New York Institute of Technology is proud to be a part of the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program. The program is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 and allows degree-granting institutions of higher learning in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with the VA to fund tuition expenses for the 2024–2025 school year (as of August 1, 2023) that exceed either the $27,120.05 cap for private institutions or the resident tuition and fees for a public institution. The participating educational institution can contribute up to 50 percent of those expenses, and the VA will match the same amount as the institution.

Students must be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI BILL® at the 100 percent rate to be considered for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students must also meet Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements to receive Veteran Benefits, including Yellow Ribbon Program funds.

Specific eligibility requirements for the Yellow Ribbon Program may be found online.

Students must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• You served at least 36 months on active duty (either all at once or with breaks in service) on or after September 11, 2001
• You received a Purple Heart on or after September 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged after any amount of service
• You served for at least 30 continuous days (all at once, without a break) on or after September 11, 2001, and were discharged or released from active duty for a service-connected disability
• You are a spouse or dependent child using benefits transferred by a qualifying veteran or service member

Note: If you're a member of the Reserves who lost education benefits when the Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) ended in November 2015, you may qualify to receive restored benefits under the Post-9/11 GI BILL®.

Students who wish to be considered for the Yellow Ribbon Program should complete and submit an application form available online. The VA will inform students via written notification with an explanation of its decision on program eligibility. If approved, students will receive a Certificate of Eligibility confirming their service meets the requirements of the program. All Certificates of Eligibility should be presented to the Office of the Registrar for the university's records. The Certificate of Eligibility does not guarantee Yellow Ribbon funding as the availability of annual funds for New York Tech's Yellow Ribbon Program is limited. Student eligibility is determined by the university's Veteran Certifying Officer. In accordance with institutional funding parameters for the 2024–2025 year, Yellow Ribbon funds are awarded and applicable for the summer/fall/spring semesters. It is the student's responsibility to request, complete, and submit all forms with necessary documentation for all financial aid programs in a timely manner.

Duplicative Benefits

The combined tuition benefits available to a student cannot exceed the student's total tuition costs. Tuition payments received by a student under the Post-9/11 GI BILL® (Chapter 33 veteran benefits) and Yellow Ribbon Program are considered duplicative of any VTA and/or TAP award. Students receiving tuition assistance through these programs may, and in most cases will, have their state VTA and/or TAP payment reduced or denied due to these other benefits; however, payments received under the Montgomery GI BILL® do not duplicate the purpose of the VTA and/or TAP.

For more information on selection criteria for New York Tech's Yellow Ribbon Program, contact the Office of the Registrar at 516.686.7580 or registrar@nyit.edu.