President Joseph Aoun announced today that Northeastern University will invest $2 million to help post-9/11 veterans earn degrees at Northeastern through the government’s new Yellow Ribbon Program. Northeastern’s commitment, combined with matching funds provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, will allow 162 veterans to attend the university each year at little or no cost.

Due to the size of the university’s support, qualifying veterans who enroll at Northeastern will receive grant aid that covers most to all of Northeastern’s tuition and fee charges, depending on the degree program they choose. Veterans will have access to a full range of programs, including bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and law degrees.

“Northeastern has a proud history of educating the brave men and women who have served our country in the military,” said President Aoun. “By making a strong commitment to the Yellow Ribbon Program, we are providing today’s veterans with even more opportunities to attend Northeastern.”

A provision of the post-9/11 GI Bill, the Yellow Ribbon Program provides partial funding for veterans to cover the cost of tuition at participating private universities. The participating universities can bridge the gap to cover the remaining costs. Federal funding formulas are tied to the cost of the most expensive public undergraduate tuition and fee rate in the same state.

Northeastern and the Department of Veterans Affairs will cover all or most of the expenses that exceed the cost of attending the University of Massachusetts. Allowances for housing, books and supplies are included.

The Yellow Ribbon Program will become effective on August 1, 2009. To be eligible, veterans must have served at least three years of active duty beginning on or after September 11, 2001. Veterans from any state are eligible to attend Northeastern and receive Yellow Ribbon funding.

Interested applicants are subject to the same guidelines required of all incoming students and must submit an application for admission. To learn more about the Yellow Ribbon Program at Northeastern, visit www.northeastern.edu/veterans, or call Northeastern’s admissions office at 617-373-2200.