Veteran's Education

Tuition Discounts, Waivers and Return Funds Policy

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Veterans/Military Tuition Funding 

Eligibility for Resident Rate Tuition 

ESSB 5355 modified the definition of resident student to comply with federal requirements established by the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Choice Act). If you are a veteran or a dependent of a veteran you may also qualify as a resident for tuition purposes if you meet the requirements as a “covered individual” as defined in the Veterans Access Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 (Choice Act) that went into effect on July 1, 2015. The Choice Act requires states to charge in-state tuition and fees to “covered individuals”. 

A Veteran, spouse or dependent child who lives in state in which the institution of their learning is located (regardless of their formal state of residency) and enrolls in the school within three years from the date of discharge located on the Veterans DD-214 from active duty from the armed forces. This includes benefits and entitlements that were transferred to the spouse and dependent child. 

A spouse or dependent child using educational entitlements under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship who lives in a state which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of their formal state of residency) and enrolls in the school within three years of the service member’s death in the line of duty. 

Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020: Removes the requirement for covered individuals to enroll in a course at a public institution of higher learning within three years of being discharged to receive in-state tuition. Also, VA will make publicly available on the VA website a database explaining any public institution’s requirements for beneficiaries to be charged in-state tuition. Effective: August 1, 2021. 

Be eligible for VA educational benefits or VA worker retraining entitlements as a Veteran, spouse or dependent child by the US Department of Veterans Affairs. 

You maintain resident student status as long as you stay continuously enrolled at the school. 

For more information please contact residency@skagit.edu.

Veterans Tuition Discount

A veteran who was honorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces may be eligible for a 20% tuition waiver if the student meets all of the following requirements. 

Can qualify as a WA resident at the time of enrollment per RCW 28B.15.012. 

While serving as an active or reserve member in the U.S. Armed Forces or National Guard, the veteran served in a war or conflict fought on foreign soil, or international waters, or in another location in support of U.S. Armed Forces that were on foreign soil or international waters. 

Veteran is ineligible for 100% GI Bill benefits. 

That service is recorded on the veterans DD214 or other official documents. 

Please contact the Veterans’ Education Office to determine eligibility.  

Mount Vernon Campus: 360.416.7610
Whidbey Island Campus: 360.679.5389

Tuition Waivers for Families of Fallen or 100% Disabled Veterans and National Guard Members

Skagit Valley College will waive all tuition and certain fees for the children, adopted children or stepchildren, and spouses of eligible veterans or National Guard members, who died while on active duty, are permanently and totally disabled because of service-connected injury or illness, are missing in action, are prisoners of war or who are rated by the Veteran’s Administration as 100% disabled. “To be eligible a child must be a Washington domiciliary between 17 and 26 and the child of a Washington State domiciliary. A surviving spouse, to be eligible must be a Washington domiciliary, and it must have been ten years or less since the loss. In addition, the spouse must not have remarried. Each recipient’s continued eligibility is subject to the school’s satisfactory progress policy.” Total credits earned using this waiver may not exceed two hundred quarter credits, or the equivalent of semester credits. The 250 quarter credit limit applies to all combined credits earned via this waiver at the state of Washington colleges & universities. Note: An “eligible veteran or national guard member” means a Washington domiciliary who was an active or reserve member of the U.S. military in a war or conflict fought on foreign soil or in international waters, and if discharged from service, has received an honorable discharge.