Student Veterans

A Summary of Military and Veteran’s Education Benefits

Members of the military and veterans have access to a number of federal programs for tuition assistance.  The centerpiece of armed services education benefits is the GI Bill[1], which encompasses several Department of Veterans Affairs education programs including the Post-9/11 GI Bill  (including Fry Scholarship), the Montgomery GI Bill for Active Duty and Veterans, Montgomery GI Bill  for Selected Reserves, Reserve Education Assistance Program, Veterans Education Assistance Program, Spouse and Dependents Education Assistance, and the Vocational Rehabilitation and Education program.  You may be eligible for more than one educational benefit.  Knowing which is best for your situation can save you money and ensure you get the most out of your benefits.

In addition to the numerous federal education benefits available to veterans and active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces, the State of Nevada offers the following benefits that you may also wish to consider. General information is provided below. For specific information on which programs apply to you, it is recommended that you contact the veteran service office and financial aid office at the institution you plan to attend.

Veterans who were honorably discharged within five years preceding the date of matriculation (first day of instruction in the semester or term in which enrollment of the student first occurs) at an NSHE institution shall not be charged non-resident tuition (Title 4, Chapter 15 of the Board of Regents’ Handbook and Nevada Revised Statutes [NRS] 396.540).

Active duty members of the Armed Forces of the United States stationed in Nevada, as well as their spouses and dependent children, are eligible for in-state tuition (Title 4, Chapter 15 of the Handbook and NRS 396.540).  This provision also applies to active duty members stationed at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center at Pickle Meadows, California.

For active duty service members who have a permanent change of duty station to a state other than Nevada, spouses and dependent children remain classified as Nevada residents for tuition purposes so long as they remain continuously enrolled at an NSHE institution.

Veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States who were honorably discharged and who on the date of discharge were on active duty stationed in Nevada (including the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center at Pickle Meadows, California) are considered residents of the state for tuition purposes and are eligible for in-state tuition (Title 4, Chapter 15 of the Handbook and NRS 396.540).

The financially dependent child (or children) and spouse of an active duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces killed in the line of duty while permanently stationed in Nevada may be eligible for a grant-in-aid, a financial award that does not require repayment (Title 4, Chapter 18 of the Handbook).

Active members of the Nevada National Guard are eligible for a fee waiver that will permit such Guard members to register for courses without a registration fee (e.g. resident tuition) (Title 4, Chapter 17 of the Handbook and NRS 396.544).

This waiver will also pay for laboratory fees associated with certain courses.  (The programs associated with the William S. Boyd School of Law, the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Medicine, and the UNLV School of Dental Medicine are not eligible for the waiver.)

The child (or children) and spouse of a person who was killed while performing duties as a member of the Nevada National Guard are also eligible to register for courses without a registration fee (e.g. resident tuition), including certain laboratory fees (Title 4, Chapter 17 of the Handbook and NRS 396.5442).

The child of a person who was killed while performing duties as a member of the Nevada National Guard may use the waiver for ten years after he or she attains the age of 18 or, if he or she enrolls prior to age 18, for ten years after the date of enrollment.

The spouse may use this benefit for up to ten years from member’s date of death.  (The programs associated with the William S. Boyd School of Law, the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Medicine, and the UNLV School of Dental Medicine are not eligible for the waiver.)

Eligible veterans who have been awarded the Purple Heart for their service in the U.S. Armed Forces may be provided a waiver of certain fees related to registration. A student to whom the fee waiver is awarded shall be deemed a bona fide resident of Nevada for tuition purposes.

An NSHE institution shall waive registration, laboratory and other mandatory fees for eligible students pursuant to Title 4, Chapter 17 of the Handbook. In order to request the waiver, a student veteran must complete and submit the NSHE Purple Heart Fee Waiver form to the appropriate office on their NSHE campus.

The child (or children) and spouse of a person who was a member of the U.S. Armed Forces permanently stationed in Nevada who has been identified as a prisoner of war or declared missing in action while performing duties as a member of the Armed Forces are eligible to register for courses without a registration fee (e.g. resident tuition), including certain laboratory fees (Title 4, Chapter 17 of the Handbook and NRS 396.5445).

The child may use the waiver for ten years after he or she attains the age of 18 or, if he or she enrolls prior to age 18, for ten years after the date of enrollment. 

The spouse may use this benefit for up to ten years from the date on which the member was identified as a prisoner of war or missing in action.  (The programs associated with the William S. Boyd School of Law, the University of Nevada School of Medicine, and the UNLV School of Dental Medicine are not eligible for the waiver.)

Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship recipients may access their awards for up to six academic years after their high school graduation date. However, for those recipients who have served on active duty as a member of the United Stated Armed Forces, an extension equal to time served, but not to exceed six years, may be granted upon appeal to the Nevada System of Higher Education (Title 4, Chapter 18 of the Handbook). The Application for Extension of Scholarship Expiration Date is available online at https://nevadatreasurer.gov.

Footnotes

[1] GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  The absence of the registration symbol ® does not constitute a waiver of the VA’s trademark rights in that phrase.