Who Qualifies?

You may qualify under VACAA if you are a "Covered Individual" using VA education benefits the following groups:

• A veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces that has served on active duty for at least 90 days since September 10, 2001.
• A spouse or dependent child using transferred VA education benefits, or Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) program.
• A student using the Fy Scholarship

To receive this benefit, you must also live in the state where the college is located while attending school.

• What Benefits are Covered

  What Benefits are Covered

  • VACAA applies to Veterans receiving benefits under the Ch. 33: Post-9/11 GI Bill®, the Ch. 30: Montgomery GI Bill® Active Duty (MGIB-AD), Ch. 1606: Montgomery GI Bill® Active Duty (MGIB-SR), or Ch. 31: Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E), and
  • As a spouse or child of a Veteran, you're a "covered individual" if one of these is true:
    • You're using education benefits transferred from a Veteran Ch. 33 Transfer of Eligibility, or Ch. 35: Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) program, Or
    • You're using benefits under the Fry Scholarship and the Veteran had served a period of active-duty service of at least 90 days before their death and
  • When you start school, you live in the state where the school is located. These benefits help pay for tuition, housing, and other education-related expenses.
• What Schools Must Do

  Public colleges and universities are required to charge eligible students the in-state tuition rate if they meet VACAA requirements. If a school does not comply, it risks losing eligibility to receive VA education benefit funding for all students.

• UC Financial Aid Eligibility

  Some students who meet VACAA requirements may also be eligible for UCR financial aid funding.

• Important Requirements

  To receive in-state tuition under VACAA, you must enroll at a public college, be using eligible VA education benefits, and live in the state where the school is located.

  Some schools may ask for documentation to confirm your eligibility, such as a certificate of eligibility from the VA.

• Example

  A student using the Post 9/11 GI Bill® enrolls in a California public university but recently moved from another state. Under VACAA, the school must charge the student in-state tuition if the student lives in California while attending.

• Why This Matters

  VACAA helps reduce the cost of college for veterans and their families by removing residency barriers. This allows students to begin school without delays related to establishing residency for tuition purposes.