FORT COLLINS - Colorado State University, partnering with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program, is offering free tuition as well as housing and book stipends to military veterans and their children beginning with this fall semester.

CSU is paying 100 percent of veteran undergraduate resident and veteran non-resident undergraduate tuition (a savings of about $6,300 for resident undergrads and $22,000 for non-resident undergrads).

The program also pays all fees (about $620) and provides about $4,300 per semester in housing allowance and $1,000 per year for books.

"Our community, state and nation owe all those who have served in the military a great deal of gratitude and appreciation," said CSU President Tony Frank.

The CSU Yellow Ribbon initiative is a provision of the Post 9-11 GI Bill, which pays public, in-state tuition for veterans or their designated transferees. It is part of the university's commitment to be a top national veteran-friendly campus, Frank added.