Illinois GI Bill and Residency Requirements

Illinois GI Bill Tuition Rates

Recent amendments to the Post-9/11 GI Bill have changed the way that tuition benefits for active-duty military members and veterans in Illinois are determined. Under the changes made in mid-2011, often referred to as GI Bill 2.0, tuition benefits at public schools are limited to the  in-state rate. Federal law stipulates that active-duty servicemembers and their dependents in Illinois can receive in-state rates at public schools and universities after 30 days of residency, but other military personnel may need to qualify for Illinois residency under civilian requirements.

Illinois Residency Guidelines for Active-Duty Military

The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 requires states to grant in-state tuition rates to military personnel stationed in the state along with spouses and dependent children. If the servicemember is transferred out of Illinois, eligible family members who remain continuously enrolled in the state can continue to receive the in-state tuition benefit.

Additionally, Illinois resident servicemembers and their families who are stationed outside the state don't lose their Illinois residency provided Illinois stays their permanent home of record in the military.

How Veterans Can Apply for Illinois State Residency

Residency requirements at colleges and universities in Illinois vary depending on the school. Veterans can qualify for residency at University of Illinois schools by living in the state for at least one year prior to the first day of classes. In addition, they must demonstrate that they intend to make Illinois their permanent home.

At Western Illinois University, veterans can qualify for residency status by bringing a driver's license or voter registration card with an Illinois address to the registrar's office and completing a notarized affidavit of residency. There is no minimum period of residency in Illinois to qualify under guidelines at that school.

Check with the registrar at your school of choice to learn more about residency requirements.

Additional Illinois Military Education Benefits

Illinois is one of only a few states that also provide a tuition scholarship to eligible veterans. Honorably discharged veterans who lived in Illinois for a minimum of six months before enlisting and returned to Illinois within six months of being discharged can receive tuition and certain fees at public colleges in the state. To be eligible, you must have served at least one year on active duty or have served in a foreign country during a time of war in that country.

In addition to tuition benefits, eligible Illinois residents can also take advantage of scholarships for qualifying military personnel and their dependents.

1. The MIA/POW Scholarship grants full tuition and fees at Illinois public colleges to children of Illinois veterans who are declared to be missing in action, a prisoner of war, permanently and totally disabled due to military service or who died due to a service-related disability.
2. The Illinois National Guard Scholarship pays tuition and some fees at Illinois public colleges and universities for Illinois residents with at least one year of service in the Illinois Army or Air National Guard.

For more information, go to the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs 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.