Yellow Ribbon Program

2025-2026 Academic Year Benefits

Yellow Ribbon benefits are coordinated between the University and the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) after a student’s Post 9/11 (Chapter 33) benefit has been exhausted.  The Chapter 33 benefit amount for 2025-2026 is $29,920.95 (amounts are updated annually after August 1).  After that amount has been exhausted for payment of tuition and mandatory fees, a Yellow Ribbon Grant and matching funds from the VA will be added to the student’s financial aid award The Yellow Ribbon Grant will cover all mandatory enrollment fees, excluding tuition insurance; room and board; and parking. Yellow Ribbon eligibility is dependent on full time enrollment. Continuing students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress. 

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

A detailed breakdown of tuition and mandatory fees can be found on the Student Accounts Department page.

Undergraduate

Up to 80 students eligible for Yellow Ribbon benefits, admitted and enrolled in an undergraduate degree program may receive the LMU Yellow Ribbon Grant and matching funds from the Department of Veterans Affairs for the 2025-2026 academic year. The actual amount of the academic year benefit will be based on the number of units taken, charged, and completed for each term.

All fees not covered under the Yellow Ribbon Program are the student's responsibility to pay (i.e. tuition insurance; room and board; and parking). Undergraduate students receiving a Yellow Ribbon Grant are not eligible for other forms of institutional aid (grants, scholarships, loans) and those awards will be canceled upon the awarding of a Yellow Ribbon Grant.

If the student received their full Chapter 33 benefits and the Yellow Ribbon benefits in the fall and spring semesters, the student will NOT be eligible for Yellow Ribbon benefits in Summer 2026.

MBA Program

Up to 10 students eligible for Yellow Ribbon benefits, admitted and enrolled in the MBA program may receive up to $10,000 from LMU and $10,000 in matching funds from the Department of Veterans Affairs for the 2025-2026 academic year. The actual amount of the academic year benefit will be based on the number of units taken, charged, and completed for each term. 

If the student received their full Chapter 33 benefits and the Yellow Ribbon benefits in the fall and spring semesters, the student will NOT be eligible for Yellow Ribbon benefits in Summer 2026.

Other Graduate Programs

Up to 10 students eligible for Yellow Ribbon benefits, admitted and enrolled in a graduate degree program other than the MBA program may receive up to $5,000 from LMU and $5,000 in matching funds from the Department of Veterans Affairs for the 2025-2026 academic year. The actual amount of the academic year benefit will be based on the number of units taken, charged, and completed for each term.

If the student received their full Chapter 33 benefits and the Yellow Ribbon benefits in the fall and spring semesters, the student will NOT be eligible for Yellow Ribbon benefits in Summer 2026.

LMU Loyola Law School

LMU Loyola Law School has funding to provide a direct grant of $5,000 to 10 qualifying veterans ($2,500 in the fall term and $2,500 in the spring term).  Visit the LMU Loyola Law School Yellow Ribbon page for details and procedures.

Only individuals entitled to the maximum 100% benefit level for Chapter 33 (based on service requirements) may receive Yellow Ribbon benefits from LMU and the VA. We strongly encourage you to review the eligibility criteria directly from the VA’s website.

Active duty members and spouses of active duty members eligible for transfer of entitlements are not eligible if their tuition and fees are paid in full under another VA benefit program.

The general eligibility requirements for the Yellow Ribbon Program include:

• Student served an aggregate period of active duty after September 10, 2001, of at least 36 months
• Student was honorably discharged from active duty for a service connected disability and you served 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001
• Student is a dependent eligible for Transfer of Entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill based on a veteran’s service under the eligibility criteria listed above

Veterans interested in attending LMU should refer to the VA for eligibility for additional educational benefits related to monthly housing allowances and books and supply stipends.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

The US Department of Veterans Affairs processes applications for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Interested students should complete and submit the application form available online.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

To complete an application on-line, you will need LMU’s VA Code number: 3-1-5042-05

You will receive written notification explaining the VA’s decision regarding your eligibility for the program. If you are eligible, you will receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) that specifies you are “potentially eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program.” The VA will notify you of the amount of the Yellow Ribbon Program benefits they will pay. The final funding decision, however, will be made by Loyola Marymount University.

For questions regarding COE, contact the veteran’s administration at 1-888-GIBILL1 (442-4551) to speak with an Education Case Manager.

Once you receive your COE and are deemed potentially eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program, submit your COE to the VA Certifying Official in the LMU Office of the Registrar at the following email address: VA.Certification@lmu.edu.

Upon receipt of your COE, the VA Certifying Official will certify your enrollment to VA, including eligibility for the Yellow Ribbon Program benefit. A copy of your COE will be forwarded to LMU Financial Aid for consideration of your Yellow Ribbon award.

You cannot certify your participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program directly with the VA. LMU’s Office of the Registrar must report this information on your enrollment certification.

If you have questions regarding LMU’s certification of your participation, contact LMU's VA Certifying Official at VA.Certification@lmu.edu.

Selection of students for this benefit is based on a first-come, first-serve basis. Once the maximum awards available have been offered, no additional Yellow Ribbon Program benefits will be offered by LMU.

The University strongly encourages all applicants for the Yellow Ribbon Program to apply for federal and state assistance. For more information on the financial aid application process, please refer to the University’s Financial Aid website.

There is no application deadline. If you are an eligible veteran and you will be enrolled in the upcoming semester, submit a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the VA to LMU's Office of the Registrar as soon as possible.

If you are awarded a Yellow Ribbon award, it will be coordinated into your financial aid award in accordance with all federal, state and institutional rules and regulations.  You will have estimated "VA Education Benefits" and you may have either an "Estimated Yellow Ribbon Grant" or an actual Yellow Ribbon Grant posted to your financial aid award.

Students receiving Yellow Ribbon funds cannot receive funds designated for "tuition & fees only"  that exceed the actual amount of tuition and mandatory fees for the University.

"Tuition & Fee only" awards include:

• LMU Grants, Scholarships, or loans (any institutional aid)
• Cal Grants A and B
• LMU Athletic Scholarships and Grants
• LMU Tuition Remission
• Any other assistance that has been designated for "tuition & fees only"

The LMU portion of your Yellow Ribbon award will credit to your account once you meet all enrollment and disbursement requirements. Most awards will credit to your account after the university's Add/Drop deadline, which is usually the first Friday of each semester.

The VA match of your Yellow Ribbon award will issue payment directly to the University on your behalf after your enrollment certification is processed by the VA.  The process time usually takes 6-8 weeks after the beginning of each semester and summer session.

LMU will offer you a Yellow Ribbon Program benefit as long as the following apply:

• LMU continues to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program
• You are enrolled at full-time status (12 units for Undergraduate students, 6 units for Graduate students) and maintain in good academic and conduct standing as defined in the University.  Please review our Satisfactory Academic Progress policy page for Undergraduate/Post Baccalaureate students, Graduate students, and Law students for more information about maintaining financial aid eligibility.
• You have remaining entitlement as defined by the VA 
• Your "Semester Benefits Enrollment Form" is submitted to the Office of the Registrar prior to each term of enrollment

*LMU’s participation in the Yellow Ribbon program is voluntary. LMU may choose not to participate or change the contribution amount offered in future years.

All veteran's benefit payments are made at the discretion of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). LMU will only confer expected payments and apply funds received from the VA to a recipient’s student account. If the VA determines that a student is not eligible for expected funds, it is the student’s responsibility to repay any overpayment of funds to the VA and LMU.

Certification

At the end of each term, LMU will certify and report the number of completed units to the VA. The VA will determine if an overpayment has been made to the school on the student’s behalf. See “Overpayment” below for instructions regarding an overpayment.

F Grades

If a veteran receives an F grade due to a class dropped, LMU will inform the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) of the drop. LMU will certify the last date of attendance (LDA) and report it to the VA.

Repeating Courses

If a student receives a grade for a course that counts towards program completion the course cannot be certified again by the VA, even if the student wishes to complete the course again for a potential higher grade.

However, a student can be certified for a repeated course if the course was previously failed once.

If a repeated course is failed again, the second failed grade will be reported to the VA.

Overpayment

The VA will determine the amount of an overpayment for an individual in receipt of chapter 33 benefits as follows:

An individual who does not complete all courses in the certified period of enrollment, and who does not substantiate mitigating circumstances for not completing such enrollment, will be charged an overpayment equal to the amount of ALL educational assistance paid for that period of enrollment.

This means the veteran is responsible for any overpayment incurred as a result of not completing courses.

If an overpayment is determined, the VA will notify the veteran. Overpayment notifications will inform the veteran of the overpayment amount and whom to contact to establish a repayment schedule. Overpayments are collected by the VA Debt Management Center.

In most cases, overpayments will not be collected during the due process period, which is 30 days from the day of notification.