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Do students get in-state tuition just because they are using the GI Bill?
Well, yes – except when they don’t.
Why Is It So Confusing?
There are a couple of issues here. First, laws ARE confusing. They aren’t written in plain language. That’s why you get folks like me trying to translate them into readable English.
Then, there was a 2016 rule that requires that you read the entire rule to get it right – and a lot of people just read the part that fit their purposes. This created a lot of confusion, and that confusion is still part of the collective “wisdom.”
Then, many schools are more generous than the federal law requires. Sometimes this generosity is interpreted as law. So you’ll hear 100 different stories if you ask 100 different people. But an anecdote about one school does not equal what’s required.
So then we end up with parents chatting, and Jim says, “Well, my kid kept his in-state tuition at State U after they ran out of GI Bill benefits.” Jim’s buddy Joe hears this and thinks that this happened because of the law, when it’s really just the policy of that school.
Just because a school has a policy does not mean that they have that policy because they are require to have it. Sometimes it is the generosity of the decision-makers. Sometimes it is that the decision makers didn’t understand what the federal law requires when they made their policies.
The Latest Update
Thankfully, though, this last rule change hopefully will make things a lot easier.
You’ll notice that I added the word basically in parentheses. That’s because there is still a part of the law that hasn’t been changed, and does sort of provide schools a little bit of an out. 38 U.S.C. § 3679 states:
“It shall not be grounds to disapprove a course of education under paragraph (1) if a public institution of higher learning requires a covered individual pursuing a course of education at the institution to demonstrate an intent, by means other than satisfying a physical presence requirement, to establish residency in the State in which the institution is located, or to satisfy other requirements not relating to the establishment of residency, in order to be charged tuition and fees for that course at a rate that is equal to or less than the rate the institution charges for tuition and fees for that course for residents of the State.”
This means that schools have the authority to require actions that show intent to be a resident of the state. This might include getting a driver’s license, paying taxes, etc. A few schools do have these requirements…so be sure you check!
What About When You’re Not Using The GI Bill?
Many students don’t have enough GI Bill benefits to get all the way through college? Or their family is using the benefits strategically to get the most bang for their buck. What happens then? Well, we refer back to the number one rule in college financial aid: Every school is different.
Some schools allow a student to maintain their in-state tuition even when they’re no longer using GI Bill benefits. This can be super-handy to know. Sometimes, you can use one semester of benefits to “buy” in-state tuition the rest of a college career.
Other schools only give in-state tuition when actually using the GI Bill.
Yet other schools have different benefits for military kids that might fall somewhere between in-state tuition and out-of-state tuition. You need to ask the financial aid office, maybe a couple of times, and maybe in writing. You need to have all the facts before making a decision about whether a college is a financial fit for your family.
If you want some help with your college financial strategy, including making the most of your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits, consider hiring me to help. You can schedule a free 30 minute call to discuss your family’s specific concerns by usingthis link to my Calendly schedule.
Once classes start, you'll need to be living in the same state. Note: Under Section 702 of the Veterans Choice Act, public schools that have VA-approved programs will receive GI Bill payments only if they offer in-state tuition to eligible Veterans and dependents.
GI Bill benefits help you pay for college, graduate school, and training programs. Since 1944, the GI Bill has helped qualifying Veterans and their family members get money to cover all or some of the costs for school or training. Learn more about GI Bill benefits on this page—and how to apply for them.
Education is expensive. Your GI Bill benefit may not be enough to cover all tuition costs. The Yellow Ribbon Program can help cover additional out-of-pocket expenses.
California. In the State of California, the College Fee Waiver for Veteran Dependents benefit program waives tuition and fees for attendance at any State of California Community College, California State University, and the University of California. The waiver does not cover housing or books.
Tuition and Fees: These payments are issued directly to the school on behalf of the individual at the time the certificate of enrollment is processed. On Active Duty: Individuals on active duty may be allotted the total amount of tuition and fees for all public schools.
Military tuition assistance is only available to service members when currently serving. The GI Bill can be used while serving or after you retire or separate from military service. Tuition Assistance is offered by individual military branches, while the Department of Veterans Affairs offers the GI Bill.
It provides up to full college tuition for public and in-state schools, and more than $25,000 per year at private or foreign schools, as well as money for housing and books.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill can pay your full tuition and fees at school, provide you with a monthly housing allowance while you are going to school, and give you up to $1,000 a year for books and supplies.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs official site, “If you finished the class, you won't have to pay back the GI Bill benefits you used for that class. This is because we count a failing grade (or “punitive grade”) as progress toward graduation requirements even though you don't get any credit for it.”
Why is my monthly GI Bill payment less than my monthly rate? Your monthly GI Bill payment may be less than your monthly rate for one of these reasons: You attended classes for only part of the month. Classes often begin and end somewhere in the middle of a month, instead of on the first and last day of a month.
The Post 9/11 GI Bill pays for 36 months of education. Time spent taking classes you don't need if you switch your major will still come out of your 36 months of entitlement. If your benefits run out before graduation you may have to come out of pocket to pay for those classes.
To maintain your academic eligibility for GI Bill benefits, you'll need to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. If you drop below the GPA, you'll be placed on academic probation, which could result in cancellation of benefits.
The College Fee Waiver for Veteran Dependents benefit waives mandatory system-wide tuition and fees at any State of California Community College, California State University, or University of California campus. This program does not cover the expense of books, parking or room and board.
In 2014, the U.S. Congress enacted the Choice Act, which requires public higher education institutions to offer in-state tuition rates to qualified veterans and their dependents regardless of state residency status.
This means that for any active duty service member, his or her spouse and dependents at any public college or university where they are stationed for 30+ days should be able to receive the in-state tuition rate. States do need to accept certain types of federal funding for this to qualify.
Military students are not only eligible for in-state tuition where they have been living with their parents but also where their active duty parent's state of legal residence or domicile is. Different states do have different requirements so that is also something to keep in mind.
The GI Bill Yellow Ribbon Program can pay for costs the Post-9/11 GI Bill doesn't cover, including tuition and fees at out-of-state, private, foreign, and graduate schools. There are, however, several eligibility requirements. You must qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill at the 100% benefit level.
You can use your Post-9/11 GI Bill for college and many other types of training. See this list of all the covered learning programs. Since you will be a paid resident and not being charged tuition, if you choose the Post-911 GI Bill the only benefit you will receive is the housing allowance.
Provided you have an honorable discharge, you can take advantage of Veterans Affairs education benefits known as 'The GI Bill'. Yes, you can go to any college that will accept you as a student, but the Air Force does not pay for it. College tuition is a part of your GI Bill benefits, and administered through the VA.
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Do students get in-state tuition just because they are using the GI Bill?
