Veterans Affairs

Tuition Waivers

CT State Veterans Tuition Waiver:

Under Connecticut state statutes, tuition at Connecticut public colleges and universities may be waived for eligible veteran students that satisfy all of the requirements below (eligibility is not retroactive).

What are the Requirements?

    1. Be formally accepted for admission to an undergraduate/graduate degree seeking program at WCSU (although you do not have to declare a major initially).
    2. Be living in Connecticut at the time of acceptance, which includes domicile for less than one year. If you applied to WCSU with an out-of-state address, you become domiciled when you get a CT address.
    3. Have served at least 90 or more cumulative days active duty in time of war (see “Specified War Times” below) except if separated from service earlier because of a federal Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) rated service-connected disability; or the war, campaign or operation lasted less than 90 days and service was for the duration. Initial Entry Training & Active Duty Training does not qualify towards active duty service.
    4. Be honorably discharged or released under honorable conditions** from active service in the U.S. Armed Forces (U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard). National Guard members activated under Title 10 of the United States Code are also included. **Effective October 1, 2018:  Public Act 18-47 extends the CT State Veterans Tuition Waiver to Veterans with “Other than Honorable” discharge if diagnosed by a licensed provider with a “qualifying condition” defined in Public Act 18-47 as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) resulting from military service, a traumatic brain injury (TBI) resulting from military service, or experienced military sexual trauma (MST) as described in 38 U.S.C.   1720D.  A Veteran with a “Bad Conduct” or “Dishonorable” discharge is NOT eligible.

Specified War Times

A.  Active duty for at least ninety (90) days:

        • WORLD WAR II – December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946
        • KOREAN WAR – June 27, 1950 to January 31, 1955
        • VIETNAM ERA – February 28, 1961 to July 1, 1975 (any child of a Vietnam-era veteran who has been declared a MIA/POW also is eligible, provided the parent entered service after January 1, 1960).
        • PERSIAN GULF WAR (INCLUDING OPERATION DESERT SHIELD, DESERT STORM, ENDURING FREEDOM (AFGHANISTAN) & IRAQI FREEDOM) – beginning August 2, 1990 and ending on the date thereafter prescribed by Presidential proclamation or by law.

B.  Engaged in combat or in a combat support role in the:

        • LEBANON CONFLICT – July 1, 1958 to November 1, 1958
        • LEBANON PEACE KEEPING MISSION – September 29, 1982 to March 30, 1984
        • GRENADA INVASION – October 25, 1983 to December 15, 1983
        • OPERATION ERNEST WILL – February 1, 1987 to July 23, 1987
        • PANAMA INVASION – December 20, 1989 to January 31, 1990

C.  Active Duty for Service in the locations of:

        • SOUTH KOREA – Demilitarized zone after February 1, 1955
        • SOMALIA – After December 2, 1992
        • Bosnia – After December 20, 1995

What Does The Waiver Cover?

During the fall and spring semesters tuition is billed and any eligible veteran student may receive a 100% waiver of tuition.  During the summer and winter/intersessions, course fees are billed in lieu of tuition and eligible Veterans may receive a 50% waiver of the extension course fees.  Other college costs such as deposits, fees, room & board and books are not waived.

How Do I Apply? 

Eligible veterans must submit the following documents one time only to WCSU’s Office of Veteran Affairs to receive the CT State Veterans Tuition Waiver:

      1. Separations papers, specifically, Form DD-214 (Member 4 or Service 2, 7 or 8 copies only)
      2. Complete and return the Connecticut State Veterans Tuition Waiver Application.

Veterans with an “Other than Honorable” discharge must additionally submit CT OTH Form 1 to receive this benefit.

 

National Guard Tuition Waiver:

Under Connecticut General Statutes 10a-99-d-5, tuition at Connecticut public colleges and universities may be waived for eligible Air or Army National Guard students that satisfy all of the requirements below (eligibility is not retroactive).

What are the Requirements? 

    1. Be formally accepted for admission on a full-time or part-time basis in an undergraduate or graduate degree seeking program at WCSU (although you do not have to declare a major initially).
    2. Be a member in good standing of the CT Air or Army National Guard.  Out-of-state students who enroll in the Connecticut National Guard qualify to receive this waiver.

What Does The Waiver Cover?

During the fall and spring semesters tuition is billed and any eligible Air/Army National Guard student may receive a 100% waiver of tuition.  Unfortunately, this waiver is not applicable during summer or winter/intersessions.  Other college costs such as deposits, fees, room & board and books are not waived.

How Do I Apply? 

Eligible Air or Army National Guard students must complete an application before every fall and spring semester by contacting their Readiness NCO or Orderly Room at their CT National Guard Unit.  Once submitted, the application will go through the proper chain of command, then a Certificate of Eligibility is generated and emailed to WCSU’s Office Veteran Affairs.

 

Dependent 9/11 KIA Waiver:

Under Connecticut General Statutes 10a-99-d-9, tuition may be waived for any dependent child or surviving spouse that satisfy all the requirements below (eligibility is not retroactive).

What are the Requirements?

  1. Student is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a person who was killed in action while performing active military duty with the armed forces of the United States on or after September 11, 2001.
  2. Be a Connecticut state resident (both dependent child or surviving spouse and the Veteran or service member who was killed in action).

What Does The Waiver Cover?

During the fall and spring semesters tuition is billed and any eligible dependent child or surviving spouse student may receive a 100% waiver of tuition.  Unfortunately, this waiver is not applicable during summer or winter/intersessions.  Other college costs such as deposits, fees, room & board and books are not waived.

How Do I Apply?

Eligible students who satisfy the eligibility requirements may provide a copy of the Veterans DD214 (Member 4 copy) or equivalent, enlistment contract, or Casualty Report along with proof of the Veterans death (such as a copy of their death certificate, letter from the funeral home, or published obituary) to WCSU’s Office of Veteran Affairs.  Additionally, dependent children must provide their birth certificate listing the name of the Veteran killed in action, dependent stepchildren must provide their birth certificate and marriage certificate between the parent and Veteran, legally adopted dependent children must provide their birth certificate and adoption decree, and a surviving spouse must provide their marriage certificate.

Dependent MIA/POW Waiver:

Per Connecticut Board of Regents (12/18/2014), tuition may be waived for any dependent child that satisfy all the requirements below (eligibility is not retroactive).

What are the Requirements?

  1. Student is a dependent child of a person whom the armed forces of the United States has declared to be missing in action or to have been a prisoner of war while serving in the armed forces after January 1, 1960.
  2. Student has been formally accepted for admission on a full-time or part-time basis in an undergraduate or graduate degree seeking program at WCSU (although you do not have to declare a major initially).
  3. Student is living in Connecticut at the time of acceptance to WCSU.

What Does The Waiver Cover?

During the fall and spring semesters tuition is billed and any eligible dependent student may receive a 100% waiver of tuition.  During the summer and winter/intersessions, course fees are billed in lieu of tuition and eligible dependents may receive a 50% waiver of the extension course fees.  Other college costs such as deposits, fees, room & board and books are not waived.

How Do I Apply?

Eligible students who satisfy the eligibility requirements may provide a copy of the Veterans DD214 (Member 4 copy) or equivalent along with documentation from The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) or other proof of MIA/POW status to WCSU’s Office of Veteran Affairs.  Additionally, dependent children must provide their birth certificate listing the name of the Veteran or service member who was been declared to be missing in action or a prisoner of war, dependent stepchildren must provide their birth certificate and marriage certificate between the parent and Veteran or service member, and adopted dependent children must provide their birth certificate and adoption decree.

Dependent Terrorist Victim Waiver:

Under Connecticut General Statutes 10a-99-d-7, tuition is waived for any dependent child or surviving spouse that satisfy all the requirements below (eligibility is not retroactive).

What are the Requirements?

  1. Student is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist victim who was a resident of the state.

What Does The Waiver Cover?

During the fall and spring semesters tuition is billed and any eligible dependent child or surviving spouse student may receive a 100% waiver of tuition.  Unfortunately, this waiver is not applicable during summer or winter/intersessions.  Other college costs such as deposits, fees, room & board and books are not waived.

How Do I Apply?

Eligible students who satisfy the eligibility requirements may provide a copy of the Veterans DD214 (Member 4 copy) or equivalent to WCSU’s Office of Veteran Affairs.  Additionally, dependent children must provide their birth certificate listing the name of the Veteran killed in action, dependent stepchildren must provide their birth certificate and marriage certificate between the parent and Veteran, legally adopted  dependent children must provide their birth certificate and adoption decree, and a surviving spouse must provide their marriage certificate.