State Veteran Benefits Northeast

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State Educational Benefits

Click on the State below for information about Veteran Related Education Benefits in that State.

Connecticut
Delaware
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New Jersey
Rhode Island
Vermont

Connecticut

Educational Benefit/Tuition Waivers
State law provides that tuition fees at state educational institutions be waived for certain veterans and certain dependents.

Approved institutions for this benefit are:

  • State Regional Community/Technical Colleges
  • State Universities

 In order to be eligible for a tuition waiver, one must:

  • Be a veteran who served 90 days of active duty during a period of war as defined in; and
  • Have been accepted to an approved institution; and
  • Be a Connecticut resident at the time of acceptance to the institution.
  • A veteran's dependents can also qualify for tuition waiver if the veteran is declared missing in action while serving in the armed forces after January 1, 1960.

Check out our Connecticut veterans' benefits page to see what other state benefits you may be eligible for. 

Delaware

Educational Benefits For Children Of Deceased Veterans, Etc.
In order to qualify for this entitlement an applicant shall be: the child of a member of the armed forces who was killed while on active duty or who died from disease, wounds, injuries or disabilities arising or resulting from performance of duty; a member of the armed forces who is being held, or who was held prisoner of war; or a member of the armed forces officially declared missing in action; a person who at the time of application for benefits is at least 16 years of age, but not more than 24 years of age, and a resident of the State for at least three years prior to the date of application; attending or admitted for attendance at an educational institution beyond the high school level in a program not to exceed four years in duration. Benefits are administered by the Delaware Postsecondary Education Commission.

Education Benefits For Active Members Of The Delaware National Guard
Any active member of a federally recognized unit of the Delaware National Guard, who meets the requirements for satisfactory membership as defined by the Adjutant General of the Delaware National Guard, shall be eligible for funding support by the Delaware

Check out our Delaware veterans' benefits page to see what other state benefits you may be eligible for.

Maine

Veterans Dependents Education Benefits Program
This benefit applies to dependents of Maine veterans who entered the service from Maine or has been a resident for 5 years immediately preceding application for aid and, if living, continues to reside in Maine throughout the duration of benefits administered under the educational benefits program and who:

  • has a 100% total permanent disability resulting from service-connected disability as a result of service;
  • was killed in Action;
  • died from a service-connected disability as a result of service;
  • at the time of death was totally and permanently disabled due to a service- connected disability, but whose death was not related to the service-connected disability; or
  • is a member of the Armed Forces on active duty who has been listed for more than 90 days as missing in action, captured or forcibly detained or interned in the line of duty by a foreign government or power.

The continuous residency requirement of this program does not apply to a person who is receiving educational benefits under this chapter on or before January 1, 2006.

NOTE: If a veteran was a resident of Maine prior to his/her death for less than five years, and application is received subsequently after the five year period from the date he/she last established residency, the applicant will be considered eligible and the deceased veteran will have been considered to have met eligibility requirements for purposes of this benefit.

Spouses of veterans who are attending state-supported post secondary vocational schools or institutions of collegiate grade must be admitted free of tuition including mandatory fees and lab fees for associate's, bachelor's and master's degree programs. Room and board may not be waived. Spouses have 10 years from the date of first entrance to complete the program.

Children of veterans who are attending state supported postsecondary vocational schools or institutions of collegiate grade must be admitted free of tuition including mandatory fees and lab fees for associate’s and bachelor’s programs. The tuition waiver provided under this paragraph may be reduced by an amount necessary to ensure that the value of this waiver, combined with all other grants and benefits received by the student, does not exceed the total cost of education. Room and board may not be waived.

A child of a veteran has 6 academic years from the date of first entrance to complete 8 semesters. The director may waive the limit of 6 consecutive academic years when the Recipient's education has been interrupted by severe medical disability or illness making continued attendance impossible.

Check out our Maine veterans' benefits page to see what other state benefits you may be eligible for.

Massachusetts

Tuition Waivers
A Tuition waiver for all Massachusetts veterans to all state colleges and universities

Veterans of Massachusetts can be eligible for a tuition waiver at any state-supported course in an undergraduate degree program offered by a public college or university. To be eligible, a veteran must also be a legal resident of Massachusetts and he/she must not be in default of any federal student loans.

Veterans will be eligible on a space-available basis for a waiver of full or partial tuition based on proper documentation of the eligibility of the veteran. Space availability shall be determined in accordance with normal practices and procedures as published by each institution, i.e., the individual college or university.

Tuition and Fee Waivers for Guard Members:
The Massachusetts National Guard Education Assistance Program provides a 100% tuition and fee waiver for Massachusetts National Guard soldiers attending a state college, university, or community college program. Generally, these state-supported programs are offered during the day as part of a degree program. Your assistance can continue as long as you are in good standing academically and until you have reached 130 semester hours.

Massachusetts Public Service Grant Program: 
The Massachusetts Public Service Grant Program was established in recognition of the hardship that a family experiences upon the loss of a parent and or spouse who is killed or missing in the line of public service duty in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This grant program was established to provide educational opportunity to the remaining family members. The Public Service Grant Program is the only scholarship program not based on demonstrated financial need, but rather entitlement.

Cyber Forensics for Veterans
A special program offered in partnership with the Massachusetts Attorney General. In 18 months you can complete the Course Work in Cyber Forensics and gain hands-on experience with an internship in a certified Law Enforcement Cyber Forensics Lab that is partnered with the Attorney General's Office (AGO).

Courses towards an Associate's Degree/Workforce Certificate/Career Certificate in Cyber Forensics are offered at the following campuses:

  • Bunker Hill Community College
  • Bristol Community College
  • Middlesex Community College

Check out our Massachusetts veterans' benefits page to see what other state benefits you may be eligible for.

New Hampshire

Free Tuition at Vocational-Technical College
The child of a missing person who was domiciled in this State serving in or with the U.S. armed forces after February 28, 1961, is entitled to free tuition at vocational-technical college so long as said missing person is so reported/listed as missing, captured, etc.

Free Tuition for Surviving Children of Military Members
Children of military members who die in service during wartime, and children of certain wartime veterans who die from a service-connected disability, may qualify for free tuition at New Hampshire public institutions of higher learning. A scholarship for board, room, rent, books and supplies up to $2,500 per year for a period of no more than 4 years at such educational institutions may be furnished to these children if they are in need of financial assistance.

Check out our New Hampshire veterans' benefits page to see what other state benefits you may be eligible for.

New Jersey

POW and MIA Tuition Benefits
Free undergraduate college tuition is available to any child born or adopted before, during or after the period of time his or her parent was officially declared a prisoner of war (POW) or person missing in action (MIA) after Jan. 1, 1960. The POW-MIA must have been a New Jersey resident at the time he or she entered the service or whose official residence is in New Jersey. The child must attend either a public or private institution in New Jersey. A copy of DD-1300 must be furnished with the application.

War Orphans Tuition Assistance
Children of those service personnel who died while in the military or due to service-connected disabilities, or who are officially listed as missing in action by the U.S. Dept. of Defense may claim $500 per year for four years of college or equivalent training. To qualify, the child must be a resident of New Jersey for at least one year immediately preceding the filing of the application and be between the ages of 16 and 21 at the time of application. The veteran must have been a state resident.

Vietnam Veterans Tuition Credit Program
The Vietnam Veterans Tuition Credit Program provides additional education benefits to veterans eligible for federally funded education programs and who served on active duty from December 31, 1960 to May 7, 1975 and who were legal residents of New Jersey at the time of induction into the Armed Forces or at the time of discharge from active service or for a period not less than one year prior to making application. The amount of the award is $400 annually or $200 per semester for full-time attendance and $100 per semester for part-time. Deadlines for applying are October 1 and March 1.

New Jersey National Guard Educational Benefits
New Jersey National Guardsman (Army or Air) who are eligible must:

  • Have completed Initial Active Duty Training.
  • Be in good standing with your unit.

Tuition Assistance: Pays up to 75% of tuition costs at Accredited schools only with a maximum of $100 per undergraduate credit and a maximum of $170 per graduate credit. Tuition Assistance may NOT be used together with any other federal program (i.e. the GI Bill)

Check out our New Jersey veterans' benefits page to see what other state benefits you may be eligible for.

Rhode Island

Free Tuition for Disabled Veterans
Veterans with 10 - 100% service-connected disability get free tuition at RI's public colleges and universities. Permanent residents of Rhode Island only. Students must apply for and use financial aid first. 

Check out our Rhode Island veterans' benefits page to see what other state benefits you may be eligible for.

Vermont

No specific education benefits

Check out our Vermont veterans' benefits page to see what other state benefits you may be eligible for.

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