Reduced Tuition - Veterans
Background Information:
Through passage of SDCL 13-55-2,
the state legislature created a reduced tuition program for veterans
and selected others who performed war service. Eligibility
requirements include the following:
- Current South Dakota residency (note: state of residency at the point of entry into military service is not a factor)
- Classification as a veteran - as defined in SDCL 33A-2-1 - or an individual who performed active war service.
- Qualifying service during a period of combat operations as delineated in SDCL 33A-2-2
A tuition waiver is granted to those who
qualify. The number of academic years for which the waiver is approved
varies; this is driven by length of military service. The minimum is
one, and the maximum is four.
Important notes:
- The waiver applies exclusively to tuition (not to fees).
- This program allows for completion of courses at the undergraduate (as opposed to graduate) level.
- The tuition waiver is variable, depending on the nature of the course:
- State-support (primarily those courses that are campus-based, centers and involve face-to-face instruction): full waiver
- Self-support (typically those offered at other off-campus locations as well as those that
entail distance learning): partial waiver
- As stated in SDCL 13-55-3,
this tuition waiver must be used within twenty years following
cessation of hostilities or six years following honorable discharge –
whichever comes later.
- This state-sponsored tuition program is not applicable if federal education benefits are available.
Application Process:
To initiate the necessary application process, contact the South Dakota Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. A departmental representative will facilitate completion of the E-11 form and serve as a useful liaison between you and your home university.
Additionally, the staff at
each university includes a member who possesses expertise in veterans'
issues. To make contact with this individual, reference the
campus-specific link below:
