A perennially hot topic is “Where can my military kid get in-state tuition?” There is a ton of misinformation out there. Some of it is based on ever-changing federal laws. Some is based on the fact that beyond the federal guidelines, every state makes its own rules. Sometimes even different schools within a state have their own rules! Be sure you have the right information before you begin the college search. It may impact your choices.
I am deeply invested in this question because I have four children. Three of them did their undergraduate education in our state of legal residence because that’s where it was affordable for us. My kids, like many military children, were advantaged over their peers because they had more choices for in-state tuition than their civilian classmates. Many military children qualify for in-state tuition in two states. And they may be eligible for a third state if Mom or Dad moves on Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders while they are in college.
It is important to remember that the definition of residency is different for different uses. With regard to in-state tuition, most students are considered “dependent” students. Their residence, for purposes of in-state tuition, is almost always tied to their parents’ residence(s), regardless of the parents’ role in paying for school. Having your child file their own tax return and claiming themselves instead of you claiming them as a dependent will not change this. The criteria to be considered an independent student include military service, marriage, having a child, being legally emancipated prior to age 18, or being a foster child.
State of Parents’ Legal Residence
Military students are (almost) always eligible for in-state tuition in their active duty parent’s state of legal residence, or domicile. The parent must be a legitimate resident of that state. Different state has different requirements. They generally include Leave and Earnings Statements (LES) showing the designated state, plus other indicators of residence such as voter registration, drivers licenses, vehicle registration, etc. If it is a state that taxes income, you’ll almost definitely need to have filed your taxes there.
Now, because states have to be different, there are states that make it really hard for legitimate residents to get in-state tuition. Be sure to understand your school’s specific rules before making any decisions. I’m looking at you, North Carolina.
State of Actual Residence
The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 requires that states offer in-state tuition to military family members who live in the state due to their active duty military member’s service. This means that military kids are eligible for in-state tuition where they are actually living in conjunction with their parent’s job. They do not need to meet any other residency requirements.
If you live in one state and work in another state, this is based upon the state where the family lives, not where the parent’s military job is located. BUT in certain geographic areas that span state lines, schools may have their own special rules. Those rules can not be more restrictive than the federal law.
Once again, state laws may be more liberal. For example, if you live in Maryland but the service member’s job is in Virginia, you may be able to wangle in-state tuition in either Virginia or Maryland. But get that information in writing before making a decision.
Keeping The In-State Rate
Military children have another residency advantage over their civilian peers. They get to keep their in-state residency, as long as they remain continuously enrolled, even if their parents’ situation changes while they are in school. If a child starts college, and receives in-state tuition there because their parent is stationed there, he or she will continue to receive in-state tuition even if the parent moves away on military orders. Some schools will offer this anyway, but military kids are protected by federal law.
This is also part of the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008. If you search for “in-state,” it takes you directly to the relevant section.
New State? New School
If a military family moves while their student is in college, the student is generally eligible for in-state tuition in the new location without having to meet a time-in-residence requirement. That’s the same part of the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008.
What About The GI Bill?
There is a ton of confusion about what is and is not required when students are using GI Bill benefits. Part of that confusion is because the rules have changed over the years. And there was another big change that started 1 August 2021.
Effective 1 August 2021, all states must offer in-state tuition to any student using ANY Department of Veteran Affairs educational benefits. This includes the GI Bill, DEA, or other VA education benefits.
While these are the “rules,” there are always exceptions. Some schools will give military kids in-state tuition just to be nice, and others have good deals for military kids. Some schools even let you keep that in-state tuition when you’re no longer using the GI Bill. And students using the GI Bill may find that the Yellow Ribbon Program means that a private college ends up being as affordable as a state school. Be sure to thoroughly check out your desired schools to understand their specific policies.
Figuring out how to pay for college is tough. Military children have more options for in-state tuition than their civilian peers, but they don’t get in-state tuition everywhere. Understanding the details before your student selects their college can prevent unpleasant surprises!
More information on the topic of college and how to pay for it:
Seven Answers To FAFSA Questions For Military Families
The Big List of Military Scholarships
Set Your Kids Up For Success In Higher Education By Helping Them Find A Good Financial Fit
Legal Documents for Young Adults: What You Need To Have
Join Prime Student FREE Two-Day Shipping for College Students
Stay Informed!
Let me help you keep up-to-date on your military pay and benefits! Subscribe now for my newsy emails, which come about once every two weeks.
What about military kids stationed overseas?
My question exactly! I cant seem to find anything about overseas…..If I claim the preferred state on my LES residence and pay taxes for that state will this qualify? I am thinking it will be up to the college to make that decision.
Forrest, your state of legal residence does not change while you are overseas. You can’t just “claim the preferred state.” Legal residence is established while physically residing in a state, and is demonstrated by the overall intent demonstrated by a collection of actions, including maintaining a driver’s license, registering vehicles, registering to vote, actually voting, paying taxes, etc. The Servicemember’s Civil Relief Act (SCRA) permits to you maintain a properly established state of legal residence when transferred to a new state for the sole purpose of military orders, but does not give you permission to just pick a state that you like. The regular rules for establishing residency still apply.
Your state of legal residence when you leave the US remains your state of legal residence during the time you are overseas.
Oh…well that sucks!
Especially if you are stationed overseas and have to send a kid back to the US by themselves. We don’t have any available care givers in the state from which we joined the service (NY) but we do in (UT). If we were to get stationed in Utah, that would be great, but right now we don’t even have the option.
I am a resident of Texas, but my wife was a resident of Virginia when we left to go to Italy on my military orders in 2018. We had PCS’d to Virginia in 2009 and my wife had had to pay taxes, vote, driver’s liscence, etc. in Virginia (we were here before SCRA was passed). We will have one going to college in 2021, will we get in-state for Virginia because my wife was a resident when we were sent OCONUS?
Probably not, but it would be worth asking the individual schools. Based upon Virginia’s rules on domicile for purposes of tuition, and your residency in Texas, they’d probably argue that any military exemption doesn’t apply to your kids. But that’s just my guess.
You might want to review this document: https://www.schev.edu/index/tuition-aid/in-state-residency/financial-aid-policy-and-procedures There’s a pretty good explanation of how the rules work for military folks.
I think it might also depend on whether your wife is working and paying taxes to Virginia, and has otherwise maintained her demonstration of domicile, including actually voting, keeping her driver’s license updated, etc.
That is what we found to be true. We were stationed in Italy when our daughter graduated high school. TX was on the LES so that is the state she could get in state tuition.
Anything for military spouses of retired spouses? I am heading to grad school.
Same thing applies. 🙂
Keep in mind, if you use the GI Bill at a physical public university, tuition rates don’t matter! Whoever uses it is covered.
I am looking for a list of universities that offer instate for retired military dependents. I live in Alabama and Mississippi State University offers instate for all military dependents. There has to be more universities offer the same.
University of Southern Mississippi does as well. Also, a good quality school up north, Western Michigan University.
Check out Michigan State.
Yes Michigan State does as well. Great school.
Iowa State University charges in-state tuition for children of veterans. ISU parent.
University of North Dakota offers instate tuition for defendants of veterans, too.
Michigan Tech offers a military scholarship which virtually grants in-state tuition
University of Iowa offers in state rate for military dependents. Go Hawks!!
This is no longer the case. University of Iowa’s Veterans’ office confirmed via phone to me that the Iowa Board of Regents changed the requirements so that only veterans who are eligible to use a GI Bill Benefit are eligible for in-state tuition. This eliminated my son from being eligible, since the GI Bill was not a part of the AFROTC program that I went through in the early 90’s.
I’m not sure about the other state schools in Iowa.
Iowa does however allow the student to keep in-state tuition after the exhaustion of GI Bill benefits. My son is getting 13 months from me. Iowa is giving him in-state during the GI Bill period and then keeping as in state for the rest of his time at Iowa. Iowa State does the same.
What about my dependents if I am stationed overseas? If I claim the preferred state on my LES for tax purposes does this qualify?
College and university administrations across America should allow military children overseas to receive in-state tuition to any institution of their choice because of frequent permanent changes of station with the unstable reliance on being a resident of a certain state, feeling as if they were forgotten and as a sign of respect to the work of their sponsors/parents. Military families are continuously moving from one place to another at least every two years. Some are moved across the United States, while others travel to the western countries across the ocean. Military dependents overseas deserve to enjoy educational benefits such as their peers that also have parents or family members as service members. If college and university administrations would work together with at least the state government to offer military families all over the globe in-state tuition or special prices, it would be greatly appreciated.
Kate, Thanks for your research and clarification…I did have it stuck in my head that as of 2014, all dependents would receive in-state tuition in any state. Since you have this forum, I’d like to share some of my research for your audience. Many blessings.
I am a service member and native TX resident. If any service member is a TX resident when they enter military service, they, their spouse and their children receive 150 hours of paid tuition at any TX State University. The condition is that the GI Bill must be already used, so this works great for families with multiple children. The mechanism is the Texas Hazlewood Act (http://www.tvc.texas.gov/Hazzlewood-Act.aspx)
I also know for a fact that native AL residents receive free college tuition for their children. Not sure of the mechanism.
All NY residents receive free tuition at State Universities of NY (SUNY), so this works for native residents, military transplants, and anyone claiming NY and documenting NY on their taxes.
All Post 9/11 GI Bill eligible attendees receive In-State Tuition in NY, even if your entitlement expires during enrollment as long as you don’t change schools. (http://system.suny.edu/university-life/military-veterans/tuition/)
Then, of course, there is the yellow ribbon program which primarily benefits private school attendees. Once the GI Bill is applied, the University participating in the YRP agrees to fund a certain # of additional attendees (i.e. 30/yr) and agree to scholarship an additional dollar figure (i.e. $2500) towards the cost of attendance. VA then agrees to match the university portion (+$2500/yr)
Kate: Pleased to confirm that as of July 1, 2017, all states are required to provide in-state tuition for Post 9/11 GI Bill-eligible veterans and dependents OR lose GI Bill program entitlements.
GI Bill Resident Rate Requirements
Section 3679(c) of title 38, United States Code requires VA to disapprove programs of education for payment of benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty at public Institutions of Higher Learning (IHLs) if the school charges qualifying Veterans and dependents tuition and fees in excess of the rate for resident students for terms that began after July 1, 2017.
https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/post911_residentraterequirements.asp
Ronnie, I encourage you to read the rule very carefully and check with the individual school. The important part, in my opinion, is the language that says this:
“It depends on your school’s policy and rules:
By law, schools are allowed to have additional requirements that must be met in order for a “covered individual” to be charged the resident rate for tuition and fees.”
It is my understanding of this law intends only to waive the “time in physical residence” portion of the in-state tuition requirements, not ALL the in-state tuition requirements. Said another way, it permits a newly separated veteran (or dependent) who has left the military and established a new home in a new place to obtain in-state tuition without waiting the required 12 or more months of physical residency. However, it does not eliminate the requirement that the veteran fulfill the other requirements of showing intent to make the location their permanent home. These might include getting a driver’s license, finding a job, setting up a household, etc. I don’t believe the intent is was to require in-state tuition in any random location, though it seems that some schools are finding it easier to just do that.
Because of my reading of the law, I don’t believe that all dependents receive in-state tuition in any state.
Kate,
Thanks for sharing your research. Here is our scenario…hopefully you can help. We are active duty AF stationed in Ohio. My spouse and I are both California residents. I am in Ohio based on an assignment deferral that helped avoid moving in the middle of my daughter’s junior year. This means that I must move by the first day of the second month after my daughter’s HS graduation; basically before her first day in college. Which means I will no longer be an active duty military member in Ohio and that eliminates that option. This also means that I won’t know my next assignment until after college applications are due.
Here is the dilemma:
3333-1-10 Ohio student residency for state subsidy and tuition surcharge purposes:
Para (C)(2) A person who has been a resident of Ohio for the purpose of this rule for at least twelve consecutive months immediately preceding his or her enrollment in an institution of higher education and who is not receiving, and has not directly or indirectly received in the preceding twelve consecutive months, financial support from persons or entities who are not residents of Ohio for all other legal purposes.
This means I would have to change my residency because she directly receives financial support from me. Maybe my wife too? She doesn’t work, but we file jointly – does that mean she provides financial support? I don’t know. That eliminates us because my daughter will have received financial support from me.
(C)(1) A student whose spouse, or a dependent student, at least one of whose parents or legal guardian, has been a resident of the state of Ohio for all other legal purposes for twelve consecutive months or more immediately preceding the enrollment of such student in an institution of higher education.
Can my wife change her residency and meet this requirement? But would (C)(2) eliminate her because of support? She doesn’t provide any financial support because she doesn’t work. However, we have a joint bank account and file jointly for federal taxes.
(4)(B) If the spouse or a dependent of the veteran seeks residency status for tuition surcharge purposes, the veteran and the spouse or dependent seeking residency status have established domicile in this state as of the first day of a term of enrollment in an institution of higher education.
Can my daughter at 17 years old establish domicile if she lives with friends of ours and pays rent? I don’t know.
(7) A person who, while a resident of this state for state subsidy and tuition surcharge purposes, graduated from a high school in this state or completed the final year of instruction at home as authorized under section 3321.04 of the Revised Code, if the person enrolls in an institution of higher education and establishes domicile in this state, regardless of the student’s residence prior to that enrollment.
(D) Additional criteria which may be considered in determining residency may include but are not limited to the following:
(1) Criteria evidencing residency:
(a) If a person is subject to tax liability under section 5747.02 of the Revised Code; – Not sure if she is.
(b) If a person qualifies to vote in Ohio; – she will still be 17 at the start of the school year, but 18 within a couple of weeks of the start of the term.
(c) If a person is eligible to receive Ohio public assistance; Not us
(d) If a person has an Ohio’s driver’s license and/or motor vehicle registration. She has an Ohio driver’s license.
This is clear cut guidance, but still ambiguous. I won’t go into details for California, but here is a quick summary. I spoke with two different UCs and they each told me that my daughter would get in-state tuition because of my status, but as an exception. The exception will mean that she will not qualify for the same scholarships and will not get as much financial aid as other California students.
The easy solution is that I declare Ohio residency (we own a house here), but then I close the doors on my other kids if they want to go to a California school. I don’t want to play musical chairs with residencies. Also, California would still cost more if we don’t get appropriate financial aid and scholarships.
Any advice?
Good news, I contacted OH Higher Education Authority and they replied that you qualify even after relocating if your daughter is already enrolled and has no break in her education enrollment or pursuit. I can forward their email to you if you like.
Ohio Administrative Rule 10 applies to all students enrolling in public colleges and universities.
Provision F1 does permit a student to retain in-state tuition residency status if the student maintains continuous enrollment. While each case is factual and any one fact can change an outcome, based on the described factors, a student whose parents left the state after enrollment due to military orders, may continue at the institution provided the student does not take a semester off (summer does not count as taking a semester off). I copied all of F below.
Link to rule 10: http://codes.ohio.gov/oac/3333-1-10
(F) Procedures
(1) A dependent person classified as a resident of Ohio for these purposes under the provisions of paragraph (C)(1) of this rule and who is enrolled in an institution of higher education when his or her parents or legal guardian removes their residency from the state of Ohio shall continue to be considered a resident during continuous full-time enrollment and until his or her completion of any one academic degree program.
(2) In considering residency, removal of the student or the student’s parents or legal guardian from Ohio shall not, during a period of twelve months following such removal, constitute relinquishment of Ohio residency status otherwise established under paragraph (C)(1) or (C)(2) of this rule.
(3) For students who qualify for residency status under paragraph (C)(3) of this rule, residency status is lost immediately if the employed person upon whom resident student status was based accepts employment and establishes domicile outside Ohio less than twelve months after accepting employment and establishing domicile in Ohio.
(4) Any person once classified as a nonresident, upon the completion of twelve consecutive months of residency, must apply to the institution he or she attends for reclassification as a resident of Ohio for these purposes if such person in fact wants to be reclassified as a resident. Should such person present clear and convincing proof that no part of his or her financial support is or in the preceding twelve consecutive months has been provided directly or indirectly by persons or entities who are not residents of Ohio for all other legal purposes, such person shall be reclassified as a resident.
Evidentiary determinations under this rule shall be made by the institution which may require, among other things, the submission of documentation regarding the sources of a student’s actual financial support.
(5) Any reclassification of a person who was once classified as a nonresident for these purposes shall have prospective application only from the date of such reclassification.
(6) Any institution of higher education charged with reporting student enrollment to the chancellor of the Ohio department of higher education for state subsidy purposes and assessing the tuition surcharge shall provide individual students with a fair and adequate opportunity to present proof of his or her Ohio residency for purposes of this rule. Such an institution may require the submission of affidavits and other documentary evidence which it may deem necessary to a full and complete determination under this rule.
Ohio Department of Higher Education
25 South Front Street, 7th flr.
Columbus, Ohio 43215
http://www.OhioHigherEd.org
I can confirm that Mississippi State University (MSU) waives all out of state tuition fees for dependents of veterans. My eldest daughter is starting there in the Fall 2018. I separated in 06 and used my 9/11 bill to further my education. So, using my 9/11 money was not an option for my daughter. All MSU required was a copy of my DD214.
On a side note Rowan University in New Jersey will waive out of state tuition fees for dependent of veterans. All that is needed is a DD214. Rowan also discounts in state student tuition by 20% for dependents of veterans.
I have another daughter who will graduate in 2020 and I am constantly looking for other colleges/universities that grant in state tuition for dependents of veterans that do not have G.I. or 9/11 bill money available. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Do you know if Louisiana offers anything in this regard? My husband is AGR, stationed at Jackson Barracks. He will be deploying early next year.
Any resources you could point us towards would be greatly appreciated.
You mentioned in your article that some schools will offer in-state tuition to active duty dependents just to be nice. Do you have a listing of any of the schools. Also, I was researching Oregon and found below. I also read contradicting information. Do you know anything about the state of Oregon offering in-state tuition to active duty dependents.
“341.529
Community colleges in Oregon shall admit dependent children in the same manner as Oregon residents who are residents of the community college district and shall assess the same fees and tuition rates.
351.642
Active members of the armed forces of the United States and their dependent children shall be considered residents of this state for the purpose of admission and for the purpose of determining fees and tuition to be paid by such individuals while attending any educational institution in this state that is under the control of the State Board of Higher Education.”
Thank you
Hi Jennifer. I believe that spouses and dependents of active duty personnel are eligible, by federal law, for in-state tuition in the state where they are based. There are individual colleges that go beyond federal law and offer in-state tuition to any active duty and/or veteran dependent regardless of base(s). It’s really a matter of digging into the fine print or calling and finding a competent person to talk to. I don’t believe U of Oregon offers any help beyond federal law but other colleges in OR may.
Good morning, if we still have ties to Virginia, like drivers license and plates (stationed there for 5 years) but we are now stationed in Texas, does Virginia have to abide by “in-state” rates. My daughter would love to attend UVA. She would be using the post 9-11 but not the Yellow Ribbon. I used some of my GI benefits 20 years ago, and now I can’t restore the full 36 months.
You’re going to need to talk to the school itself, because you have a couple of different issues here. The first is whether you’re a Virginia resident. If you’re maintaining your drivers licenses and vehicle registrations in Virginia, are you also paying taxes and voting there, therefore maintaining that as your state of legal residence? Then there is the issue of the GI Bill. To the best of my knowledge, she should be charged in-state rates while using the GI Bill, but possibly that won’t continue once she runs out of benefits. There can be some creative ways to maximize her GI Bill benefits, such as using it for fall semester (which is typically shorter than spring semester) and/or not using it for summer classes. It will all depend on other factors.
Good luck to you!
Hi..I have run into a possible issue with my daughter regarding CA tution. We are domicliled in CA (own a house there and plan to move back to retire). We held her back in first grade and she went to three high schools (RI, NC, and VA). We currenlty live in VA and she has been attending Community College here. She has applied to 8 CA state schools for fall of 2019 and will be 21 when she starts school in CA. We are starting to recieve letters telling us she is not eligible for instate tution. I figured this was just because they needed proof that we are CA residentents. When I called one of the schools I was told that since she is 21 she is no longer considered a dependant for residency purposes. So, if they are correct, she can only go to a VA school since that is where she currently resides. Seems so weird and unfair since the poor kid is actually not a resident of any state! She is a military nomad. Do you have any insight into this? Could the school be wrong?
The school *could* be in the wrong, but it is going to take some serious investigating to find out for sure. I suggest you start with the school’s website. Questions I have: how have you been demonstrating that you are domiciled in California? Are you filing taxes there? Do you vote there? Are you maintaining a driver’s license and vehicle registration there?
The school is right that SHE is not a resident of California. The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, that permits military members and (in some cases) spouses to maintain a former state of residence do not apply to children. My husband and I are residents of Florida, my kids are residents of Maryland because that’s where we live. I’m assuming that she is voting, paying taxes and maintaining a Virginia driver’s licence. If so, she’s a resident of Virginia, regardless of where her heart wants to belong. Unfortunately, we can’t all be residents everywhere.
Good luck on your search for more information. I would be glad to help, but I fear that we wouldn’t find a satisfactory answer and my fee would be wasted 🙁 Reach out if want to hire me anyway, and good luck on your search.
Good information. 2 follow-up questions:
1 – are there minimum time of duty requirements (I am pre 9/11, non ware time, retired DD-214 in hand) i.e. 6 months, 2 years, etc.?
2 – would my children be eligible in their state of residence (Virginia, but < 1 year) even if with their mother, not me (divorced and I live elsewhere).
Thanks,
I’m not sure that I have enough information to answer those questions. Childrens of veterans don’t typically have the same protections as kids of active duty folks, but that may depend based upon the state. Your kids would, in theory, be eligible in their state of residence, but that would depend on the state laws. I believe that Virginia requires you to be a resident for at least 1 year, but I am not sure the details of those rules.
My husband, a reservist in the Army, passed away in 9/16. One child was waived out of state tuition at The University of Mississippi for all four years, even though her GI Bill entitlement only lasts 9 months. I have two additional children who will receive each an additional nine month beginning 4 and then 5 years after their father died. Am I correct that since they will not begin using their benefits within 3 years of his discharge (date of death…he did not die while on active duty orders), that they will not be eligible for any out of state waivers?
My husband is retired military- my step daughter ‘s state tuition was paid because of his service- but we have 2 more children together. In the state of Alabama, are their tuitions paid as well for Al state colleges?
Did she use the GI Bill or the Alabama GI Dependents Scholarship? There are different rules for each program. http://www.va.alabama.gov/gi_dep_scholarship.aspx
Hi, we’ve live in NC for 15 years. I retired and got a job in LA and subsequently pay LA taxes as a resident. My boy graduated from high school and is being charged out of state tuition. He as been there his whole life How can he, or I file taxes, to get his instate tuition.
I still have house there as well. I have two cars registered in NC as well. thanks
If you are no longer on active duty, you no longer have the protections of the Servicemember’s Civil Relief Act (SCRA). Without those protections for active duty moves, your state of legal residence changes when you move. As you’re now a legal resident of Louisiana, North Carolina is unlikely to grant him in-state residency.
If you are within 3 years of leaving active duty, and your son is using transferred GI Bill benefits, there is a provision for him to receive in-state tuition while using those benefits.
As a side note, Louisiana law requires that you register your vehicles in Louisiana within 90 days of moving or leaving active duty. http://web01.dps.louisiana.gov/omv1.nsf/58c968bd569b099986256cdc000806eb/efca2d66886a0ae6862564bb0069108e?OpenDocument
NC is an odd state for instate tuition. My stepson lived with us in NM for 7 years and graduated high school there. But because his mom claimed his as a dependent on her NC taxes he qualified for instate tuition there, even though he never lived there.
You can always appeal the decision to charge out of state tuition. Another thing to do would be to file both NC & LA state taxes.
There is an Act that will give dependents in-state tuition in any state if the Active Duty sponsor retires within a certain time frame. Do you know anything about this Act or where I can find more information?
Thank you so much.
Hi Jess,
I’m unfamiliar with this. There is the Act that requires schools to waive the in-person residency requirements for in-state tuition for recent retirees and their family members if they are using the GI Bill. Is that the Act you’re thinking of?
Hi
I wanted to ask if i was in state tuition if my dad’s home of record is in California. I am currently a senior in high school in Georgia. His income gets taxed in California and files tax there as well. Also, when i apply for California schools, would i mark that I or my parent is a resident in California?
Kate:
Thanks so much for all the valuable information. I retired from the US Army Reserve Program after 30 years on 1 OCT 20. I used all my educational benefits on my oldest child. Now I have one left that will be starting college in Fall’22 and he wants to go away to college. We live in NJ. Could you provide some college options for Military kids that would provide for in-state tuition? Much appreciated!
Hi John, I’ve tried keeping a list but it is an unrealistic project because there are so many schools and information changes so quickly. I’m afraid you’ll have to do your own research based on schools that interest your child.
Another strategy would be to search for schools that do in-state tuition waivers for certain requirements such as GPA and test scores, regardless of military affiliation. The list is probably easier to find and probably also longer.
Good luck on your search!
My husband will be up to retire from service when my daughter is in 11th grade. She is in 5th grade now but has expressed interest in going to college in California. We are Florida residents but are stationed in VA right now. it’s possible we could PCS to CA or stay in VA when she is in 11th grade. Would she get more options for in state tuition if he would extend to remain in active duty until after she graduates and starts college. she will be using the GI bill for college.
Under federal law, students using the Post 9/11 GI Bill must be charged a rate equal to in-state tuition. If she is going to use the GI Bill for all four years, then there’s no need to make any other moves to get in-state tuition.
Unfortunately my GI Bill went pass the 15 years. I was able to get in state tuition at Miss State using my DD214 as a veteran. Does anyone else know of another university that offers the same situation? I have done research but have not found anything yet. Thanks in advance for any information.
We are both veterans but have used our GI Bill/Post 9/11 Education Benefits. Can they still be considered in-state at other universities even though we can’t pass down our education benefits to them? For example I heard that some universities will list as in-state if we show DD 214 with honorable discharge. If so do you have a list of these state universities (can’t find online)?
Hi Jeanet,
There is a crowd-sourced list but people complain that it goes out of date quickly. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1wnx7wEp3j1zk2ApkXgMiFsH50Q0vrlAfYqrDYeswE5M/edit?usp=sharing
Really, you have to reach out to each school and find out their policies.