New York Film Academy Supports the Yellow Ribbon Program for Veterans
The folks from the New York Film Academy asked if they could write a guest post about their Yellow Ribbon Program for Veterans. If it interests you, contact them;
A great deal has been done in recent years to help our returning veterans transition back into civilian life following the time they’ve selflessly given in military service. There’s still a lot to do, of course, but every year more and more employers and education providers are joining the list of military friendly institutions.
The New York Film Academy is one such institution, and is honored to be recognized on militaryfriendly.com’s list of Top 100 Military Friendly Schools.
Prospective students will be pleased to hear that many of NYFA’s programs are approved for veterans education benefits, most notably the Post-9/11 GI Bill and via the Yellow Ribbon Program. As such, it’s the first port of call for veterans interested in a career in film.
The Post-9/11 GI-Bill and How it Benefits Veterans
The Post-9/11 Bill was introduced in 2008 as a revision to the long outdated previous bill which had been in effect, relatively unchanged, since WWII. As of last summer, around 750,000 Middle Eastern combat-era veterans have taken advantage of the new bill.
While some benefits of the GI Bill are open to those on active duty, it is mainly geared towards those who have received an honorary discharge and for the latter category most veterans who have been on active duty for 90 or more days (since September 10th of 2001) will be eligible.
The main benefits of the bill include:
Up to 100% Coverage of Tuition Fees – This depends on the length of service (for instance, 100% coverage is generally only offered to those having served over 36 cumulative months since 9/11). However, most veterans can expect at least 40% coverage but see the caveat below regarding public versus private funding.
Monthly Living and Housing Allowance – A massive benefit to veterans studying full-time, the housing benefit stipend can be as much as $2,700 (and averages $1,368) per month.
Book Stipend – Useful for textbooks and other supplies, students may receive up to $1k a year (paid in installments at the beginning of each term).
Relocation Allowance – If you have to relocate at least 500 miles to attend the NYFA, or cannot get to the LA campus (the dedicated location for veteran studies) by any other means except by flying, you may be eligible to a one-off payment of $500.
It is important to note that the full 100% tuition fee coverage may only be available to those pursuing education in public schools. The New York Film Academy is a private school, the GI Bill may not entitle students to full tuition funding.
But fret not. That’s where the Yellow Ribbon Program comes in.
The Yellow Ribbon Program
The Yellow Ribbon Program goes hand in hand with the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and is in fact a provision of the same law that lead to the bill’s creation.
As some private tuition expenses exceed the threshold limits some of the GI Bill benefits listed above, the Yellow Ribbon Program can cover the shortfall. However, it’s important to note that eligibility for funding under the GI Bill does not necessarily entitle students to additional funding under the Yellow Ribbon Program.
It’s also worth mentioning that not all schools are part of the program. It’s an opt-in system whereby the institution in question can contribute 50% of the remaining expenses and the State will match that figure. Between the two sources of funding, veterans often receive full funding for their tuition and other expenses.
Finding out Which Educational Benefits You’re Entitled To
As with many aspects of bureaucracy, it’s not always clear what funding and financial aid is available for prospective students (particularly for those coming from out-of-state or those seeking private education).
The New York Film Academy is committed to bucking this trend. Veterans can expect clear, concise information as to what funding they are eligible to as well as how to secure it. If a question is not answered on the site, the Office of Veterans Services will be happy to help and can be contacted on 1-818-295-2020 (or via email on veteran@nyfa.edu).
Category: Veterans Issues
