Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability

Effective July 1, 2015, California Education Code (68075.5(c)c) allows California Community Colleges to grant full exemption from the nonresident fee for all students verified to be “covered individuals” per the below criteria and that qualify to use Montgomery GI Bill®-Active Duty or Post-9/11 GI Bill® education benefits (Chapters 30 and 33, respectively, of Title 38, U.S. Code) while living in California.

Covered Individuals:

  1. A Veteran who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
  1. A spouse or child entitled to transferred education benefits who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within 3 years of the transferor’s discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
  2. A Veteran who is eligible for rehabilitation under 38U.S. code  § 3102 pursuing a course of education with education assistance from the Training and Rehabilitation for Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities (Chapter 31) education benefits program.
  3. A spouse or child using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (provides Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits to the children and surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty while on active duty) who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of the Service member’s death in the line of duty following a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
  4. After expiration of the three year period following discharge or death as described in 38 U.S.C. 3679(c), a student who initially qualifies under the applicable requirements above will maintain “covered individual” status as long as he or she remains continuously enrolled (other than during regularly scheduled breaks between courses, semesters or terms) at the institution, even if they enroll in multiple programs and shall continue to be exempt from paying nonresident tuition and other fees as described in the updated fee policy described below.

How do I obtain the VACA Act Tuition Fee Waiver?

In most instances, military personnel on active duty in California, their spouses and dependent children qualify as immediate residents without the need for the VACA Fee waiver. In addition the same exemptions may be applied to recently discharged military members and their dependents.

For Information regarding Military Residency Reclassification please visit: SBCC's residency page.

If Admissions and Records has determined that you are not eligible for Military Residency Reclassification you may contact the Veterans Support Office who will assist you in determining your eligibility for completing the VACA Act Tuition Fee Waiver.