Is There Free Tuition for Veterans? Yes, in These States

Are you a military veteran looking to go back to school?

Whether or not you received a disability in the line of duty, you may be eligible for free or discounted tuition rates depending on what state you live in.

Keep reading as we take a closer look at each state that offers tuition breaks for students with a military background.

Which States Offer Free Tuition for Veterans?

There are 21 states in the U.S. that offer free tuition for disabled and nondisabled veterans. Read on as we discuss each of these states and the education benefits they offer.

1. Alabama

Public colleges, universities, and trade schools in Alabama typically waive tuition costs for veterans who have received the Purple Heart Medal.

This benefit applies to undergraduate students enrolled in a degree or certificate program; it cannot be used to cover the cost of individual courses taken outside of one of these programs.

Those hoping to take advantage of these benefits must submit supporting documents to the school of their choice for consideration.

2. Alaska

The University of Alaska system, which consists of three universities and several community colleges, may cover tuition costs for qualifying veterans.

Specifically, those who are serving or have served in the Coast Guard may be eligible to have up to 100 percent of their tuition costs waived.

Contact your school of choice to learn more about these benefits and to find out if you qualify.

3. Arizona

Arizona offers a program called the Arizona Purple Heart Tuition Waiver.

As the name suggests, this program is available to qualifying disabled veterans who have received a Purple Heart Medal.

Purple Heart recipients who are residents of Arizona and have at least a 50 percent VA disability rating, as well as state National Guardsmen who have received a medical discharge, are eligible to apply.

Anyone hoping to receive these benefits must fill out the Tuition Waiver and Verification form and mail or email it to the Arizona Department of Veteran Services.

4. Connecticut

Tuition waivers are available to military veterans in Connecticut who plan to attend a public university or community college in the state.

Eligibility requirements include having served on active duty during wartime for at least 90 days; honorable discharge status; Connecticut residency for at least one year; and acceptance into a degree or certificate program.

Contact your school of choice for details on how to apply for and receive these benefits.

5. Florida

Florida offers free tuition for veterans who have received the Purple Heart Medal or another, more prestigious, decoration.

Tuition waivers apply to veterans planning to attend a public university or community college. This award does not cover the cost of books, fees, or other expenses aside from tuition.

Students can apply for these benefits through their chosen school's financial aid office.

6. Illinois

Qualifying veterans living in Illinois may receive tuition and select fee waivers through the Illinois Veteran Grant Program, which provides funds for students planning to attend a public college or university in the state.

Qualifying veterans have at least one year of service, were honorably discharged, have lived in Illinois for at least six months before or 15 years after service, and returned to Illinois no more than six months after leaving the military.

Applications to receive these benefits can be found at any of the Department of Veterans Affairs VSO Offices in Illinois.

7. Indiana

Veterans in Indiana who have received the Purple Heart Medal can receive tuition and fee waivers for as many as 124 credit hours at any public state school.

To qualify, the veteran must have been honorably discharged and must be a resident of Indiana. Those who moved to Indiana following active duty must have lived in the state for at least five years.

Applications for these benefits can be found at Scholar Track. The applicant will be asked to provide proof of Purple Heart status.

8. Maryland

Disabled veterans living in Maryland can apply for the Edward T. Conroy and Mary A. Conroy Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship applies to veterans with a 25 percent disability rating or who have received POW/MIA status.

This scholarship is meant to be used after other means of financial assistance have been exhausted. It assists with tuition and other college expenses. It can be applied toward learning programs at any college or university in the state.

Those hoping to apply for this scholarship should contact the financial aid office of their school of choice.

9. Massachusetts

All veterans and active-duty service members are eligible for tuition waivers in Massachusetts. These benefits can be applied to any public college or university in the state.

Note that you must be a legal or permanent resident of Massachusetts to qualify for these benefits.

To apply, you'll need to fill out the Categorical Tuition Waiver and provide supporting documents to your school's Veterans Certifying Official.

10. Montana

In Montana, you may be able to receive tuition coverage for up to 12 semesters at a state college or university. These benefits apply after you have exhausted your GI Bill funds.

Qualifying students must be residents of Montana who served in specific campaigns or war zones. They must have received an honorable discharge and be pursuing their first college degree or certificate.

Students must submit a completed Honorably Discharged Veteran Tuition Waiver and supporting documents to their school's financial aid office.

11. New Mexico

In New Mexico, qualifying veterans can receive aid through the Wartime Veteran Scholarship Fund and the Vietnam Veteran Scholarship.

The first scholarship can be used for graduate or undergraduate tuition or book costs at any school in the state. It is available for residents who have used up GI Bill funds and have received a medal for combat services after 1990.

The second scholarship covers tuition and books at any state school and applies to Vietnam veterans who are residents of New Mexico.

Each scholarship has its application which must be filled out and mailed to New Mexico's Department of Veterans' Services.

12. New York

Tuition waivers are available for veterans in New York planning to study at public colleges or trade schools. Up to 10 semesters of study may be covered.

To be eligible, you must have been honorably discharged and been a veteran of Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, and Afghanistan, or have a medal for any conflict served since 1961.

This benefit requires filling out the FAFSA, the application for New York's tuition assistance program, and the Veterans Tuition Award application. Supporting documentation will also be required.

13. Rhode Island

Rhode Island offers a Disabled Veterans Tuition Waiver for those studying at public schools within the state. It covers tuition costs only, not fees or book expenses.

Resident veterans with a disability rating of at least 10 percent are eligible after all GI Bill benefits and other forms of financial aid options have been exhausted.

Students can complete the application for these benefits at their school's financial aid office.

14. South Dakota

South Dakota offers free tuition for qualifying disabled veterans who have used up their GI Bill benefits and who are not receiving other forms of financial aid.

Those who received an honorable discharge, have a disability rating of at least 10 percent, and are residents of South Dakota can receive one month of free tuition for every month of service, for up to four years.

An application and supporting documents must be submitted to the South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs for consideration.

15. Tennessee

Veterans who live in Tennessee can receive financial assistance through the Helping Heroes Grant. This grant provides $1,000 per semester for full-time students and $500 per semester for part-time students.

This grant is available to both active-duty service members and veterans who have been honorably discharged.

To be considered for the grant, students must fill out an application and submit supporting documents.

16. Texas

The Hazlewood Act in Texas provides up to 150 credit hours of free tuition at public schools for qualifying veterans. Most fees are also waived.

Veterans must have been honorably discharged after serving at least 181 days, must be residents of Texas, and must have no GI Bill benefits remaining.

Students must submit the Hazlewood Exemption Application Form and supporting documentation to the financial aid office at their school.

17. Utah

Utah offers two free tuition programs for veterans. These are the State of Utah Purple Heart Tuition Waiver and the Utah Veterans Tuition Gap Program.

The first of these programs allows Purple Heart recipients to receive tuition coverage for graduate and undergraduate programs at any public school in the state.

The second program applies to all qualifying veterans in the state who have exhausted other funds. It provides tuition coverage for the final year of any bachelor's degree program.

Both of these tuition waivers can be applied for through individual schools' financial aid offices.

18. Washington

Most schools in Washington state offer tuition assistance programs and waivers for qualifying veterans. State law permits up to total tuition coverage but does not offer a centralized program.

Veterans are encouraged to check with the financial aid office at their school of choice to find out more about the specific programs available at the school.

19. West Virginia

Resident veterans in West Virginia may be eligible to receive free tuition through the Medal of Honor and Andrew J. Trail Purple Heart Recipient Tuition Waiver.

As the name suggests, this benefit is available to recipients of the Medal of Honor or the Purple Heart Medal. It covers up to eight semesters of study at any public school in the state.

Applications can be found at your school's financial aid office.

20. Wisconsin

Wisconsin provides tuition waivers covering up to 128 credit hours through its State GI Bill. Veterans can receive this benefit at any public school in the state.

Qualifications include being a resident of Wisconsin and having been honorably discharged.

Those hoping to receive this benefit must complete an online application and submit supporting documents to Wisconsin's Department of Veterans Affairs.

21. Wyoming

Wyoming covers all tuition and fees for qualifying veterans attending the University of Wyoming or a public community college in the state.

The waiver applies to Vietnam veterans and other veterans who have served in overseas conflicts. It covers up to eight semesters of college completed within eight years.

To be considered for this waiver, fill out the Educational Assistance Application and submit supporting documents to the financial aid office at your school.

Free College Tuition for Veterans

Each of the states discussed above provides free tuition for veterans in some form or another. If your state is on the list, check with your school or VA office to find out if you qualify for aid.