The VA recently postponed the July 1 deadline requiring all public colleges and universities that receive GI Bill funding to provide in-state tuition rates to recent veterans, their spouses and dependents.
VA Secretary Robert McDonald, himself an Army veteran, announced on May 15 that the July 1 deadline would be extended to Jan. 1, 2016, to allow states that haven’t yet done so more time to comply. So far, only 25 states have fully complied with the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act, which Congress passed in August 2014. The law requires all public institutions that receive GI Bill funds to grant in-state tuition to any veteran who left active duty within the last three years, regardless of residency. It also applies to their spouses and dependents.
McDonald said the deadline was extended to give states more time to pass legislation to accommodate the law. Any school not in compliance by the deadline would risk losing its authorization to receive GI Bill funding – which in turn could leave thousands of student veterans in limbo.
“This waiver will allow students to continue receiving the GI Bill benefits they’ve earned as states work to comply with this important law,” McDonald said in a statement.
States not yet in compliance include some of the nation’s most populous states, and states with large veteran populations, including California, North Carolina, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois and Ohio.
The VA lists the states that have complied and those that intend to comply.
Need fast facts about your GI Bill benefits? Check out our Post-9/11 GI Bill at a Glance infographic.
