Tuition Waivers for Veterans and Their Families

This July public colleges in Washington State will join those in Connecticut, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Iowa in waiving tuition and fees for state residents who are disabled veterans or the spouses or children of members of the U.S. military or National Guard who are killed or disabled while on active duty, or who are taken prisoner or are missing in action. Washington legislators passed the bill on April 8, 2007 and signed into law on Monday.

Connecticut's law provides free tuition to all public colleges and universities for qualified veterans, but no books or other fees.

Minnesota's law waives undergraduate tuition at public colleges and provides up to $750 a year for books, supplies and living expenses.

Iowa's revised policy grants post-Sept. 11 "war orphans" up to $5,500 a year for tuition, fees and books at public colleges and universities.

New Hampshire's updated law covers the current wars as well as unspecified future conflicts, providing eligible students up to $2,500 a year for four years.

Washington's bill only applies to public colleges; private colleges are encouraged to participate. There is a limit on the total amount of tuition and fees that can be waived, an age restriction for dependent children (ages 17-26), a time limit after which surviving spouses cannot use the benefit (10 years after the death of the veteran) and a requirement that veterans using the waivers be totally disabled. And, while State appropriations to the colleges will cover some of the lost revenues, veterans will be encouraged to use any remaining GI Bill benefits before using the waivers.