New Jersey GI Bill Tuition and Residency Requirements

New Jersey GI Bill Tuition Rates

Under 2011 changes to the Post-9/11 GI Bill, tuition benefits for students attending public schools and universities are limited to the in-state rate. That means out-of-state students could find themselves on the hook for significant additional costs. Understanding New Jersey residency requirements can help you get the best deal with your GI Bill tuition benefits.

New Jersey Residency Status and Exemptions for Military Personnel

Active-duty United States military personnel, their spouses and their dependents who are living in and attending public institutions of higher education in New Jersey are deemed state residents for tuition purposes. Additionally, New Jersey residents who are stationed outside the state of New Jersey for military purposes retain their eligibility for in-state student rates, according to Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

For those who are not eligible for a military exemption, the regular standards apply. Under New Jersey state law, to qualify for in-state tuition rates in New Jersey, you must have lived in the state for at least 12 months leading up to your enrollment. You may be asked to submit proof of residency, and documents that can support your claim include a driver's license, employment verification and tax forms. In some cases, you can still apply for resident tuition if you have lived in New Jersey for fewer than 12 months, provided you can demonstrate you intend to make New Jersey your permanent home.

How to Apply for In-State Status in New Jersey

If you meet the criteria for residency based on your military status, you still must fill out and submit a notarized version of the Residency Analysis Form. Active-duty personnel outside of New Jersey must have a copy of military documents showing New Jersey as their home of record, and active servicemembers stationed in the state are required to provide a copy of their military orders.

Veterans who spent time outside of New Jersey generally need to complete a residency petition to show New Jersey is still their permanent home. You'll need to provide documentation showing that you have an honorable discharge and that have you met all the other residency requirements, including that New Jersey has been your primary state of domicile for at least 12 months.

Other state benefits for military personnel and families

New Jersey offers some additional tuition benefits for military personnel. The state offers a 100 percent tuition waiver for New Jersey Army and Air National Guard members at participating state schools. Under the program, tuition is waived for 15 credits per semester at 30 participating public institutions of higher education for certain members of the New Jersey National Guard and certain surviving spouses and children of New Jersey National Guard members.

Another benefits program offers free undergraduate tuition at public or private New Jersey schools to any child of a New Jersey servicemember declared a prisoner of war or missing in action in or after 1960. To claim this benefit, students must provide a copy of the DD-1300 form. Further details are available from the New Jersey Department of Veterans Affairs.

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.