Veterans Administration Names Distance Education Leader Ashworth College Yellow Ribbon School

NORCROSS, Ga., June 8, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Ashworth College, a leader in online education, announced today that the U.S. Veterans Administration has approved Ashworth for participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program, for the academic year August 1, 2011 to July 31, 2012.

Institutions that voluntarily enter into a Yellow Ribbon Agreement with VA agree to provide matching funds to cover a portion of education-related expenses above and beyond what is offered under the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Participating schools choose the amount of tuition and fees that will be contributed and VA will match that amount and issue payment directly to the institution.

Available to U.S. Veterans, the Yellow Ribbon program supplements current educational benefits programs which currently pay up to the equivalent of the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition and fees.

"Until now, students exceeding their education benefits would have to pay the balance out-of-pocket which makes the Yellow Ribbon Program particularly attractive to veterans attending private schools or paying out-of-state tuition," said Rodney Butler, U.S. Army First Sergeant, Retired and Ashworth College Military Education Coordinator on behalf of the accredited online school.

"Now they have the opportunity to get even more of their education paid for," Butler continued. "Considering that an accredited online college like Ashworth is up to 50% less than similar institutions, it's highly possible to graduate with zero out-of-pocket expenses."

Ashworth College is a Servicemember Opportunity Colleges Consortium (SOC) member school, accepts ACE credits and is approved for a range of other military benefits including Post 9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, GoArmyEd, and MyCAA.

Ashworth has been recognized as a military friendly school by both G.I. Jobs and Military Advanced Education magazines. The online school also supports a campus chapter of the Student Veteran's Association and is a sponsor of Military Spouse magazine's 2011 Military Spouse of the Year Award.

About The Yellow Ribbon Program

The Yellow Ribbon Program was established by the Post-911 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 which allows institutions of higher learning (such as colleges, universities, and other degree-granting schools) in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with Veterans Administration to fund remaining tuition and fees after depleting all other education benefits. This provides the possibility for veterans to earn a degree at no cost!

About Ashworth College

As a leader in online education, Ashworth College has built a tradition of excellence spanning 25 years, offering students worldwide more than 115 online college degrees, online career certificates, online career training and high school online diplomas that are affordable and fit the busy schedules of working adults. Ashworth also offers military education online as well as specialized programs for corporate partners and homeschoolers.

Headquartered in Norcross, GA, Ashworth is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). The Accrediting Commission of the DETC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency. James Madison High School is further accredited regionally by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). SACS CASI is an accreditation division of AdvancED. For more information, visit http://www.ashworthcollege.edu.

SOURCE Ashworth College