Choice Act

In accordance with Section 702 of the Veterans Choice Act, the University establishes the following guidelines on in-state tuition for eligible veterans and/or dependents.

Eligible Students

• A Veteran using educational assistance under either Chapter 30 or Chapter 33* who lives in Virginia while attending a school located in Virginia (regardless of his/her formal State of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of discharge or release from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
• An individual using transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits who lives in the state in where the IHL is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of the transferor’s discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
• A spouse or child using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (38 U.S.C. § 3311(b)(9)) who lives in the Commonwealth of Virginia while attending a school located in the Commonwealth of Virginia (regardless of his/her formal State of residence).
• Anyone using transferred Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits who lives in Virginia while attending a school located in Virginia (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and the transferor is a member of the uniformed service who is serving on active duty.
• An individual using educational assistance under chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) who lives in the Commonwealth of Virginia while attending a school located in the Commonwealth of Virginia (regardless of his/her formal State of residence) effective for courses, semesters, or terms beginning after March 1, 2019
• Anyone described above while he or she remains continuously enrolled (other than during regularly scheduled breaks) at the same institution. The person so described must have enrolled in the institution prior to the expiration of the three-year period following discharge or release as described above and must be using educational benefits under either chapter 30, chapter 33, or chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code.

Demonstrating Eligibility

To demonstrate eligibility for in-state tuition rate, a student must:

1. Submit a Veterans’ Educational Benefits Request Form. Indicate intent to use the Choice act on the form.
   • Web submit form: Veterans' Educational Benefits Request Form
   • Pdf format: Veterans' Educational Benefits Request Form
2. Submit a DD Form 214 discharge document. (Dependents must submit DD214 of transferor).
   The DD Form 214 discharge document must indicate:
   1. Net Active Service – Must be at least 90 days of service
   2. Separation Date – Must be within 3 years of the first day of the student’s term
   3. Character of Service – Must have honorable discharge
3. Submit a DD Form 1300 Report of Casualty document, if student is using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship.
4. Submit a copy of active military orders, if student is using transferred benefits and transferor is on active duty.
5. Provide proof of Commonwealth of Virginia address.

To demonstrate eligibility, documentation must be received by the dates indicated below:

• Fall semester - September 1.
• January Term or Spring semester - February 1.
• Summer Session - May 1.

Student is responsible for demonstrating eligibility for in-state tuition under the Choice Act.

Questions

If you are an active-duty service member or a veteran who was honorably discharged more than 3 years before your enrollment, please contact the Office of Virginia Status for questions on in-state eligibility.

Please note: Your VA educational benefits will impact certain financial aid eligibility. Veterans benefits will be included as a financial resource in your financial aid award package and may reduce state grants, University grants, federal loans and work study, and private loans. Each financial aid award type is different, so the VA benefit may affect each person’s award differently. Please contact Student Financial Services for questions about how your Veterans benefits may impact your financial aid at sfs@virginia.edu or 434.982.6000.

*The Virginia State Approving Agency (SAA) is the approving authority of education and training programs for Virginia. Our office investigates complaints of GI Bill beneficiaries. While most complaints should initially follow the school grievance policy, if the situation cannot be resolved at the school, the beneficiary should contact our office via email saa@dvs.virginia.gov.