Yellow Ribbon & Tuition Waivers

Section 702 of the Veterans Choice Act - The Most Common Path

This is the primary pathway most military-connected students use to qualify for in-state tuition at UAB. Under Section 702, public universities that participate in VA-approved GI Bill programs - including UAB - are required to charge in-state tuition rates to eligible veterans and dependents, regardless of their formal state of residence.

Who qualifies under Section 702:

• A veteran who lives in Alabama (regardless of formal state of residence) and enrolls within three years of an honorable discharge from at least 90 days of active duty service
• A spouse or dependent child using transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits who lives in Alabama and enrolls within three years of the transferor's qualifying discharge
• A spouse or dependent child using the Fry Scholarship who lives in Alabama and enrolls within three years of the service member's death in the line of duty following at least 90 days of active duty service
• Students using the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA/Chapter 35) program are also eligible for in-state tuition rates as of August 1, 2022

Important: Section 702 applies after discharge - it does not cover students who are still on active duty or members of the Active Guard Reserve (AGR).

If you believe you qualify but have been incorrectly charged out-of-state tuition, contact our office immediately.

Learn more about Section 702 at VA.gov Opens an external link.

UA System Board Rule 202 - Additional In-State Eligibility

In addition to federal law, the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees has established its own rules under Board Rule 202, Section IV, that expand in-state tuition eligibility for veterans and service members beyond what Section 702 requires. UAB considers a student a "resident student" for tuition purposes if they meet any of the following:

• Is a member, or the spouse or dependent child of a member, of a qualifying federal service whose domicile or permanent duty station is in Alabama
• Has been a member of the Alabama National Guard for at least two years immediately preceding the academic term and continues to be a member while enrolled at UAB
• Is an out-of-state active duty or veteran service member who resides in any county within 90 miles of UAB's campus
• Is a veteran who is an Alabama resident and has served at least two years of continuous active duty and received an honorable discharge within five years of enrolling, is currently serving in a reserve component, or has been assigned a service-connected disability rating by the VA
• Is receiving or entitled to receive GI Bill benefits and lives in Alabama while enrolled - including veterans, spouses, and dependents of active or veteran service members

To maintain in-state eligibility under Rule 202, students must remain enrolled at UAB, provide required documentation of military or veteran status, and continue to meet applicable eligibility requirements.

View UA System Board Rule 202 Opens an external link.

Yellow Ribbon Program

UAB participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, a federal program that allows the university and the VA to jointly cover tuition costs that exceed the maximum amount payable under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

In practice, most UAB students using the Post-9/11 GI Bill qualify for in-state tuition rates under Section 702, which means Yellow Ribbon is rarely needed. However, if you are a student who does not qualify for in-state tuition under Section 702 or Board Rule 202, or if your program costs exceed what the GI Bill covers, Yellow Ribbon may provide additional assistance.

Yellow Ribbon is available only to students using the Post-9/11 GI Bill at 100% eligibility.

Learn more about the Yellow Ribbon Program at VA.gov Opens an external link.