The Post-9/11 GI Bill (PGIB), Fry Scholarship, Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA), and the Yellow Ribbon program are all critical educational benefits provided to eligible service members, veterans, and their families. Designed to minimize financial burdens and make it easier to access higher education options, the GI Bill and its features play an important role in the future of those who served and their loved ones.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill
The PGIB, officially known as the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, or Chapter 33, is the most robust educational benefits program for veterans, active-duty members, and their families in the history of the GI Bill. Starting on August 1, 2009, it was introduced to provide educational and housing financial support to individuals who served on active duty after September 10, 2001.
Key Benefits of the PGIB
The benefits to using this robust GI Bill include:
- Tuition and fees cover up to 100% of the in-state rate for public colleges and universities; funds are sent directly to the school. For private or foreign schools, the benefit is capped annually; the 2024/2025 rate is currently at $28,937.09 per year.
- A monthly living expense stipend called the Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) is sent to the student and the amount is based in part on the zip code of the school … with higher rates for schools located on the East and West Coasts; the national MHA average is currently at $2,355.00 per month for students at the 100% tier level, however online-only students receive half of the national average as their MHA.
- A book stipend of up to $1,000 annually is sent to the student to cover academic materials.
- The transfer of benefits option is available to active-duty members meeting the criteria to transfer unused education benefits to their spouse or children.
PGIB Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility for minimum PGIB benefits requires a minimum of 90 days of active-duty service after September 10, 2001, or discharge due to a service-connected disability after 30 days. The percentage of benefits received depends on the length of service, ranging from 50% with a minimum of 90 days of service to 100% with 36 months or more of active-duty service.
Under the Rudisill decision, veterans having had months of entitlement left at the time of switching to the PGIB may still have MGIB-AD entitlement left to use, however, the maximum 48-month cap still applies.
The Yellow Ribbon Program
The Yellow Ribbon Program is an enhancement feature to the PGIB, aimed at reducing out-of-pocket expenses for veterans attending private institutions, in graduate programs, or paying out-of-state tuition. This program is a collaborative effort between the VA and participating schools.
Yellow Ribbon Program Basics
The Yellow Ribbon program is unique in that …
- Participating schools voluntarily agree to waive a portion of tuition and fees not covered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
- Each school tailors the Yellow Ribbon Program differently so be sure to check how it is managed in your school … if they are a participating Yellow Ribbon School.
- The VA matches the school’s contribution – in addition to the tuition and fees they already paid – effectively reducing or eliminating the remaining tuition balance.
Eligibility for the Yellow Ribbon Program is limited to those who qualify for the maximum PGIB benefit (typically 100% coverage). Dependents using transferred benefits may also qualify for Yellow Ribbon funding, which significantly broadens access to higher education opportunities.
By partnering with the VA, institutions can help veterans, and their families attend prestigious universities, pursue specialized programs, and achieve academic goals that might otherwise be financially unattainable.
The Fry Scholarship
Named in honor of Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry, who was killed in action in Iraq in 2006, the Fry Scholarship provides education benefits much like the PGIB to the children and surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001.
The Fry Scholarship Benefits
This GI Bill, an offshoot of the PGIB has the same features including:
- Full coverage of tuition and fees at public institutions or capped assistance for private and foreign schools.
- A monthly housing allowance based on the school’s location.
- An annual stipend for books and supplies.
Fry Scholarship Eligibility
To be eligible for the Fry Scholarship, children and spouses must adhere to these two basic usage rules. For more information on the usage rules for the Fry scholarship, go to the VA’s webpage on the topic.
- Children of eligible service members can use the benefit until the age of 33.
- Surviving spouses must use the benefit within 15 years of the service member’s death.
The Fry Scholarship recognizes the profound sacrifices made by families of fallen service members and seeks to honor their legacy through educational opportunities.
Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA)
Also known as Chapter 35, there are some veteran family members that may be eligible for DEA benefits. Eligibility for this GI Bill includes:
- Veterans who died due to a service-connected disability.
- Veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected condition.
- Service members who are missing in action (MIA) or interned by a foreign government.
This differs from the Fry Scholarship eligibility which is available to children and spouses of service members who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001. In some cases, the survivor and dependents may be eligible for both DEA and the Fry Scholarship.
There are different rules for using DEA based on if you are a spouse or a dependent, including delimiting dates, maximum age, remarried or not, and number of months of benefits, along with other factors too numerous to cover in this article. For more information, go to the VA Website.
Maximizing Your Benefits
For those eligible for these programs, understanding the interplay between them can be crucial. For instance, children of service members may qualify for both the PGIB and the Fry Scholarship but must choose one to use. Additionally, Yellow Ribbon benefits can enhance the PGIB for private education, offering greater flexibility in choosing schools.
As mentioned earlier, some surviving spouses and dependent family members may be eligible for both the DEA and the Fry Scholarship. In cases where an individual is eligible for two or more GI Bill programs, they may only use one at a time and are usually capped at a maximum of 48 months combined. The exception is if an individual is eligible for both the DEA and the Fry scholarship, the cap is 81 combined months.
Because the benefits and rules for use can be confusing, veterans and their families are encouraged to consult with their school’s VA certifying official or a VA representative to fully understand the benefits available to them. Each program has specific eligibility requirements, deadlines, and application procedures that must be followed to maximize benefits.
The PGIB, Yellow Ribbon Program, Fry Scholarship, and DEA demonstrate the nation’s commitment to supporting service members, veterans, and their families in pursuing higher education. By easing financial barriers, these programs better empower individuals to achieve their educational and professional goals while honoring the sacrifices they have made in service to their country.
