Click on the State below for information about GI Bill Benefits in that State.
Alabama
Florida
Georgia
Mississippi
Tennessee
Alabama
Tuition Waiver for Purple Heart Recipients
Public institutions of higher learning in the State of Alabama, including two-year and four-year postsecondary technical colleges, community colleges, and junior colleges, may waive tuition and fees for recipients of the Purple Heart Medal for undergraduate studies.
G. I. Dependents' Scholarship Program
This program is administered by the ADVA and is governed by ALA. CODE §§ 31-6-1, et seq. The veteran must meet the following qualifications to establish eligibility of his/her dependents:
Military Service: The veteran must have honorably served at least 90 days of continuous active federal military service or honorably discharged by reason of service-connected disability after serving less than 90 days of continuous active federal military service.
Disability Requirements: The veteran must be rated 20% or more by the USDVA due to service-connected disabilities or have held the qualifying rating at the time of death, a former prisoner of war (POW), or declared missing in action (MIA), or died as the result of a service-connected disability, or died while on active military service in the line of duty.
Residency Requirements: The veteran must have been a permanent civilian resident of the State of Alabama for at least one year immediately prior to (a) the initial entry into active military service or (b) any subsequent period of military service in which a break (1 year or more) in service occurred and the Alabama civilian residency was established. Permanently service-connected veterans rated at 100% who did not enter service from Alabama, may qualify after establishing at least five years of permanent residency in Alabama prior to filing of an application or immediately prior to death, if deceased.
Entitlement: Dependent children are awarded five standard academic years or part-time equivalent at any Alabama state-supported institution of higher learning or a prescribed course of study at any Alabama state-supported technical school without payment of any tuition, required textbooks or instructional fees for eligible dependents initially enrolling in school on or after Fall 2009. Children who enrolled in school prior to Fall 2009 receive four academic years of scholarship benefits.
A spouse or widow(er) of a veteran who is rated 20% - 90% by the USDVA due to service connected disabilities, and who initially enrolls in school on or after Fall 2009, are entitled to three standard academic years without payment of tuition, required textbooks and instructional fees or a prescribed technical course not to exceed 27 months of training. A spouse enrolled in school before Fall 2009 receive two academic years of scholarship benefits. Note: Widow(er) forfeits benefits upon remarriage. Spouse forfeits benefits upon divorce from veteran in which the spouse derived eligibility.
Beginning in Fall 2014, students enrolled for the first time in the program are limited to undergraduate level classes at in-state tuition rates. Students admitted to the program before August 1, 2014 will retain the benefits as previously awarded.
Age Deadline: The child or stepchild must initiate training prior to their 26th birthday. Age 30 deadlines may apply in certain situations. There is no age deadline for submission of the application by the spouse or un-remarried widow(er). This deadline may be extended for previously denied applications who were denied solely on the veteran’s peacetime status. In order to receive this extension, applications must be resubmitted and received at ADVA Headquarters no later than August 1, 2015
Check out our Alabama veterans' benefits page to see what other state benefits you may be eligible for.
Florida
Tuition Waiver
Florida waives undergraduate-level tuition at state universities and community colleges for Florida recipients of the Purple Heart and other combat-related decorations superior in precedence to the Purple Heart.
Tuition Deferment
Available to any veteran or other eligible student covered under Title 38, U.S.C. Allows one tuition deferment each academic year and an additional deferment when a delay in benefits occurs.
Reduced Tuition for National Guard
Active Florida Guard members in good standing as of June 30, 1997 are exempt from payment of one-half of tuition and fees. Individuals who enlist in the Guard after June 30, 1997 are eligible for full exemption of tuition and fees. Contact your National Guard Unit for details.
Education for Children Of Deceased Or Disabled Florida Veterans
Florida also provides four-year college educational opportunities for dependent children and spouses of veterans who died from a service connected disability or who are 100% percent service-connected totally and permanently disabled veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. (FS 295. 01) For more information, call toll free (888) 827-2004. Dependent children of service members Missing In Action or Prisoners Of War may also be eligible for tuition benefits.
Check out our Florida veterans' benefits page to see what other state benefits you may be eligible for.
Georgia
Georgia HERO Scholarship
The Georgia HERO (Helping Educate Reservists and their Offspring) Scholarship Program was created to provide educational grant assistance to members of the Georgia National Guard and U.S. Military Reservists who served in combat zones or the children of such members of the Georgia National Guard and U.S. Military Reserves. The grant is to attend an approved school for a maximum of up to four award years in the sum of $2,000.00 per award year. No person shall be eligible to receive grant assistance provided under this subsection in excess of $8,000.00.
Check out our Georgia veterans' benefits page to see what other state benefits you may be eligible for.
Mississippi
Educational Assistance
Children of any member of the armed services whose official home of record and residence is within the State of Mississippi and who is officially reported as being either a prisoner of a foreign government or missing in action can receive an eight-semester scholarship, without cost, exclusive of books, food, school supplies, materials and dues or fees for extracurricular activities at any state supported college or university within the State.
The Adjutant General is authorized to pay the tuition for any member in good standing with the active Mississippi National Guard who is enrolled within the State of Mississippi in an accredited institution of higher learning and who is not eligible for GI Bill educational assistance and who meets requirements specified in Mississippi law.
Military personnel stationed in Mississippi are classified as state residents for the purposes of payment of tuition at state colleges and universities.
Mississippi Employment Security Commission
Veterans seeking assistance regarding employment or unemployment insurance benefits should contact their local Mississippi Employment Security Commission Office for assistance. MS Employment Security Commission offices are located in larger cities and towns throughout the state.
Check out our Mississippi veterans' benefits page to see what other state benefits you may be eligible for.
Tennessee
Dependent Childrens Scholarship
A dependent child (under 23 years of age) or spouse in the state is entitled to receive free tuition, maintenance fees, student activity fees, registration fees, and to be admitted without cost to any of the colleges or universities owned, operated and maintained by the State, whose parent (mother or father) was killed or died as a direct result of injuries received or officially reported as being either a prisoner-of-war or missing-in-action while serving as a member of the Armed Forces during a qualifying period of armed conflict.
Check out our Tennessee veterans' benefits page to see what other state benefits you may be eligible for.
