Tennessee GI Bill Tuition and Residency Requirements

Tennessee GI Bill Tuition Rates

The newest version of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, in effect in 2011, limits tuition awards at public colleges to the in-state student rates. Private schools are subject to a benefit maximum of $17,500. Military personnel can use the Post-9/11 GI Bill to attend schools in Tennessee, but if their school of choice is a public institution, establishing state residency first may help them maximize their GI Bill tuition benefits.

Residency Guidelines for Tennessee Veterans and Military Personnel

To qualify for in-state tuition at a public school, military students, spouses or dependents must establish state residency. The Tennessee Board of Regents, which represents all of the state's community colleges, Tennessee Technology Centers and four-year state universities, requires each school to determine a student's residency classification based on standard guidelines. The University of Tennessee, which is governed by its own board of trustees, sets its own residency guidelines.

Both governing bodies offer these residency exceptions for military applicants:

• Military students and their dependents stationed in Tennessee or Fort Campbell by military order are eligible for in-state tuition rates, even if their home of record is out of state. In this case, they are classified as non-residents but qualify for resident tuition.
• Active-duty military deployed or transferred while working toward their degree at a Tennessee Board of Regents school remain eligible for in-state tuition rates as long as they complete at least one course per year.
• Children of military personnel stationed in Tennessee remain eligible for in-state tuition as long as they remain continuously enrolled in the program, even if the parent is transferred by military order.

Tennessee requires veterans to meet civilian residency guidelines. The Tennessee Board of Regents allows individual schools some discretion in determining residency. For example, the guide does not identify acceptable types of residency evidence or define a period of time sufficient for residency (such as 12 months, in other states). Check with the registrar's office at your school to find out about specific requirements at your institution.

Applying for Residency

To apply for residency, submit an application and supporting documentation. Documentation requirements may vary from school to school. For military service people, relevant documents include a military home of record form, leave and earnings statement and transfer or deployment order. The University of Tennessee system also considers the following evidence:

• Copies of recent federal income tax with a Tennessee permanent address
• Proof of Tennessee employment
• Tennessee proof of home purchase and payment of property taxes
• Tennessee state driver's license, vehicle registration or voter registration

For more information, contact the University of Tennessee's Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

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.