State Educational Benefits
Click on the State below for information about GI Bill Benefits in that State.
Iowa War Orphans Education Aid
Children of veteran parents who died as a result of service between: 4/6/17 and 6/2/21; 9/16/40 and 12/31/46; 6/25/50 and 1/31/55; 8/5/64 and 5/7/75; or 8/2/90 (all dates inclusive). Iowa resident for two years. Reserve components on active duty status and National Guardsmen on active duty included.
BENEFITS:
$600 maximum per year for tuition, matriculation and other fees, books, supplies, board, room, and other expenses at any IA education institution or trade school approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs Division (in addition to federal government benefits). Maximum total $3,000 per student. No income or age limitations.
APPLICATION:
Iowa Commission of Veterans Affairs, Camp Dodge Building A6A, 7700 NW Beaver Dr. Johnston, IA 50131-1902. Telephone: 515-242-5331, fax 515-242-5659
Click the link for more information on the veteran's benefits offered by Iowa.
The State of Minnesota offers several education assistance programs including the new G.I. Bill for Minnesota veterans who have served on active duty since September 11, 2001. The Minnesota G.I. Bill provides up to $1,000 per academic term to veterans and the dependents of deceased and disabled veterans, while building on existing state and federal benefit programs for veterans.
In addition to the new Minesota GI Bill, the state offers Veterans' Education Assistance and War Orphans Education programs.
Veterans Education Assistance
The Minnesota State Veterans’ Education Assistance program offers a maximum payment of $750.00, to be used toward tuition only. The $750.00 payment may be made to the school directly, or may be reimbursed to the veteran upon verification from the school that the tuition has been paid by the veteran.
This program may be used at the following institutions located within the State of Minnesota: state universities, community colleges, vocational/technical colleges, any campus of the University of Minnesota, or any college of higher learning which has been accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools; law colleges approved by the Supreme Court; theological seminaries; nursing schools approved by the Board of Nursing; and vocational/technical trade or business schools approved by the State Department of Education.
For assistance in applying for these benefits, you may contact the County Veterans Service Office in the county in which you live.
War Orphan Education Program
This program serves children of Minnesota veterans who died while on active duty military service or as a result of injuries or disease incurred while on active duty military service. Children are eligible for "tuition free status" at any state college level institution except the University of Minnesota. In addition, $350.00 per year is available for school related expenses.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: The deceased veteran parent must have been a resident at the time of entry into active duty military service and the dependent child must have been a resident for two years immediately prior to application.
PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT: County Veterans Service Officer
Click the link for more information on the veteran's benefits offered by Minnesota.
Children of deceased Veterans
Eligibility: Children of MT residents deceased from service in WWII, Korea, or Vietnam
Program Benefits: Waiver of fees (depends on tuition at the school) These fee waivers are only available at: Montana State University at Billings, Bozeman, and Northern; the University of Montana at Missoula; Montana Tech of the University of Montana, the University of Montana College of Technology at Missoula; Western Montana College of the University of Montana; Montana State University College of Technology at Billings and Great Falls; and Helena College of Technology of the The University of Montana.
Applications: Information or applications can be obtained directly from the financial aid office at the educational institution the student plans to attend.
Fee waiver for Honorably discharged Veterans
Eligibility: Honorably discharged MT residents who served during wartime and are ineligible for financial aid under federal laws:
Program Benefits: Waiver of fees (depends on tuition at the school) These fee waivers are only available at: Montana State University at Billings, Bozeman, and Northern; the University of Montana at Missoula; Montana Tech of the University of Montana, the University of Montana College of Technology at Missoula; Western Montana College of the University of Montana; Montana State University College of Technology at Billings and Great Falls; and Helena College of Technology of the The University of Montana.
Applications: Information or applications can be obtained directly from the financial aid office at the educational institution the student plans to attend
Dependents of POW/MIAs
Eligibility: Dependent of MT resident who has been declared by SECDEF to be a POW, missing or captured in connection with the conflict in Southeast Asia after 1/1/91
Program Benefits: Waiver of fees (depends on tuition at the school) These fee waivers are only available at: Montana State University at Billings, Bozeman, and Northern; the University of Montana at Missoula; Montana Tech of the University of Montana, the University of Montana College of Technology at Missoula; Western Montana College of the University of Montana; Montana State University College of Technology at Billings and Great Falls; and Helena College of Technology of the The University of Montana.
Applications: Information or applications can be obtained directly from the financial aid office at the educational institution the student plans to attend.
Click the link for more information on the veteran's benefits offered by Montana.
Dependent Children
Eligibility: Dependent Children, spouse, widow or ND resident veteran who was Killed in Action, died from wounds, or any other service connected causes, was totally disabled or died as a result of service connected causes, or was a POW/MIA. The veteran must have been born in and lived in ND until entrance into the U.S. Armed Forces or must have resided within the state for at least six months prior to entrance into the service.
Benefits: Free tuition and fees to any state supported school of higher education including vocational and technical schools to obtain bachelor’s degree or certificate of completion. Maximum is 36 months or 8 semester period. Veteran must have been born in or lived in ND until entrance into the U.S. Armed Forces or must have resided within the state for at least 6 months prior to entrance into military service.
Application: Contact financial aid office at respective state institutions.
Veteran Emergency Loans
Eligibility: Loans to eligible ND resident veterans for temporary financial emergencies may be granted to honorably discharged veterans in amounts up to $2,000.
Program Benefits: 8% interest is charge. One half of interest is refunded if loan is repaid within period loan was granted. Loan can be granted for periods of 6 to 48 months.
Application: North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs, PO Box 9003, Fargo, ND 58106-9003
Click the link for more information on the veteran's benefits offered by North Dakota.
Free Tuition for Veterans
Certain veterans are eligible to take undergraduate courses at a state university without the payment of tuition provided they are not eligible for educational payments under the GI Bill or any other federal educational program. To qualify the veteran must be:
- Discharged under Honorable conditions, and
- A current resident of South Dakota and qualify for in-state tuition, and
- Able to meet one of the following criteria:
- Served on active duty at any time between August 2, 1990 and March 3, 1991.
- Received an Armed Forces Expeditionary medal, Southwest Asia Service medal, or other United States campaign or service medal for participation in combat operations against hostile forces outside the boundaries of the United States.
- Have a service connected disability rated 10%, or more, disabling.
Eligible veterans may receive one month of free tuition for each month of "qualifying service" with a minimum of one, up to a maximum of four, academic years. Qualifying service is defined as: the amount of time served on active duty between the beginning and ending dates of the particular period of conflict or hostilities during which the veteran earned eligibility for this program. Since all of the post-Vietnam conflicts have been very short in duration, the majority of veterans who qualify will be entitled to only the minimum, one academic year, of free tuition.
Under the free tuition program, the veteran has twenty (20) years from the ending date of the specific period of service during which he or she served and met the eligibility criteria, or, twenty (20) years after the date that he or she was rated 10%, or more, disabled by the DVA.
EXAMPLE: A veteran earned the Armed Forces Expeditionary medal for serving in Grenada in October 1983. As the hostilities in Grenada were declared to have ceased as of November 21, 1983, the veteran has until November 21, 2003, to use the free tuition program.
SDDVA form E-11 "Veterans Application for Free Tuition at State Supported Schools" is available at the schools’ financial aids, veterans representative or registrars offices or, they can be obtained from the Division of Veterans Affairs. The completed application, along with a copy of the veteran’s DD-214 must be submitted to the Sioux Falls VA Regional Office (address shown on the reverse side of the form) and then returned to the school.
Free Tuition for Children of Veterans Who Die During Service
Children who are under the age of 25, are residents of South Dakota, and whose mother or father was killed in action or died of other causes while on active duty, are eligible for free tuition at a state supported school, if the deceased parent was a bona-fide resident of this state for at least six (6) months immediately preceding entry into active service.
SDDVA form E-12 "Application for Free Tuition at State Supported Institutions" is available at the schools’ financial aids, veterans representative or registrars offices or, they can be obtained from the Division of Veterans Affairs.
Free Tuition for Dependents of POW’s and MIA’s
Children and spouses of prisoners of war, or of persons listed as missing in action, are entitled to attend a state supported school without the payment of tuition or mandatory fees provided they are not eligible for equal or greater federal benefits.
SDDVA form E-12 "Application for Free Tuition at State Supported Institutions" is available at the schools’ financial aids, veterans representative or registrars offices or, they can be obtained from the Division of Veterans Affairs.
Reduced Tuition for South Dakota National Guardmembers
Guard members, who meet the requirements for admission, are eligible for a fifty percent (50%) reduction in undergraduate tuition charges at any state supported school for up to a maximum of four academic years OR, one program of study, approved by the state Board of Education, at any state vocational school upon payment of fifty percent (50%) of the tuition charges.
The receipt of federal educational benefits does not affect eligibility for this program. To qualify the guardmember must:
1.be a resident of this state and a member of the SD Army or Air Guard throughout each semester or vocational program for which he or she applies for benefits.
2.have completed required active duty for training.
3.attend 90% of drills and training periods and maintain a satisfactory academic grade level.
4.provide proper notice to the institution at time of registration for the term in which benefits are sought.
Click the link for more information on the veteran's benefits offered by South Dakota.
Wisconsin GI Bill
Effective with the Fall 2005 semester, the Wisconsin GI Bill provides a waiver (“remission”) of tuition and fees for eligible veterans and their dependents for up to 8 full-time semesters or 128 credits at any University of Wisconsin System (UWS) or Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) institution.
See the UWS WisGIBill FAQs or WTCS WisGIBill FAQs for questions regarding specific institutions and the Wisconsin GI Billl.
For additional information, eligibility criteria, instructions on how to apply for the Wisconsin GI Bill, and statutory citations for the program, see the WDVA B0105 information and application booklet.
The Wisconsin GI Bill offers the following programs:
- Wisconsin GI Bill for Dependents
- Wisconsin GI Bill for Veterans
- Veterans Education Reimbursnement Grant (VetEd)
- Personal Laon Program
- Academic Credit for Military Experience
Wisconsin GI Bill for Dependents
A 100% tuition and fees waiver is provided to the qualifying dependents of an eligible veteran:
- Spouse; or
- Unremarried Surviving Spouse; or
- Child between the ages of 18 and 25,
Where the qualifying Wisconsin (must have been a Wisconsin resident at the time of entry onto active duty) veteran:
- Is currently rated by the federal VA with a combined service-connected disability rating of 30% or greater (Effective Fall Semester 2005); or
- Died in the line of duty while on active, Reserve, or Guard duty (Effective Fall Semester 2005); or
- Died as the direct result of a service-connected disabilty, as determined by the federal VA (Effective July 1, 2006).
For qualifying spouses and unremarried surviving spouses, the benefit must be used within 10 years of the date of death or the initial disability rating of 30% or greater. The spouse or unremarried surviving spouse may attend full-time or part-time.
For qualifying children, the benefit is available from ages 18 through 25. The child must attend full-time.
For the Wisconsin G.I. Bill, the veteran must have been a Wisconsin resident at the time of entry onto active duty. Character of service and active duty service requirements apply.
The benefit recipient must reside in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin GI Bill for Veterans
Qualifying veterans receive a 50% tuition and fees waiver (Effective Fall Semester 2005). In accordance with 2005 Wisconsin Act 468, effective Fall Semester 2007, the remission will increase to a full 100%.
For the Wisconsin G.I. Bill, the veteran must have been a Wisconsin resident at the time of entry onto active duty. Character of service and active duty service requirements apply.
The benefit recipient must reside in Wisconsin.
For veterans, there is no post-service time limitation (such as the federal Montgomery G.I. Bill 10-year delimiting date) on the use of the benefit. The veteran may attend full-time or part-time.
Veterans Education (VetEd) Reimbursement Grant
The Veterans Education (VetEd) grant program provides a reimbursement grant based on a credit-bank system that is based on length of active duty military service to eligible veterans who have not yet been awarded a bachelor’s degree for the reimbursement of tuition and fees following successful course completion at an eligible UW, technical college, or approved private institution of higher learning.
Veterans may concurrently receive Chapter 30 Montgomery G.I. Bill (VA) benefits and VetEd for the same semester. However, individuals eligible for Wisconsin G.I. Bill benefits must apply for, and use those benefits in order to be eligible for VetEd reimbursement. VetEd reimbursement will be reduced to the extent that tuition and fees have already been paid by other grants, scholarships, and remissions provided for the payment of tuition and fees.
Personal Loan Program (PLP)
Veterans may qualify for low interest rate personal loans with up to 10 years to repay. The Personal Loan Program (PLP) may be used for the education of veterans, their spouses, and children. The veteran’s spouse must be a co-applicant, and all loans require security of either a mortgage or a guarantor.
Unremarried spouses and dependent children of deceased veterans who were eligible for the PLP may also be eligible for personal loans. In addition, a remarried spouse of a deceased eligible veteran may be eligible for a PLP for the education of the veteran’s children.
There is no maximum income limit on the PLP. The Personal Loan Program page has current information on maximum loan amounts, interest rates, and loan terms, and how to apply.
Tuition Residency for Wisconsin Veterans Under state law, veterans who entered active duty as a Wisconsin resident retain permanent eligibility for in-state tuition at University of Wisconsin System institutions. To be eligible, a person who was a resident of Wisconsin at the time of entry into federal active duty military service, who is a resident of and living in this state at the time of registering at a UW institution, and who meets the criteria for determination of veteran status under s. 45.01(12) of the Wisconsin Statutes are eligible for in-state tuition rates at UW institutions. There are no restrictions regarding residency after entry onto active duty but before registering at the UW institution under the program.
For more information, and to apply, see the WDVA B0105 information and application booklet, or contact the schools Veterans Certifying Official (a listing for each campus is included in the booklet).
