South Carolina GI Bill Tuition and Residency Requirements

South Carolina GI Bill Tuition Rates

If you plan to use the Post-9/11 GI Bill to pay for your college education, you need to be aware of some important changes in 2011. Under the latest legislation, students at public colleges are limited to in-state rates for tuition benefits. Knowing South Carolina residency requirements can help you avoid unexpected expenses when you use your GI Bill.

South Carolina Residency for Military Personnel

Under state law, military personnel serving on active duty who are stationed in South Carolina, along with their dependents, qualify for in-state tuition. The benefit lasts as long as servicemembers are stationed in South Carolina. If they are transferred out of state, their dependents can continue to receive in-state tuition so long as they remain continuously enrolled at their school or they transfer to another eligible institution without any time away from school (excluding the summer).

Servicemembers who are stationed in South Carolina at the time of discharge are not automatically eligible for in-state tuition. They must have lived in South Carolina for at least 12 months, including time spent on active duty in the state, to claim resident tuition.

South Carolina allows individuals who work full-time to receive in-state tuition without having lived in the state for 12 months first. Proof of full-time employment--defined as 37.5 hours a week or eligibility for full-time benefits--is required. All other military personnel must fulfill the 12-month physical presence requirement to receive in-state tuition and fees.

How to Apply for South Carolina Residency

Students apply for residency through their school, so check with the registrar at your institution about required forms and deadlines. In general, military students should be prepared to show a copy of military orders, a permanent home of record statement or other proof to support any claim of residency such as state tax returns or voter registration.

Tuition Waivers for Dependents in South Carolina

According to the South Carolina Office of Veterans' Affairs, there are also full tuition waivers for qualified dependents of wartime veterans, up to age 26, at post-secondary technical institutions, colleges and universities. The veteran must have been a resident of South Carolina and must have died or been permanently disabled due to military service, been a prisoner of war, been declared missing in action, or been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor or a Purple Heart.

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.