Newswise — Furman University has agreed to participate in the new Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program, which will allow qualified post-9/11 veterans to attend the university tuition-free.
The Yellow Ribbon program is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, which covers tuition costs for veterans up to the amount of the state's most expensive public university. The new program allows veterans to also attend private colleges and universities tuition-free, with the schools and Veterans Affairs funding equally the costs that exceed the highest in-state public tuition rate.
Furman's tuition for the 2009-10 academic year is $36,296.
"The university is pleased to be able to participate in this very important and worthwhile program," said president David Shi. "It is a very tangible way for Furman to honor those veterans who have done so much in the service of our country " at great sacrifice to them and their families."
The first Yellow Ribbon veterans will be eligible to enroll at Furman this fall. After meeting the university's requirements for admission, they will be eligible to attend on a full-time or part-time basis. There will be a limited number of spots available.
According to the VA, veterans must have served an aggregate period of active duty after September 10, 2001, of at least 36 months, and be honorably discharged from active duty to be eligible for the Yellow Ribbon program.
Participation in the program is voluntary, and Furman is among the first of the nation's liberal arts colleges to participate. The university will provide a total of nearly $40 million in financial aid to its students in the 2009-10 school year.
RSS