Title 38 — Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-73
§3317 Public-private contributions for additional educational assistance
Title 38 › Part PART III— - READJUSTMENT AND RELATED BENEFITS › Chapter CHAPTER 33— - POST–9/11 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE › § 3317
Summary
Creates the Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program. It lets colleges and universities choose to pay part of tuition and fees that the benefit under section 3313(c)(1)(A) does not cover for students listed in section 3311(b) paragraphs (1), (2), (8), (9), (10), and (11). If a school pays a share of the remaining cost, the Secretary will match that same share, up to 50% of the remaining tuition and mandatory fees. The Secretary may use funds available under section 3324(b) to make those payments. A school must sign an agreement with the Secretary to join. The agreement must say how the school will provide its contribution (for example, grants or scholarships), the maximum contribution per student per year, the maximum number of students per year, and any other agreed terms. The Department will keep a current list of participating schools and their agreement details on its website.
Full Legal Text
Title 38, §3317
Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)In instances where the educational assistance provided pursuant to section 3313(c)(1)(A) does not cover the full cost of tuition and fees for a program of education, the Secretary shall carry out a program under which colleges and universities can, voluntarily, enter into an agreement with the Secretary to cover a portion of such tuition and fees not otherwise covered under subsection (c)(1)(A) or (e)(2)(A) of section 3313 of this title, which contributions shall be matched by equivalent contributions toward such costs by the Secretary. The program shall only apply to covered individuals described in paragraphs (1), (2), (8), (9), (10), and (11) of section 3311(b).
(b)The program under this section shall be known as the “Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program”.
(c)The Secretary shall enter into an agreement with each college or university seeking to participate in the program under this section. Each agreement shall specify the following:
(1)The manner (whether by direct grant, scholarship, or otherwise) of the contributions to be made by the college or university concerned.
(2)The maximum amount of the contribution to be made by the college or university concerned with respect to any particular individual in any given academic year.
(3)The maximum number of individuals for whom the college or university concerned will make contributions in any given academic year.
(4)Such other matters as the Secretary and the college or university concerned jointly consider appropriate.
(d)(1)In instances where the educational assistance provided an individual under section 3313(c)(1)(A) does not cover the full cost of tuition and mandatory fees at a college or university, the Secretary shall provide up to 50 percent of the remaining costs for tuition and mandatory fees if the college or university voluntarily enters into an agreement with the Secretary to match an equal percentage of any of the remaining costs for such tuition and fees.
(2)Amounts available to the Secretary under section 3324(b) for payment of the costs of this chapter shall be available to the Secretary for purposes of paragraph (1).
(e)The Secretary shall make available on the Internet website of the Department available to the public a current list of the colleges and universities participating in the program under this section. The list shall specify, for each college or university so listed, appropriate information on the agreement between the Secretary and such college or university under subsection (c).
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2021—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 116–315, § 1008, substituted “the full cost of tuition and fees for a program of education” for “the full cost of established charges (as specified in section 3313)” and “such tuition and fees” for “those established charges”. Pub. L. 116–315, § 1002(b)(3), substituted “paragraphs (1), (2), (8), (9), (10), and (11)” for “paragraphs (1), (2), (8), and (9)”. 2017—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–48, § 105(c)(4), substituted “paragraphs (1), (2), (8), and (9)” for “paragraphs (1), (2), (9), and (10)”. Pub. L. 115–48, § 104(a), which directed substitution of “subsection (c)(1)(A) or (e)(2)(A) of section 3313 of this title” for “section 3313(c)(1)(A)” in the first sentence, was executed in both places where “section 3313(c)(1)(A)” appeared, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Pub. L. 115–48, § 103(a), substituted “paragraphs (1), (2), (9), and (10)” for “paragraphs (1) and (2)”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2021 AmendmentAmendment by section 1002(b)(3) of Pub. L. 116–315 effective immediately after the
Amendments
made by section 105 of Pub. L. 115–48 [
Amendments
effective Aug. 1, 2020] and applicable with respect to a quarter, semester, or term, commencing on or after Aug. 1, 2021, see section 1002(c) of Pub. L. 116–315, set out as a note under section 3311 of this title.
Effective Date
of 2017 Amendment Pub. L. 115–48, title I, § 103(b), Aug. 16, 2017, 131 Stat. 975, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect on
August 1, 2018.” Pub. L. 115–48, title I, § 104(b), Aug. 16, 2017, 131 Stat. 975, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect on
August 1, 2022.” Amendment by section 105(c)(4) of Pub. L. 115–48 effective Aug. 1, 2020, see section 105(d) of Pub. L. 115–48, set out as a note under section 3311 of this title.
Effective Date
Section effective Aug. 1, 2009, see section 5003(d) of Pub. L. 110–252, set out as an
Effective Date
of 2008 Amendment note under section 16163 of Title 10, Armed Forces. Pat Tillman Veterans’ Scholarship Initiative Pub. L. 111–275, title I, § 107, Oct. 13, 2010, 124 Stat. 2872, provided that: “(a) Availability of Scholarship Information.—By not later than June 1, 2011, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall include on the Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs a list of organizations that provide scholarships to veterans and their survivors and, for each such organization, a link to the Internet website of the organization. “(b) Maintenance of Scholarship Information.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make reasonable efforts to notify schools and other appropriate entities of the opportunity to be included on the Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs pursuant to subsection (a).”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
38 U.S.C. § 3317
Title 38 — Veterans' Benefits
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73