Tuition Archives

By Debbie Gregory.

As of July 1, 2015, 34 states and three territories have agreed to comply with Section 702 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act. This means that covered individuals using the Post-9/11 GI Bill or MGIB – AD at public institutions of higher learning (IHL) will be charged the resident rate for tuition and fees . Currently in compliance are:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Guam, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virgin Islands, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

California, District of Columbia, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Pennsylvania, American Samoa, and Washington intend to comply.

Section 702 will assist veterans with more effectively utilizing their hard-earned education benefits. The cost for out of state tuition is often at least double, and sometimes triple, that of in-state tuition. Section 702 allows our nation’s veterans the freedom to return to civilian life as a student, without being penalized for where they choose to reside.

Those covered under the Choice Act are Veterans, their spouses or children who are living in the state where the IHL is located, and enroll in the school within three years of the service member’s discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.

Also covered are spouses or children using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship who qualify as above.

The above compliant states and territories meet the statutory requirements as determined by VA. The states and schools not already in compliance will be extended additional time to make sure that GI Bill students may continue their education and training at their chosen institutions

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their families. We are the go-to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go-to site.

Removing Education Roadblocks for Veterans: Military Connection: by Debbie Gregory

By Debbie Gregory.

The Regents of the UC education system if California have decided that military veterans and their dependents who are UC students will be able to pay lower in-state tuition, even if they were previously ineligible.

The change in policy came in response to a federal law that was enacted last year. Aimed primarily at improving Veterans’ access to health care, the law allows any Veteran who has served at least 90 days of active service to pay resident tuition rates in any state within three years of leaving the military. It also covers spouses and dependent children of Veterans meeting certain criteria.

The federal law applies to any public college or university receiving federal funding through the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The 10-campus UC system received at least $30 million in those federal grants for the education of about 1,400 veterans and family members in the 2013-14 school year, officials said.

UC regents said they wanted to accommodate military families whose duties often move them so frequently that they do not have the chance to establish residency long enough to qualify for in-state discounted tuition. And they said they wanted to honor the service of military veterans.

UC officials said they did not know exactly how many students will directly benefit from the more lenient policy, but they hope it encourages more of them to attend UC.

While in-state undergraduates pay about $12,200 for tuition (excluding room, board and other costs), out of state, including international students, pay approximately $23,000 on top of that.

Financially independent adult students usually need to have lived in California more than a year, and show intent to become permanent residents to qualify for the lower tuition. Younger students face higher thresholds of proving they have been living on their own income for several years.

Student Veterans have spent their military careers defending the United States, so it’s important to welcome them back to the United States with the American dream: decent housing, a top quality education, wherever they would like to study, and ultimately, a great career.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their Families. We are the go to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go to site.