Georgia GI Bill Tuition and Residency Requirements

Georgia GI Bill Tuition Rates

Recent federal legislation limits tuition benefits at public colleges under the Post-9/11 GI Bill to the in-state student rate. Students attending public schools outside their state of residence are required to cover any additional costs between in-state and out-of-state tuition rates. Fortunately, Georgia offers a number of exemptions to non-resident tuition rates for military personnel.

Georgia Residency and Military Servicemembers

Military servicemembers and their families don't always have control over where they live. Fortunately, federal law decrees that members of the armed forces who have been on active duty for at least 30 days and whose domicile or duty station is in the state must be eligible for in-state tuition.

More specifically, the University System of Georgia offers in-state tuition to active-duty, National Guard and Reserve military personnel, spouses and dependent children stationed in Georgia. This benefit also extends to active duty personnel and family members who live in Georgia but are stationed in a neighboring state.

As long as they remain continuously enrolled, children and spouses of active-duty personnel can continue to receive in-state tuition even if the sponsoring servicemember if reassigned outside Georgia.

Veterans who enroll in an academic program at a school in the University System of Georgia within 12 months of separation from military service and who show intent to permanently reside in Georgia are eligible for a one-year waiver of out-of-state tuition. This waiver is also extended to spouses and dependent children.

If you are a permanent resident, you must submit Georgia tax records or a Leave and Earnings Statement as proof of residency to receive in-state tuition. Residents of other states who are stationed in Georgia must submit proof of military posting. Receiving in-state tuition based on military service doesn't necessarily make you a Georgia resident for other purposes such as voting or taxes.

If you don't fall into one of the categories above, you must meet general residency guidelines, which require you to have lived in Georgia for 12 months prior to enrolling.

Georgia National Guard Educational Benefits

Georgia offers a wide variety of educational benefits to Georgia Air and Army National Guard members, including tuition assistance, educational loan cancellation and the Georgia Helping Educate Reservists and their Offspring, or HERO, Scholarship Program. Four-year, full Georgia Military Scholarships are also available for members who agree to serve four years as a commissioned officer in the Georgia Army National Guard after serving in the Cadet Corps at North Georgia College and State University.

You must be a legal resident of Georgia to qualify for any of the above benefits. More information on each of these programs is available at the U.S. Army website.

GIBill.com has done its best to ensure that the above information is accurate. However, GIBill.com cannot guarantee its accuracy and encourages you to check with your school for its residency requirements to qualify for in-state tuition.