In-state Tuition Under the Veterans Choice Act for Veterans and Dependents Using Educational Benefits

In accordance with Section 702 of the Veterans Choice Act, the University of Mary Washington establishes the following guidelines on in-state tuition for eligible veterans and dependents.

You may be eligible for in-state tuition if you meet all the following requirements:

  • You’re receiving benefits under one of the following programs:
    • Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33)
    • Montgomery GI Bill® – Active Duty (MGIB-AD, Chapter 30)
    • Montgomery GI Bill® – Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR, Chapter 1606)
    • Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E, Chapter 31)
    • Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA, Chapter 35)
  • You qualify as a “covered individual” (explained below for Veterans, spouses, and children).
  • You live in the state where your school is located at the time of enrollment (regardless of your formal state of residence).

Eligibility Requirements for Veterans

To qualify as a “covered individual” as a Veteran, you must:

  • Have served on active duty for at least 90 days since September 10, 2001.

Note: Coverage under Section 702 of the Veterans Choice Act only applies after discharge. It does not cover active-duty members or those in the Active Guard Reserve (AGR).

Eligibility Requirements for Spouses and Children

To qualify as a “covered individual” as a spouse or child, one of the following must apply:

  • You’re using education benefits transferred from an active-duty service member or Veteran.
  • You’re using benefits under the Fry Scholarship, and the Veteran served on active duty for at least 90 days before their death.
  • You’re using DEA benefits under Chapter 35.

Residency Requirements

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

Keeping Your Covered Status

You will retain your “covered individual” status and in-state tuition eligibility as long as you remain continuously enrolled at the same institution, aside from standard breaks between courses, semesters, or terms. However, if you withdraw and re-enroll, your covered status may be impacted.

Demonstrating Eligibility

To demonstrate eligibility for the in-state tuition rate, a student must:

  1. Indicate intent to use the Choice Act when submitting a UMW Request for VA Benefits Form (RFB).
  2. Submit one of the required documents listed below:
    • DD Form 214 discharge document, which must indicate: at least 90 days of Net Active Service; and honorable discharge
    • DD Form 1300 Report of Casualty document, if the student is using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship.
    • Copy of active military orders, if the student is using transferred benefits and the transferor is on active duty.
  3. Provide proof of Commonwealth of Virginia address.

The student is responsible for demonstrating eligibility for in-state tuition under the Choice Act.