I am a spouse of a Veteran utilizing the Post 9/11 GI Bill at Boston College. I am a graduate student in the School of Social Work.  I have spent the past semester analyzing the Post 9/11 GI Bill policy in a Social Welfare course. My analysis has been on the Yellow Ribbon Program. After much research, I am finding that many of the top schools in MA offer very generous Yellow Ribbon Program benefits to an unlimited number of students.  

The Post 9/11 GI Bill was intended to allow service members and dependents funding to receive an education after serving in the military.

Public schools are fully covered by the Post 9/11 GI Bill, but Private schools can choose whether or not they want to cover students tuitions fully.

The Yellow Ribbon Program was established by the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 to allow private universities in the United States to partner with the Veterans Administration (VA) in funding tuition and other expenses not covered by the GI Bill for qualified veterans. It intends to help cover the difference between tuition and out of pocket expenses for private or foreign schools.  

My research has shown that a large number of private MA schools are contributing far more than Boston College. Schools such as Harvard Med School offered unlimited benefits to an unlimited number of students, meaning no matter what the tuition, it is free for Veterans. Amherst, Emmerson, Salem state and many others offer the same. Additionally, if a school cannot offer unlimited benefits, many have a much higher rate of assistance. For instance, Northeastern offers $25,000. Through my research this semester, I have found that a lot of schools have greatly increased their Yellow Ribbon amounts over the past few years to help support the Veteran population and cover the difference in what is allotted by the VA and the actual cost of tuition.

BC has a set number of students that can Utilize the Yellow Ribbon Benefits and the amount is only $6,000. This is a concern because not every Veteran is guaranteed the Yellow Ribbon Program and many Veterans are forced to take out additional loans to cover the difference in tuition.

Personally, I have taken out an additional $7,600 and I am only a first-year graduate student. As a social worker, I have been taught to advocate when I see a policy that can be changed for the better. I am hoping to can gain support and force BC to do the same as many other schools in the area.

Veterans should be allowed to receive an education without having to take additional loans out to attend school.  I am asking for your support in forcing the administration at BC to re-visit their Yellow Ribbon amount offered to $10,000 and increase the number of students allowed to utilize the benefit to unlimited.  I am hoping to make a difference and relieve the financial burden of future Veterans that choose to attend BC.

**To view all schools in MA and their Yellow Ribbon amounts, please visit the website:  https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/yellow_ribbon/2017/states/ma.asp