could not afford tuition at a school like Georgetown without the Yellow Ribbon Program. I hope these higher Yellow Ribbon rates will inspire exceptional military-connected students to know that a school like Georgetown is within their reach.”

Making an Impact

The mission of the Georgetown Military and Veterans’ Resource Center (MAVRC) is to support military-connected students by removing barriers to entry and providing the necessary support services to successfully navigate the military-to-civilian transition. The MAVRC accomplishes this mission by providing one-on-one advising, sharing curated resources, hosting tailored events, engaging with military alumni, and continuously reassessing student needs through research and assessment. Additionally, the MAVRC is a university partner with the Warrior-Scholar Project, Pat Tillman Foundation and Dog Tag Bakery, a veteran-owned business in Georgetown.

“In providing this important increase in funds to the Yellow Ribbon Program, the Graduate School and Georgetown University commit to providing continued support to Post-9/11 GI Bill® students via tuition support and support services through the Military and Veterans’ Resource Center — improving higher education access for those who have served,” says Sens.

To qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program, the Department of Veterans Affairs specifies that participants must be 100% eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits, be enrolled in a degree-seeking program and accrue a total tuition and fees amount that is more than the Post-9/11 tuition maximum for an academic year.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Explore more information provided by the U.S. government about education benefits offered through the VA.