Iowa GI Bill Tuition and Residency Requirements
Iowa GI Bill Tuition Rates
New guidelines under the Post-9/11 GI Bill impact the way tuition benefits are determined. As of August 1, 2011, tuition benefits at public schools and universities are limited to in-state rates. While that change could leave some out-of-state veterans with higher out-of-pocket costs, in Iowa, active-duty military and veterans may be eligible for in-state tuition regardless of their state of residency.
Iowa Residency Guidelines and Military Servicemembers
Federal law allows active-duty members to receive in-state tuition at public schools and universities in Iowa if they are stationed in the state for more than 30 days. Spouses and dependents of active-duty military stationed in Iowa are also eligible to receive in-state tuition rates, and as long as students are continuously enrolled, they remain eligible for resident status even if the military servicemember is transferred.
Military residents of Iowa stationed outside the state can keep resident status as long as they continue to file state taxes in Iowa.
Additionally, at schools in all three Iowa state university systems, veterans who move to Iowa and are eligible for benefits or previously exhausted their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits can receive resident status, as can their dependent children and spouses.
How to Apply for Iowa State Residency
Individuals who don't fall into any of the categories listed above need to meet civilian residency requirements, which include having lived in Iowa for at least 12 months prior to enrolling and taking steps to establish permanent residency such as registering to vote or filing Iowa state income taxes.
Military personnel who apply for residency under any of the above exemptions must have moved to Iowa prior to the beginning of the semester to receive in-state rates for that term. If they arrive later than the first day of classes, they must pay non-resident fees until the beginning of the next term.
Application forms and required documentation may vary from school to school. Contact your school for specific residency questions and documentation requirements.
Additional Iowa Military Education Benefits
Iowa also offers a scholarship program for children of deceased veterans, known as the Iowa War Orphans Educational Aid. Benefits and eligibility vary depending on when the veteran was killed. Further details are available from the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs.
National Guard members can also qualify for The National Guard Education Assistance Program (NGEAP), which allows Guardsmen who are Iowa residents to receive tuition assistance toward an undergraduate degree. Complete eligibility and benefits details can be found on the Iowa National Guard 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.
This list does not include all schools that accept GI Bill funding. For a full list of schools by state, click here.
Campus Schools
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The above schools represent only a portion of the schools that accept the GI Bill. Download a PDF of the full list of schools here: GI Bill Schools
