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Yellow Ribbon Program

The Yellow Ribbon Program offers financial assistance to students of the armed forces. Kellogg is proud to have awarded grants through this program since its inception in 2009.

Eligibility

In order to qualify for Yellow Ribbon, you must first be 100% eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Please contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to inquire about your eligibility for benefits and request your Certificate of Eligibility.

In addition, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Receive admission to the Evening & Weekend MBA Program
  • Prior to matriculation, confirm your intent to enroll by submitting your tuition deposit
  • Submit your Certificate of Eligibility and copy of your DD 214 (a form indicating your release or discharge from active duty) to the Northwestern University Registrar’s Office. You must request these forms through the VA
  • Provide a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility to the Chicago Office of Financial Aid

Rules and regulations

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA):

  • Students must exhaust their full Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit for the academic year before Yellow Ribbon funding is paid
  • The maximum grant that a student can receive from Kellogg through the Yellow Ribbon Program is $22,000 per academic year
  • The amount a student receives from Kellogg is matched by the VA. The amount cannot exceed tuition and mandatory fees as listed by the VA
  • Grants are awarded to eligible students on a first-come, first-served basis

Receiving payment for VA education benefits

Payment for the Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty (Ch. 30), Montgomery GI Bill-Reserves (Ch. 1606), and REAP (Ch. 1607) will be made directly to you. Contact the VA at 888.442.4551 for information on how payments will be issued.

Receiving payment for the post-9/11 GI Bill (Ch. 33)

Payment will be issued after the VA receives and processes your enrollment certification from Northwestern University; however, the VA will not provide a payment timeline. You must contact the GI Bill hotline at 888-GIBILL1 (1.888.442.4551) for information on when payments will be issued

Please note:

  • Living stipends (BAH / MHA) will be issued directly to you by the VA monthly
  • Payment for tuition and fees will be issued directly to Northwestern University by the VA and will be credited to your account. The amount paid is determined by the VA and may not cover the full cost of tuition and fees
  • Northwestern will place an "anticipated credit" on your account for the portion of the tuition and fees that you will be receiving from the VA until tuition and fee payments are received. This means that you will not be required to front the money expected from the VA and will not be issued late fees on your account for the amount expected by VA
  • The anticipated credit is Northwestern’s best guess at what you will receive in payment based on your Certificate of Eligibility and enrollment for the academic term. If the actual payment received by the VA is less than what was estimated, you will be responsible for paying the difference out-of-pocket or through financial aid
  • Yellow Ribbon payments from the VA will be issued directly to Northwestern University and will be credited to your account
  • The Yellow Ribbon match provided by Northwestern will be credited to the your account at the same time the VA Yellow Ribbon payment is credited

How benefits apply

Here’s how benefits might apply to a newly admitted (summer 2022 or later) eligible Evening & Weekend student taking one course in summer 2022 through spring 2023:

Tuition charge

Post-9/11 gi bill benefit
($26,042.81 max)
Yellow Ribbon Grant (Kellogg) Yellow Ribbon Grant (VA) Balance due
Summer 2023 $7,604.00  $7,604.00  $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Fall 2023
$7,872.00 
$7,872.00 
$0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Winter 2024
$7,872.00 
$7,872.00 
$0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Spring 2024
$7,872.00 
$7,872.00 
$0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Summer 2024
$7,872.00 
$3,504.05  $2,183.98 $2,183.98 $0.00
Total $39,092.00 $34,724.05 $2,183.98 $2,183.98 $0.00
Here’s how benefits might apply to a newly admitted (summer 2022 or later) eligible Evening & Weekend student taking two courses in summer 2022 through spring 2023:
Tuition charge Post-9/11 gi bill benefit
($25,162.14max)
Yellow Ribbon Grant (Kellogg) Yellow Ribbon Grant (VA) Balance due
Summer 2023 $15,208.00 $15,208.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Fall 2023
$15,744.00
$15,744.00
$0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Winter 2024
$15,744.00
$11,376.05 
$2,183.98  $2,183.98  $0.00
Spring 2024
$15,744.00
$0.00
$7,872.00 $7,872.00 $0.00
Summer 2024
$15,744.00
$0.00 $7,872.00 $7,872.00 $0.00
Total $78,184.00
$42,328.05
$17,927.98
$17,927.98
$0.00
Here’s how benefits might apply to a newly admitted (summer 2022 or later) eligible Evening & Weekend student taking three courses in summer 2022 through spring 2023:
Tuition charge Post-9/11 gi bill benefit
($26,042.81 max)
Yellow Ribbon Grant (Kellogg) Yellow Ribbon Grant (VA) Balance due
Summer 2023 $22,812.00 $22,812.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Fall 2023
$23,616.00 
$23,616.00 
$0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Winter 2024
$23,616.00
$11,376.05
$6,119.98 $6,119.98 $0.00
Spring 2024
$23,616.00 
$0.00
$11,808.00 $11,808.00 $0.00
Summer 2024
$23,616.00 
$0.00 $2,072.03  $2,072.03  $19,471.95
Total $117,276.00 
$57,804.05
$20,000.00
$20,000.00
$19,471.95

Contact us about financial aid for the Evening & Weekend MBA Program.

Contact us
Chicago Office of Financial Aid
710 N. Lake Shore Drive, Room 629
Chicago, IL 60611
312.503.8722

Office hours
Monday-Friday
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In-person Hours
Monday-Wednesday
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.