Disabled Veteran Education Benefits by State

State-funded education benefits for disabled military veterans and their dependents are offered at the state level in addition to those offered by the federal Department of Veterans Affairs. These education benefits range from complete tuition waivers to selective grant awards, depending on the state.

While not all states offer these benefits, those that do give their veteran communities more options when it’s time to pay for higher education.

In our list below, we have omitted states that do not offer disabled veteran education benefits to military families. The programs listed below may not be the only ones offered by a given state. Some are offered only as funding permits; others may be offered year-round. Your experience will vary. All information is current at press time.

Alabama

Alabama G.I. Dependents Scholarship Program pays undergraduate tuition up to $400 per credit hour and up to $1,000 per semester (at press time) for books and mandatory fees at public in-state colleges.

Eligible students include children, stepchildren, spouses, and unremarried surviving spouses of veterans with a VA disability rating of 40% or higher. Qualifying veterans must meet state residency rules, which include two years of continuous Alabama residency before application, military separation within 12 months, or 10 consecutive years of filed Alabama income taxes. Apply through the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs Dependents Scholarship.

Alaska

The University of Alaska system waives tuition for undergraduate programs. Spouses and dependent children qualify if the service member died in the line of duty, died from a service-connected disability, or holds a 100% VA disability rating. Apply through the Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

>> Find VA-approved schools — try our School Finder tool.

Arizona

Public Arizona universities and community colleges provide full tuition waivers to spouses and children of those killed in the line of duty or rated 100% disabled by the VA. Apply through the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services Tuition Waiver Portal.

Arkansas

The Arkansas Heroes Scholarship covers unpaid tuition, mandatory fees, and on-campus housing costs at approved public and private colleges in Arkansas. Spouses and children under age 26 qualify if the veteran is rated 100% disabled by the VA, died in action, or remains missing in action. Apply through the Arkansas Division of Higher Education Heroes Scholarship.

California

The College Fee Waiver for Veteran Dependents waives systemwide tuition and mandatory fees across California Community Colleges, California State University campuses, and University of California campuses.

Under Plan A, spouses and children up to age 27 qualify if the veteran died of service-related causes or holds a 100% service-connected disability rating. Under Plan B, children of veterans with any service-connected rating qualify provided the student meets state income limits. Apply through the California Department of Veterans Affairs College Fee Waiver.

Colorado

Colorado provides in-state tuition status to disabled veterans and their dependents who establish residence in the state. The state-run Dependent Tuition Assistance Program applies to dependents of deceased or permanently disabled Colorado National Guard members, law enforcement officers, and firefighters. Learn more through the Colorado Department of Higher Education.

Connecticut

Public universities and community colleges in Connecticut waive tuition for qualifying wartime veterans who received an honorable discharge. Connecticut provides no state-funded tuition waiver for dependents. Learn more through Connecticut State Colleges and Universities.

Florida

The Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans program pays undergraduate tuition and registration fees at eligible Florida schools. Spouses and dependent children ages 16 through 22 qualify if the veteran maintained official Florida residency and died of service-connected causes or holds a 100% permanent and total VA disability rating. Apply through the Florida Department of Education Office of Student Financial Assistance.

Georgia

The Georgia HERO Scholarship provides up to $2,000 per academic year for undergraduate studies at eligible Georgia postsecondary institutions. Children and spouses qualify if the service member served as a Georgia National Guard member or U.S. Military Reservist on active overseas duty and was killed or permanently disabled during deployment. Apply through the Georgia Student Finance Commission HERO Scholarship.

Idaho

The University of Idaho offers the Operation Education Scholarship, an institutional endowment assisting severely disabled combat veterans and their spouses. Learn more through the University of Idaho Operation Education.

Illinois

The MIA/POW Scholarship covers in-state tuition and mandatory fees at Illinois public colleges and universities for spouses and dependent children of veterans who are prisoners of war, missing in action, deceased from service-connected causes, or rated 100% disabled.

The Illinois Veterans Grant covers tuition and mandatory fees for qualifying military veterans who served at least one year of active duty. Apply through the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

>> Find VA-approved schools — try our School Finder tool.

Indiana

The Tuition and Fee Exemption for Children of Disabled Veterans waives tuition and mandatory fees for up to 124 credit hours at state-supported colleges. Biological and legally adopted children of veterans with any service-connected disability rating qualify. For veterans entering military service after June 30, 2011, the exemption percentage equals the veteran’s base disability rating plus 20%. Apply through the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs.

Kansas

The Kansas Hero’s Scholarship waives tuition and fees at public postsecondary institutions across Kansas. Spouses and dependents qualify if the veteran died in service or received a 100% service-connected disability rating. Apply through the Kansas Board of Regents.

Kentucky

Kentucky waives tuition at two-year and four-year public institutions for children, stepchildren, spouses, and unremarried surviving spouses of veterans who died on active duty, died of service-connected causes, or hold a 100% service-connected disability rating. Apply through the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs Tuition Waiver.

Louisiana

The Title 29 State Tuition Exemption waives tuition and mandatory fees at public colleges and universities across Louisiana. Spouses and children qualify if the veteran died of service-connected causes, holds a service-connected disability rating of 90% or higher, or holds an individual unemployability rating. Apply through the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Tuition Exemption.

Maine

The Veterans Dependents Educational Benefits Program waives 100% of tuition and mandatory fees at University of Maine System institutions, Maine Community Colleges, and Maine Maritime Academy. Spouses and children qualify if the veteran died of service-connected causes or holds a 100% service-connected disability rating. Apply through the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services.

Maryland

The Edward T. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program covers tuition and mandatory fees up to the annual undergraduate rate at the University of Maryland, College Park. Children and surviving spouses qualify if the veteran died in service or holds a 100% service-connected disability rating. Apply through the Maryland Higher Education Commission Conroy Scholarship.

Michigan

The Children of Veterans Tuition Grant awards up to $2,800 annually for undergraduate study at participating Michigan colleges. Resident children ages 16 through 25 qualify if the veteran died in service or holds a 100% permanent and total disability rating. Apply through MI Student Aid Children of Veterans Tuition Grant.

Minnesota

The Surviving Spouse and Dependent Education Benefit provides free tuition for a bachelor’s degree at Minnesota state-supported institutions, along with a $750 stipend for books and supplies. Spouses and children qualify if the veteran died on active duty or as a result of a service-connected disability. Minnesota offers no state waiver for dependents of living disabled veterans. Apply through the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Education Benefit.

Missouri

The Wartime Veterans Survivors Grant covers tuition up to state average costs, plus allowances for room and board, at participating Missouri schools. Spouses and children under age 25 qualify if the veteran died in combat or sustained combat injuries rated at an 80% or higher disability level. Apply through the Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development.

Nebraska

The Waiver of Tuition Program waives 100% of resident tuition at the University of Nebraska, state colleges, and community colleges. Spouses and children qualify if the veteran died of service-connected causes or holds a 100% permanent and total VA disability rating. Apply through the Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs Waiver of Tuition.

New Hampshire

The Scholarships for Orphans of Veterans program awards up to $2,500 per year toward tuition and school costs at state institutions for children ages 16 through 25 whose military parent died in service or from service-connected injuries. Apply through the New Hampshire Department of Education.

New Mexico

The Vietnam Veteran Scholarship covers tuition, books, and fees for resident Vietnam veterans. The state also awards educational aid to children of service members killed in action, but there is no statewide waiver for dependents of living disabled veterans. Apply through the New Mexico Higher Education Department.

New York

The Military Service Recognition Scholarship covers tuition, room, board, and allowances at SUNY or CUNY institutions, or an equivalent cash value at private New York colleges. Children, spouses, and financial dependents qualify if the service member died or incurred severe and permanent disabilities during combat. Apply through the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation.

North Carolina

The Scholarships for Children of War Veterans program provides tuition, room, board, and fee remissions across four state classes. Qualifying students include children of veterans who were prisoners of war, died in service, or hold a VA disability rating between 20% and 100%. Apply through the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Scholarships.

North Dakota

The Dependents Education Program waives tuition and fees at state-supported colleges and vocational schools. Spouses and children qualify if the veteran was killed in action, died of service-connected causes, or holds a 100% permanent and total service-connected disability rating. Apply through the North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs Dependents Education.

>> Find VA-approved schools — try our School Finder tool.

Ohio

The Ohio War Orphan and Severely Disabled Veterans Children Scholarship covers tuition and fees at public universities, or a set annual stipend at participating private institutions. Children under age 25 qualify if the veteran died in service or holds a VA disability rating of 60% or higher. Apply through the Ohio Department of Higher Education War Orphans Scholarship.

Oregon

The Veterans Dependent Tuition Waiver waives 100% of undergraduate tuition and fees across Oregon public universities and community colleges. Spouses, children under age 26, and stepchildren under age 26 qualify if the service member died in action, died of service-connected causes, or holds a 100% VA disability rating. Apply through the University of Oregon

Pennsylvania

The PA Educational Gratuity Program awards up to $500 per term for school expenses. Children ages 16 through 23 qualify if the honorably discharged veteran died from service-connected causes or holds a 100% permanent and total disability rating. Apply through the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Educational Gratuity.

South Carolina

State-supported colleges and universities in South Carolina provide full tuition remissions to children of wartime veterans. Apply through the South Carolina Department of Veterans Affairs Tuition Assistance.

South Dakota

South Dakota universities provide free tuition to children under age 25 and unremarried surviving spouses of service members who died of service-connected causes or veterans rated 100% permanently and totally disabled. Apply through the South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs State Benefits.

Tennessee

The Helping Heroes Grant awards $1,000 per semester to qualifying veterans. Tennessee provides fee discounts for dependents of combat-injured or deceased military personnel, but maintains no tuition waiver for dependents of veterans with non-combat service-connected disabilities. Apply through the Tennessee Higher Education Commission Helping Heroes Grant.

Texas

The Hazlewood Act exempts qualifying students from up to 150 credit hours of tuition and fees at Texas public colleges. Veterans can assign their unused hours to a child under the Hazlewood Legacy Program. The Hazlewood Act for Spouses and Dependents provides a dedicated 150-hour exemption directly to spouses and children of veterans rated 100% permanently and totally disabled, or who were killed in action. Apply through the Texas Veterans Commission Hazlewood Act.

Utah

The Veterans Tuition Gap Program pays remaining tuition for veterans who have exhausted federal GI Bill benefits. Learn more through the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs.

Virginia

The Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program waives tuition and fees at Virginia public colleges and universities. Spouses and children qualify if the service member was killed in action, declared missing in action, or rated 90% or higher disabled by the VA due to military service. Apply through the Virginia Department of Veterans Services VMSDEP.

Washington

Washington state authorizes public postsecondary institutions to waive 100% of tuition and mandatory fees for children and surviving spouses of veterans who died from service-connected causes, went missing in action, or hold a 100% disability rating. Apply through the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs Education Benefits.

West Virginia

The War Orphans Education Program grants up to $1,000 per year for tuition and fees at public state institutions. Children ages 16 through 25 qualify if the service member died in action or from service-connected causes during a period of war. Apply through the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance.

Wisconsin

The Wisconsin GI Bill provides full tuition and fees for up to 128 credits at University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Technical College System schools. Qualifying students include: eligible veterans, spouses and children of veterans who died of service-connected causes or hold a service-connected disability rating of 30% or higher. Apply through the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs.

>> Find VA-approved schools — try our School Finder tool.