The Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-146) changed the amount of tuition and fee charges that can be reported to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Effective July 1, 2015, public institutions of higher education must charge qualifying veterans, dependents, and eligible individuals tuition and fees at the rate for in-state residents. Any institution not meeting this requirement will be disapproved by VA for the Post-9/11 and Montgomery GI Bill.
Individuals qualifying for in-state tuition under Public Law 113-146 are:
- A veteran receiving benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30) or the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) who lives in the state in which the institution is located (regardless of his/her legal state of residence) and enrolls in the institution within 3 years of discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more
- A spouse, child, or individual using transferred benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) who lives in the state in which the institution is located (regardless of his/her legal state of residence) and enrolls in the institution within 3 years of the transferor’s discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more
- A spouse, child, or individual using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship who lives in the state in which the institution is located (regardless of his/her legal state of residence) and enrolls in the institution within 3 years of the service member’s death in the line of duty following a period of active duty service of 90 days or more
If the veteran, dependent, or eligible individual enrolls within 3 years after the veteran’s discharge, the requirement to charge no more than the in-state tuition rate would apply for the duration the individual remains continuously enrolled at the institution.
Federal law permits public institutions of higher education to require eligible veterans, dependents, or individuals to demonstrate intent to establish residency in the state by means other than satisfying a physical presence requirement. For example, institutions can request documentation such as a driver’s license, car registration or voter registration, or a signed lease or rent receipt to help establish an applicant’s intent to establish residency in Massachusetts. Please note that the federal law does not include a durational residency requirement, nor does it include a requirement that the eligible veterans, dependent, or individual demonstrate intent to remain in Massachusetts indefinitely.
Finally, please note that the federal law does not bar institutions from requiring the eligible veteran, dependent, or individual to meet other requirements, unrelated to residency, in order to be eligible for the in-state tuition rate.
Rolling Addendum for Undergraduate Studies Catalog 2019-2020
Aids Project Worcester
Nature of site: Practicum
85 Green Street
Worcester, MA 01604
Doherty Memorial High School
Nature of site: Practicum
299 Highland Street
Worcester, MA 01602
Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital
Nature of site: Clinical
189 May Street
Worcester, MA 01602
Hostal Dona Chava
Nature of site: Field work
Calle 2da NO,5, Pedernales 84000
Dominican Republic
May Street School
Nature of site: Practicum
265 May Street
Worcester, MA 01602
Saint Francis Rehabilitation Center
Nature of site: Clinical
101 Plantation Street
Worcester, MA 01604
Sterling Village
Nature of site: Clinical
18 Dana Hill Road
Sterling, MA 01564
United Nations Association of Greater Boston
Nature of site: Internship
85 Devonshire Street #1000
Boston, MA 02109
University of Massachusetts Medical School
Nature of site: Practicum
55 Lake Avenue North
Worcester, MA 01609
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Nature of site: ROTC
100 Institute Road
Worcester, MA 01609
Rolling Addendum for Graduate Studies Catalog 2019-2020
Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of New England
Nature of site: Fieldwork
1071 Varnum Avenue
Lowell, MA 01854
LUK, Inc.
Nature of site: Fieldwork
545 Westminster Street
Fitchburg, MA 01420
Marlborough High School
Nature of site: Practicum
431 Bolton Street
Marlborough, MA 01752
Quinsigamond Elementary School
Nature of site: Practicum
14 Blackstone River Road
Worcester, MA 01504
St. Bernard High School
Nature of site: Practicum
45 Harvard Street
Fitchburg, MA 01420