Veteran Waivers and Scholarships

Beginning in the fall semester of 2020, a student who is a member of the Montana National Guard is eligible for a tuition waiver, provided the student:

• • Has applied for the waiver and is a bona fide member of the MT National Guard no later than the third week of the first semester for which the waiver is being requested;
  • Is certified as a MT National Guard member in good standing who has completed Initial Entry Training;
  • Maintains reasonable academic progress in accordance with the campus’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy used in administering federal financial aid; and
  • Has an outstanding tuition balance after applying all other sources of aid.

Waivers for students who meet the criteria above will be applied as LAST DOLLAR awards, up to the total annual cost of in-state tuition only. Thus, individual tuition waiver amounts will vary, depending on the amount of federal grants and all other scholarships received by the student. Montana National Guard members who do not meet the residency requirements provided in BOR Policy 940.1 but meet the criteria above, are eligible for in-state tuition status for purposes of applying the tuition waiver under this policy.

*The waiver covers the remaining tuition balance after ALL other grants and scholarships have been applied toward tuition, and is NOT available for Flat Fee Courses. Please view the example calculation on the Fact Sheet.

An Undergraduate or Graduate student who is a Honorably Discharged Veteran from the United States forces is eligible for a tuition waiver provided the student:

• • Is a resident of the State of Montana (per BOR Policy 940.1) and is attending a MUS qualifying campus;
  • Has received an Honorable discharge (Honorable Under General Conditions will not be accepted) for service in active duty for other than training purposes;
  • Has elected to become eligible for Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits under Title 38, or Title 10, of the U.S. Code but benefits have expired or were exhausted;
  • Has applied for the waiver no later than the third week of the first semester for which the waiver is being requested;
  • Maintains reasonable academic progress in accordance with the campus’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy used in administering federal financial aid; and
  • Has an outstanding tuition balance after applying all other sources of aid.

Waivers for students who meet the criteria above will be applied as LAST DOLLAR awards, up to the total cost of in-state tuition only. Thus, individual tuition waiver amounts will vary, depending on the amount of federal grants and all other scholarships received by the student. 

*The waiver covers the remaining tuition balance after ALL other grants and scholarships have been applied toward tuition, and is NOT available for Flat Fee Courses. Please view the example calculation on the Fact Sheet.

A waiver is available, upon approval of the Commissioner of Higher Education, for children aged 25 or less, whose parent(s) served on active duty during World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, the Iraq or Afghanistan conflicts. Such members of the armed forces must have been Montana residents at the time of entry into service, and must have been killed in action or died as a result of combat related injury, disease, or other disability.

The student must be a resident of Montana per BOR Policy 940.1 and must apply for the waiver by the 3rd week of the first semester for which they are requesting the waiver. This Waiver does not waive any fees, cannot be used with other tuition waivers and can only be used towards undergraduate tuition. This tuition waiver remains in effect as long as the student is 25 years of age or under, and maintains Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) according to the standards detailed by the Financial Aid Office.

*The waiver covers the remaining tuition balance after ALL other grants and scholarships have been applied toward tuition, and is NOT available for Flat Fee Courses. Please view the example calculation on the Fact Sheet.

Federally and State recognized American Indians may be eliglible for a tuition waiver provided the student:

• •  Is a resident of the State of Montana (per BOR Policy 940.1) and are attending a MUS qualifying campus.
  • Is  at least one-quarter (1/4) degree Indian blood; or are an enrolled member of a state or federally recognized Indian tribe which is located within the boundaries of the State of Montana. Accepted documentation as follows:
    • CIB (Certificate of Indian Blood) letter or card; Tribal Enrollment Card; Form letter(s) documenting descendency that equals ¼ or more; and Document of parent (grandparent) enrollment and/or degree of blood.
  • Has demonstrated financial need as defined by the Board of Regents Policy 940.13 (F)(4) and verified by completing the FAFSA application. 

*The waiver covers the remaining tuition balance after ALL other grants and scholarships have been applied toward tuition, and is NOT available for Flat Fee Courses. Please view the example calculation on the Fact Sheet.

Additional MUS Waivers can be found at Montana University System Tuition Waivers.