Mississippi GI Bill Tuition and Residency Requirements

Mississippi GI Bill Tuition Rates

Under 2011 legislation, the way your Post-9/11 GI Bill tuition benefits are calculated has changed. Prior to the changes, students attending out-of-state public schools received the same benefits as students attending private schools. As of Aug. 1, 2011, however, tuition payments at public schools are capped at the in-state student rate. Mississippi veterans who want to understand their GI Bill benefits must first understand how Mississippi determines state residency.

Residency Requirements for Military Personnel in Mississippi

Under Mississippi law, active-duty military personnel and members of the Mississippi National Guard who are stationed in Mississippi receive in-state tuition rates during their posting, regardless of their legal state of residence. Spouses and dependent children of these military personnel are also eligible for resident rates, which apply at all state colleges, universities and community colleges in Mississippi.

Under both federal and state law, students who qualify for resident tuition under that exemption maintain eligibility for in-state rates as long as they are continuously enrolled in their college, even if the servicemember is transferred out of Mississippi. Students don't need to take classes during the summer to be considered continuously enrolled.

All other military personnel must meet general residency requirements in Mississippi, which say that students must have had a permanent home in the state for at least 12 months.

How to Apply for Residency Status in Mississippi

According to Mississippi State University, to apply for resident tuition in Mississippi as a member of the armed services, you must submit a certificate from your branch of the Armed Forces or National Guard that includes the following information:

1. Your name and the names of any dependents applying
2. Your current military assignment
3. That you are on active duty and not on transfer orders
4. The signature of your commanding officer, adjutant or personnel officer of your unit

Each semester or trimester, you must present this certificate to the registrar's office of the state university or community college you attend to continue receiving in-state tuition.

Additional Mississippi Military Education Benefits

According to the Mississippi State Veterans Affairs Board, children of military personnel who were Mississippi residents and are officially listed as a prisoner of war or missing in action are eligible for a scholarship at public colleges in the state. The scholarship covers eight semesters of tuition.

Additionally, certain active members of the Mississippi National Guard can have their undergraduate tuition, room and board paid for by the state. To be eligible, you must be a resident of Mississippi enrolled in a qualifying postsecondary education program. Additional eligibility details are listed in Mississippi code 33-7-407.

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.