Virginia GI Bill Tuition and Residency Requirements

Virginia GI Bill Tuition Benefits

When the Post-9/11 GI Bill was overhauled in 2011, servicemembers got to take advantage of a number of new benefits. But the changes also limited tuition benefits at public colleges to in-state student rates. Virginia servicemembers can qualify for residency under a number of military provisions--find out if you are eligible.

Virginia Residency Requirements for Military Members

As required by federal law, all active-duty military personnel stationed in the state, as well as their spouses and dependent children, are eligible for in-state tuition rates. Retired military personnel who were living in Virginia when they retired, along with their spouses and dependents, are also eligible for in-state tuition.

Additionally, according to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, National Guard or Reserve members on active orders for at least six months are also eligible for the in-state tuition benefit provided they are both assigned to duty in Virginia and residing in Virginia.

All other military personnel, including veterans who more to Virginia after discharge, must have lived in the state for at least one year and shown evidence that they intend to remain in Virginia--such as paying state taxes or registering to vote in Virginia--before they become eligible for in-state tuition rates.

Students enrolled in Virginia colleges and universities as a resident under the military provisions are entitled to be considered residents for as long as they are continuously enrolled, regardless of whether the military member is assigned a new duty station. Continuous enrollment is defined as taking at least one course for credit in consecutive terms, excluding the summer.

Applying for Virginia Residency

Active-duty military members who want to apply for Virginia residency should complete the following paperwork:

1. A State of Legal Residence Certificate naming Virginia as the place of residence
2. Leave and Earning Statements should be modified to authorize payment of Virginia income taxes
3. Military orders should be submitted to the university or school to verify eligibility for in-state student tuition rates

Once servicemembers have established residency under these guidelines, they are eligible to remain residents even if they are transferred out of state, provided they keep Virginia as their state of legal residence.

Active-duty personnel who don't wish to establish Virginia residency can still claim in-state tuition rates by submitting a copy of their military orders to their school.

Other Military Education Programs

The Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program offers a tuition and fee waiver to the spouses and dependents of Virginia military members who were killed or were missing in action during an armed conflict. In addition, the spouses and dependents of Virginia service members who become at least 90 percent disabled because of injuries sustained in an armed conflict are also eligible under this program. Servicemembers must have been Virginia residents when they entered active duty or for at least five years prior to the program application, in the case of disabled veterans. For more information, check with the Virginia Department of Veterans Services.

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.