South Dakota GI Bill Tuition and Residency Requirements

South Dakota GI Bill Tuition Rates

Recent changes to the Post-9/11 GI Bill have made state residency an important factor in calculating tuition benefits. Effective August 1, 2011, Post-9/11 GI Bill tuition benefits are limited to in-state tuition and fees at South Dakota public schools.

South Dakota Residency Requirements for Military Students

In most cases, students must have lived in South Dakota for at least 12 consecutive months to be eligible for in-state tuition, according to the South Dakota Board of Regents. But the state makes exceptions for military personnel, in accordance with federal law.

Active-duty personnel stationed in South Dakota and their spouses and eligible dependents are considered residents for tuition purposes. In addition, South Dakota residents deployed or stationed outside of the state on military orders can claim residency if they maintain South Dakota as their home of record. These out-of-state students must return to South Dakota immediately upon release from the military to maintain residency.

Veterans applying for South Dakota GI Bill tuition benefits must meet the 12 months' residency requirement. Although time spent in South Dakota prior to discharge can be counted toward this 12 months, veterans do not receive automatic residency in the state.

However, South Dakota is among a handful of states to offer veterans tuition waivers for expenses not covered by the GI Bill. Tuition waivers apply to undergraduate programs at state-supported schools, including community colleges. Partial waivers are available for self-supporting programs. Online and vocational programs generally qualify for a partial waiver.

You must be a South Dakota resident to qualify for the tuition waiver. Veterans are entitled to full waivers, for a period matching their service (a year of college for a year of military service). National Guard and Reserve veterans may receive a 50-percent tuition waiver.

Applying for Residency and Waivers

To establish residency for tuition purposes, you'll need to complete the appropriate applications and submit documentation.

• Residency for in-state tuition. Students at the University of South Dakota need to fill out the Application for Resident Status. To support your claim, you may need to supply a leave and earnings statement, a copy of military records or active-duty orders, and any other documentation requested by your school.
• Tuition waiver. Military students can apply for tuition waivers by obtaining the Application for Free Tuition, available at college financial aid or veterans affairs offices, or from any South Dakota Division of Veterans Affairs office. Submit the completed application along with the veteran's DD-214 to the Sioux Falls VA Regional Office.

More Military Education Benefits for South Dakotans

In addition to the Post-9/11 GI Bill and South Dakota's tuition waiver, South Dakota offers a tuition waiver for children of military personnel who died while on active duty or were declared prisoners of war or missing in action. The waiver can be applied at state schools. Additional eligibility requirements and application information are available from the South Dakota Department of Military and 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.