Need options for Plan B ? - good deal gouge for vets

A6E Dad

A6E Dad

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If you are on this forum, your DS or DD is probably pursuing USNA as Plan A

If so, that's great, and best of luck. But you need solid Plan B, C, D etc. Also a great option for non-SA siblings (our youngest took advantage of this)

If you are a veteran, your dependents qualify for in-state tuition at Michigan State. This is not a disabled veteran benefit, you don't need to be active duty, you don't need a minimum number of years served or any of that. All you need is a DD 214 and a pulse. (actually, you might not even need a pulse). The cost for out of state and instate is around $51K vs $25K respectively. For us, the cost made it a no brainer to put this school on the list, and after visiting we were sold.

just passing this on to all the USN/USMC bubba's out there (ok USA, USAF, and USCG too!)

Happy Veterans Day!
 
State veteran agencies or departments offer a range of benefits that vary by state; these are different than the Fed VA benefits. It is always worthwhile to check on this source if there is a vet parent.

There are also many scholarships available to children of veterans and active duty families.
Here’s one example:

MOAA Education Assistance

Learn more about MOAA's education programs.
www.moaa.org www.moaa.org

In my years of working with companies serving the military, I was always surprised by those who had served who didn’t think they qualified as “real veterans.” They had done a few years in the Reserves, or hadn’t deployed to a combat zone. If a DD-214 has been issued, that is generally the ticket to get in the basic eligibility door. Some benefits do turn on how the service was characterized (Dishonorable or Bad Conduct Discharge, General Other Than Honorable), length of service (quickie discharge during initial training, etc.) or other factor.

Here in Maryland, the info is at below link. I googled “Maryland state veterans’ educational benefits.” Fill in your own state.

 
Happy Veteran's Day to you, and so many others on this forum! (And a big Happy Birthday to the Marine Corps!)

So interesting and curious if this is the case at many state universities? My sister-in-law works for the University of Arkansas and told me recently my son would qualify for in state tuition b/c my husband is a veteran, but I haven't been able to get this verified. Is it on their website at Michigan State? She thought in Arkansas it was a state law.

Edit: @Capt MJ posted as I was asking this question - great info, thank you.
 
A possible clarifying point - we should probably assume, for example, the Maryland benefits above are for Maryland residents who are veterans. Michigan State offers it, but if the veteran is a Maryland resident, I would assume the Maryland vet’s kid couldn’t get the in-state deal at Mich State, unless it’s specified by the school.
Lots of assumptions here, so scour the primary references for best info.
 
Capt MJ said:
A possible clarifying point - we should probably assume, for example, the Maryland benefits above are for Maryland residents who are veterans. Michigan State offers it, but if the veteran is a Maryland resident, I would assume the Maryland vet’s kid couldn’t get the in-state deal at Mich State, unless it’s specified by the school.
Lots of assumptions here, so scour the primary references for best info.
Click to expand...

Wouldn’t in state residents qualify for the lower in state tuition anyway?
 
Yes, agreed. The veteran aspect may provide additional scholarship or tuition assistance as a specific veteran or veteran child benefit, as it does in MD.

We had a USNA sponsor son who was completely DQ’ed militarily after 1 year of commissioned service, and did not qualify for Fed Post-9/11 GI Bill vet education benefit. Back in his home state, his state VA gave him a free ride for his MBA at the state flagship university.
 
lots of benefits for vets at the state level, most come with some strings attached

the reason I posted about MSU, is that this benefit applies to dependents of ALL vets, regardless of what state you live it, which is much less common.

At MSU, DD214 and honorable discharge is all you need. Most states have some form of veterans benefits for state schools but most are restricted to state residents, or members who lived in that state while on active duty.
 
that law applies to all 50 states, and is only applicable to vets using the post-9/11 GI Bill. it's a great benefit, but has a bunch of restrictions or limitations (ie. need to use it within 3 years of leaving active service etc.)

the deal at MSU is much broader - dependents of any vet, who served at anytime/anywhere, are entitled to instate tuition as long as you have an honorable discharge

i think there are a few other schools that do it (Iowa, Iowa State, and maybe Arizona State) but not sure.
 
thanks for the link,

it still looks like this is only applicable to post 9/11 GI Bill?

are you saying that all dependents of all veterans are entitled to instate tuition at all state colleges? i don't think it says that, but would be happy to be wrong

i think all the new benefits are awesome, but only apply to certain people.
 
A6E Dad said:
that law applies to all 50 states, and is only applicable to vets using the post-9/11 GI Bill. it's a great benefit, but has a bunch of restrictions or limitations (ie. need to use it within 3 years of leaving active service etc.)

the deal at MSU is much broader - dependents of any vet, who served at anytime/anywhere, are entitled to instate tuition as long as you have an honorable discharge

i think there are a few other schools that do it (Iowa, Iowa State, and maybe Arizona State) but not sure.
Click to expand...
Interesting that it's not tied to using the GI Bill or the parent being AD. It looks like Section III/4/3 addresses dependents of retirees, unless I'm missing something:
https://reg.msu.edu/roinfo/notices/Residency.aspx
 
don't need to be retired, only need to be currently serving on active duty or reserve, or have an honorable discharge



III. Other Ways to Establish Eligibility.

Students who meet any of the following standards will receive in-state tuition:

4. A student who, or whose spouse, or parent in the case of a dependent student:
(1) is serving on active duty in the United States Uniformed Services;
(2) is serving in the guard or reserves in one of those reserve components; or
(3) has received an honorable discharge from one of those Services or reserve components.
 
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