In-state tuition rates under the veterans choice act | veterans affairs

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN IN-STATE AND OUT-OF-STATE TUITION Public colleges and universities charge students an in-state tuition rate if they live in the same state as the school when they

enroll and an out-of-state tuition rate if they live in a different state from the school when they enroll. In-state tuition is often a much lower rate than out-of-state tuition. And some

schools offer the in-state tuition rate only if the student can prove they’ve lived in the state for at least 12 months before enrolling. As a Veteran or dependent with transferred

entitlement, you can get in-state tuition rates at many public schools even if you haven’t lived in the state where the school is located. 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. ELIGIBILITY FOR IN-STATE TUITION You may be eligible for in-state tuition if you meet all of these requirements: * You’re receiving benefits under the Post-9/11 GI

Bill, the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD), or Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E), AND * You’re a “covered individual” (the next 2 sections explain what this means for

Veterans, spouses, and children) AND * When you start school, you live in the state where the school is located ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR VETERANS As a Veteran, you’re a “covered

individual” if you’ve served on active duty for at least 90 days since September 10, 2001. NOTE: Section 702 of the Veterans Choice Act covers you only after discharge, not while you’re

still on active duty or while you’re a member of the Active Guard Reserve (AGR). ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR SPOUSES OR CHILDREN As a spouse or child of a Veteran, you’re a “covered

individual” if one of these is true: * You’re using education benefits transferred from a Veteran, OR * You’re using benefits under the Fry Scholarship and the Veteran had served a period of

active-duty service of at least 90 days before their death NOTE: Starting August 1, 2022, if you’re using benefits through the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA)

program, you’ll be eligible for in-state tuition rates. KEEPING YOUR STATUS AS A COVERED INDIVIDUAL You’ll keep your status as a covered individual as long as you stay enrolled at your

school. You can take scheduled breaks between courses, semesters, or terms, but if you leave school and then enroll again, you won’t keep your status as a covered individual. RESIDENCY

REQUIREMENTS The residency requirements vary by state and school. In some states you may have to show your intent to become a legal resident. You may be asked to show that you’re in the

process of claiming legal residency by registering to vote, getting a state ID, or getting a state driver’s license. In this case, you can get in-state tuition while you go through the

process of claiming legal residency. Depending on the state where your school is located, you’ll need to meet one of these requirements to be eligible for in-state tuition:  * You must live

in the state where your school is located, OR * You must live in the state where your school is located and show intent to become a resident, OR * You must live in the state where your

school is located, show intent to become a resident, and become a legal resident within a certain period of time IF YOUR SCHOOL CHARGES YOU OUT-OF-STATE TUITION BY MISTAKE If you qualify for

in-state tuition rates but your school charges you out-of-state tuition rates by mistake, work with your School Certifying Official (SCO) to correct the error. Or you can submit a complaint

by calling the GI Bill hotline at 888-442-4551. We’re here Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET.