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Yellow Ribbon Program

At this time, only two programs on the UT campus have an agreement with the VA to accept Yellow Ribbon funding.

  • The Haslam College of Business’s Professional Master’s programs.
  • The College of Social Work graduate program (MSSW).

No other graduate or undergraduate programs are currently set up for Yellow Ribbon funding.

Please note that the VA only pays in-state tuition. Our current yellow ribbon agreement covers some of the cost of out-of-state tuition, and we currently waive out-of-state tuition for all military service members. Yellow ribbon funding is not needed for military service members.

If you are a dependent, you qualify for Yellow Ribbon funding if you meet all of the following criteria:

  • Using Chapter 33 education benefits
  • You are at 100% entitlement with Chapter 33 benefits
  • You are an online student living outside TN while attending school, and being charged out-of-state tuition.
  • You are enrolled in a graduate program in Business or Social Work

Chapter 33 benefits cover the following in state tuition and fee charges based on your percentage of entitlement:

  • Maintenance Fee
  • Programs & Services Fee
  • Health Fee
  • Library Technology Fee
  • Transportation Fee
  • Facility Fee (In-state portion)
  • Program Fee (In-state portion)

Yellow Ribbon Program

  • How do students apply for the Yellow Ribbon program at your school? Application is made from the UTK veterans website at https://veterans.utk.edu/about-the-yellow-ribbon-program/. Instructions are on the application. Application must be turned in to the UT Office of Veterans Benefits Administration at utkva@utk.edu with the student’s letter of eligibility.
  • How will students be notified that they are accepted into your Yellow Ribbon program? The school certifying official will inform a student after we have received their letter of eligibility, enrollment form, and yellow ribbon application and verified their admission to UTK.
  • If the school limits the number of students in its yellow ribbon program, how will the first-come, first-served students be determined? Applications are turned in to the Veterans Benefits Office and dated. A list is then sent to the appropriate department, awarding the funds.
  • If your school limited the number of students, what documentation would be needed in order to be put on the first-come-first-served list, if any is required? Dated YR application, enrollment form, class schedule, letter of eligibility.
  • How is the YRP money distributed throughout the academic year? YRP money is distributed each semester (Fall, Spring, Summer).
  • When a student is granted the unrestricted control scholarship/grant used for the Yellow Ribbon program, how does it work with other unrestricted control scholarships/grants at the school? Yellow ribbon funding is a restricted dollar amount provided each semester towards out-of-state tuition costs only
  • How are the students aware of the policies and procedures set at your school? Yellow ribbon FAQ and guidelines available on veterans.utk.edu
  • What is the stated appeal process to follow if the student disagrees with the methods used or decisions made? There is no current appeal process in place. An agreement between the VA and the school sets forth guidelines for the yellow ribbon. If a student disagrees with the school’s yellow ribbon policy or procedure, he or she should contact the Veterans Benefits Office for guidance.
  • How much is the yellow ribbon funding, and how is it awarded? The Haslam College of Business will make contributions to a maximum of ten (10) individual students during the academic year, for a maximum amount per student of $10,000 per academic year. These awards will be granted to eligible students on a first-come-first-served basis. The funds are awarded per semester.UT College of Social Work will make contributions to (1) individual student during the academic year, for a maximum amount per student of $3,000 per academic year. These awards will be granted to eligible students on a first-come-first-served basis. The funds are awarded per semester.
  • Do I need to re-apply each semester? No, as long as you maintain continuous enrollment, your award will continue until you reach the maximum allowed amount. If you do not receive the YR award for a term because you do not register for courses, are academically dismissed or cannot register due to a student conduct violation or other registration hold, your YR spot may go to the next eligible student on the waiting list and you will have to reapply for YR in future terms.

  • You must be an admitted Haslam College of Business graduate student or a College of Social Work graduate student in good standing, enrolled in credit-bearing courses at UT.

  • You cannot be in academic dismissal status or have a student conduct registration restriction.

  • You must have a Post-9/11 education benefits (Chapter 33) Certificate of Eligibility, showing Yellow Ribbon Program eligibility.

  • You must be a Chapter 33 post 9/11 recipient at 100% entitlement.

  • You must be a dependent, living out of state, and be charged out-of-state tuition.

Initial Application

Submit the following documents to Veteran Student Services, The University of Tennessee.

Forms may be emailed to utkva@utk.edu, or mailed, faxed, or hand-delivered to:

Veterans Success Center

G020 Hodges Library (Ground Floor)

1015 Volunteer Blvd
Knoxville TN 37996-0200

Phone 865-974-5420

If you have further questions about utilizing your education benefits or the Yellow Ribbon program and VA eligibility, please contact the UT Veterans Benefits Administration Office.

If you have questions about the Haslam College of Business’s graduate programs please contact The Center for Executive Education at 865-974-5001 or execed@utk.edu.