Know the In-State Tuition Rules Before Deciding Where Your Child Goes to College
Jun 09 2008
Some states love military families a lot – some a little and some not at all, at least when it comes to extending in-state tuition rates and benefits to the children of servicemembers. Knowing which states provide the most generous benefits can save you a bundle when it comes time to pay for college.
The DOD In-State Tuition Map provides an interactive guide to which state does what. States are rated green (good), yellow (some restrictions) and red (not good) when it comes to providing benefits in three key areas for servicemembers and their dependents:
- Eligibility in state of legal residence
- Eligibility in state of assignment
- Continuity of eligibility once established
For instance, California, currently rated as a yellow state, provides in-state tution for servicemembers and their dependents provided California is their home of record or they are there on PCS orders. However, should a servicemember PCS to California, qualify for in-state tuition and then PCS to another state or overseas, in-state tuition continuity is not guaranteed. Make sure you know these rules before commiting to school in a particular state!
The good news is that there has been significant movement in the last several years as state-level advocates – many affiliated with MOAA and other military associations – have pushed hard for more favorable tuition treatment for military families. Many formerly yellow and red states have changed over to that happy color of green – which could mean savings for you! Because of these frequent changes, make sure you check back frequently…
