Veterans

Under Connecticut state statutes, tuition at Connecticut public colleges and universities may be waived, after any federal tuition benefit received, during the fall and spring semesters, for qualified persons.

Other college costs such as books, student activity and course fees, parking, and room and board are not covered by the waiver, and eligibility is not retroactive. If applicable, the state tuition waiver also covers the amount of tuition remaining after the application of Post 9/11 educational benefits.

During the Summer and Winter intersessions, course fees are billed in lieu of tuition. Eligible persons in category 1 below may receive a 50% waiver of the course fee, and eligible persons in category 4 below may receive a 100% waiver of the course fee.

To qualify, individuals must meet at least one category below:

1. Eligible veteran who served at least 90 days total (consecutive or aggregate) active duty in a time of war (see below) except if separated from service earlier because of a Federal Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) related service-connected disability; or the war, campaign or operation lasted less than 90 days and service was for the Duration of the conflict or campaign. Active duty time earned for training (Basic/Boot Camp, AIT, or Tech School, Weekend Drill or Annual Training) does not qualify for the waiver.
2. Active member of the CT Army and Air National Guard.
3. CT resident who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a member of the Armed Forces killed in action on or after 9/11/01 who was a CT resident.
4. CT resident who is a dependent child of person whom the Armed Forces has declared to be either missing in action or a prisoner of war while serving in the Armed Forces after 1/1/60.

Note: Pursuant to Public Law 18-47, effective October 01, 2018, the CT Veterans Tuition Waiver is extended to certain veterans with "Other than Honorable" discharge. The individual applying for the waiver must submit a completed CT DVA OTH Form 1 along with all other required documentation. Individuals with a "Bad Conduct" or "Dishonorable" discharge are not eligible for the waiver.

Eligible service includes active duty for at least ninety (90) days in:

• World War II- December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946
• Korean Hostilities- June 27, 1950 to January 31, 1955
• Vietnam- February 28, 1961 to July 1, 1975
• Persian Gulf Era (August 2, 1990- a date to be determined by Presidential proclamation or federal law- Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) and Iraqi Freedom are included in this category.)
• Engaged in combat or in combat support role in the:
  • Lebanon Conflict- July 1, 1958 to November 1, 1958
  • Peace-keeping Mission in Lebanon- September 29, 1982 to March 30, 1984
  • Grenada Invasion- October 25, 1983 to December 15, 1983
  • Operation Earnest Will- July 24, 1987 to August 1, 1990
  • Panama Invasion- December 20, 1989 to January 31, 1990

To apply, eligible individuals must:

• Be accepted for admission at Southern Connecticut State University
• Be domiciled in Connecticut at the time of acceptance, which is the date of your acceptance letter, this includes domicile for less than one year
• Be matriculated into a University degree or certificate program
• Complete the Veteran Benefits Application to apply for the state tuition waiver, and if applicable, request enrollment certification for VA educational benefits.

Pursuant to Section 1005 of the Isakson and Roe Act, certain out-of-state veterans and their dependents may be eligible for in-state tuition and fee rates. Covered individuals include: 

• A veteran who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and utilizes Post-9/11 GI Bill®, Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty, or VR&E benefits. 
• A spouse or child using transferred benefits Under Post-9/11, who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence). 
• A spouse or child using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence). 
• A dependent or surviving spouse or child utilizing Dependent’s Education Assistance (CH35) who lives in the state which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence). Pursuant to the Colonel M. Hughes Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act of 2021.  

For more information or to reclassify residency status, please contact the SCSU Veterans Services Office.

The Tuition Assistance Program may fund up to 100% of your college tuition and certain fees with the following limit:

• Not to exceed $250 per semester credit hour or $166 per quarter credit hour
• Not to exceed $4,500 per fiscal year, Oct.1 through Sept. 30

The Tuition Assistance Program is open to officers, warrant officers and enlisted active-duty service personnel in all four service branches and the U.S. Coast Guard. In addition, members of the National Guard and Reserve Components may be eligible for TA based on their service eligibility. To be eligible for TA, an enlisted service member must have enough time remaining in service to complete the course for which he or she has applied. After the completion of a course, an officer using TA must fulfill a service obligation that runs parallel with - not in addition to - any existing service obligation.

Members must submit a TA application up to 59 days prior to the course start date. All TA applications must be command approved by the ESO 14 days prior to the course start date. Please visit your respective Military Service education portal for additional information:

• Army
• Marine Corps
• Navy
• Air Force

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers many benefits to advance the education and skills of Veterans and service members. Spouses and family members may also be eligible for education and training assistance.

1. Visit U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to apply and obtain a Certification of Eligibility (COE).
2. Submit the Veteran Benefits Application with your COE so that we may certify your enrollment for benefits with the VA.  If you no longer have your COE, you may submit a Post-9/11 GI Bill® Statement of Benefits, found under the section 'Your Account’ at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
3. Submit monthly enrollment certifications to the VA. 

Veteran Education Benefits and Repeated Courses

Repeating courses completed in a previous semester or accepted and applied as transfer credits may affect eligibility for receipt of educational benefits. Students who are receiving VA educational benefits will only receive payment for repeated courses if the initial grade did not meet institutional or programmatic requirements, whichever is more stringent. A student may retake a course to obtain a higher grade as outlined in the Course Grade Replacement Policy, however, benefits will not be paid if the initial course received a passing grade. Students who wish to obtain information on how repeat courses may affect their VA educational benefits should contact the School Certifying Official. 

Satisfactory Academic Progress for VA Students

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regulations require that all students receiving VA educational benefits meet the University's satisfactory academic progress (SAP) standard and the University's academic standing policy as stated in the University catalog. Students who are dismissed will be reported to the VA and subsequent enrollments will not be reported to the VA until the student is re-instated or re-admitted to matriculated status. The enrollment of students who appeal their academic dismissal and who are allowed to attend in a non-matriculated status during the appeal process will not be reported to the VA. Should the appeal be successful, the student's enrollment will be reported retroactively to the VA for the enrollment period to which the appeal applies. 

VA Pending Payment Compliance

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679 subsection (e), this school adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch. 33) or Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from the VA. This school will not:

• Prevent the student's enrollment;
• Assess a late penalty fee to;
• Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding;
• Deny the student access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution.

However, to qualify for this provision, such students will be required to:

• Provide Chapter 33 Certificate of Eligibility (or its equivalent) or for Chapter 31, VA VR&E's contract with the school on VA Form 28-1905 by the first day of class.
  • Note: Chapter 33 students can register at the VA Regional Office to use E-Benefits to get the equivalent of a Chapter 33 Certificate of Eligibility. Chapter 31 students cannot get a completed VA Form 28-1905 (or any equivalent) before the VA VR&E case-manager issues it to the school.
• Provide written request to be certified;
• Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies.

Payment plans must be established when payment or financial aid or veteran education benefits cannot be posted to satisfy the balance in full by the bill deadline.  The first payment will be due at time of enrollment and payments are due on the 15th of the month thereafter.  The $45 plan fee is waived for eligible veterans.

Fall Plan Enrollment:	Sign up by the bill due date July 15
April- May	7 Payments June thru December
June	6 Payments July thru December
July	5 Payments August thru December

Students who register after the bill due date may enroll for the remaining installments.

Spring Plan Enrollment:	Sign up by the bill due date December 15
November- December	5 Payments January thru May

Students who register after the bill due date may enroll for the remaining installments.

Summer Plan Enrollment:	Sign up by the bill due date (upon registration)
March- April	4 Payments May thru August
May	3 Payments June thru August
June	2 Payments July thru August

Students who register after the bill due date may enroll for the remaining installments.

Plans will automatically recalculate due to account adjustments, which may include additional charges, unanticipated payments, or a change in financial aid credits to the student's account.  Students and authorized users will be notified of any adjustments to the student's monthly payment plan amount.  lease see Past Due Accounts for other terms and conditions regarding late fees/holds that may be placed on past due payment plan accounts.

Out-of-state Post 9/11 GI Bill ® recipients may be eligible to participate in the Yellow Ribbon program. Under the Yellow Ribbon Program, the VA will match the school's contributions dollar-for-dollar to cover the cost differential between in-state and out-of-state students.  To receive benefits under the Yellow Ribbon Program you must be eligible for the maximum benefit rate under the Post 9/11 GI Bill ®, this includes:

• Those who served 36 months (may be aggregate) on active duty
• Purple Heart recipients with an honorable discharge and any amount of service
• Those discharged after 60 days with a service-connected disability and served 30 continuous days after Sept.10, 2011
• Children using transferred benefits
• Children using transferred benefits if their servicemember's transferor is at the 100 percent level (36 months served)
• Effective August 1, 2022, servicemembers at the 100 percent level and transferee spouses whose transferor is at the 100 percent level

The Yellow Ribbon Program is limited to 50 students per academic year at SCSU on a first come, first served basis. To sign up, please contact the SCSU Veterans' Services Office.