LINCOLN — University of Nebraska President James B. Milliken announced recently that university will offer free tuition to qualifying veterans through participation in the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement program.
“We are proud to participate in this program that extends educational benefits to those who have served their country through military service,” Milliken said. “It provides a well-deserved enhancement to the GI Bill.”
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Participating institutions agree to fund a portion of tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate for qualifying veterans, which the Veterans Administration will match and then transfer to the university. Beginning Aug. 1, all four campuses of the University of Nebraska will waive 50 percent of the cost of a qualifying veteran’s tuition that exceeds the highest undergraduate tuition in the state (currently $236.75 per credit hour at UNMC College of Nursing).
The waiver is available for all undergraduate students including distance education students.
As an example, a qualifying veteran who is not a resident of Nebraska but wishes to attend NU would currently pay the difference between resident and non-resident tuition rates. The GI Bill already covers the cost of tuition at resident rates, as well as up to $1,574.25 per term of fees for colleges and universities in Nebraska.
For a full-time student who carries 15 hours per semester, the difference between one year of resident tuition and one year of non-resident tuition, based on 2009-10 tuition rates at UNL, would be $11,040.
Under the Yellow Ribbon program:
- The VA will pay resident tuition, mandatory fees and 50 percent of the nonresident tuition differential;
- The university will waive 50 percent of the nonresident tuition differential, and
- The qualifying veteran pays no tuition or mandatory fees.
Veterans also receive a living allowance and a stipend for books and supplies. Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress to continue qualifying throughout their education.
The program is available on a first-come, first-served basis; however, Milliken said he does not plan to limit the number of veterans who can take advantage of it.
“I am pleased and proud that the University of Nebraska is supporting our troops and veterans through the Yellow Ribbon Program,” said John Hilgert, director of the Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs. “This partnership between our university and the VA will make a difference to those who have done so much for our nation.
“The Yellow Ribbon Program not only says ‘Welcome Home,’ but says ‘Welcome to the University of Nebraska.'”
To qualify, the veteran must meet service requirements as defined by the Veterans Administration.