Veteran's In-State Tuition Policy

In-State Tuition Policy

Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education offers a wide variety of services to military members, veterans, their spouses, and dependents. Effective July 1, 2015, the Board of Governors approved charging in-state tuition for programs of education under the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33 of Title 38 of the United States Code, which includes the Fry Scholarship) and the Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30 Title 38 of the United States Code) for eligible veterans and their dependents who are “covered individuals” in compliance with Section 702 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Choice Act). See Board of Governors’ Policy 2015-xx: Veterans’ In-State Tuition Benefits, which permits the chancellor to establish procedures, standards, and guidelines in compliance with Section 702 of the Choice Act and Commonwealth law.

Covered Individuals

1. A veteran who lives in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (regardless of his/her formal state of residence), enrolls in a State System university, and is eligible to receive benefits under any of the following:
   
   • 10 U.S.C. Chapters 1606, relating to educational assistance for members of the selected reserve; and 1607, relating to educational assistance for reserve component members supporting contingency operations and certain other operations.
   • 38 U.S.C. Chapter 30, relating to all-volunteer force educational assistance program.
   • 38 U.S.C. Chapter 31, relating to training and rehabilitation for veterans with service-connected disabilities.
   • 38 U.S.C. Chapter 33, relating to Post-9/11 educational assistance.
     
2. An individual (typically a spouse or child) using transferred benefits under U.S.C. Chapter 33, relating to authority to transfer unused educational benefits to family members, who lives in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in a State System university.
   
3. An individual (typically a spouse or child) using benefits under U.S.C. Chapters 33 and/or 35, relating to the Marine Gunnery Sergeant David Fry Scholarship and/or other survivor and dependent benefits, who lives in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in a State System university.

• Veteran —An individual who served in the United States Armed Forces (military, naval, or air service), including a reserve component or the United States National Guard and commissioned corps of the public Health Service or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and who has been discharged or released from service under conditions other than dishonorable. Note: All references to veterans in this document are in the context of veterans who are covered individuals, as defined in Section II.A.

• Documentation
  
  • Veterans shall provide the following:
    
    1. A Member 4 copy of the veteran’s DD Form 214 (DD214) in order to establish the veteran’s discharge date and a period of honorable active duty of 90 days or more (multiples of the veteran’s DD214 may be used to establish qualifying time period and service status)
       
    2. A copy of the federal Veterans Affairs Certificate of Eligibility (COE) that establishes eligibility for veterans’ educational benefits
       
    3. Evidence that the veteran lives in Pennsylvania; however, there is no requirement that the veteran live in Pennsylvania for a specific amount of time in order to be eligible for in-state tuition and fees.
       

• Individuals (typically a spouse or child) using transferred benefits or benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant David Fry Scholarship shall provide the following:
  
  1. A copy of the Veterans Affairs Certificate of Eligibility (COE) that establishes the transferred benefits or eligibility for the Marine Gunnery Sergeant David Fry Scholarship.
     
     1. A Member 4 copy of the transferor’s or veteran’s DD214 in order to establish the discharge date and a period of honorable active duty of 90 days or more (multiples of the veteran’s DD214 may be used to establish qualifying time period and service status)
        

1. Evidence that the covered individual lives in Pennsylvania; however, there is no requirement that the covered individual live in Pennsylvania for a specific amount of time in order to be eligible for in-state tuition and fees.
   
2. If the necessary documentation is not provided, the student shall be charged out-of-state tuition.
   
3. Universities shall ensure the safety and confidentiality, as appropriate, of all documentation submitted.