Office of Veteran & Military Services
11011 SW 104 Street * Room 2141 * Miami, FL 33176
Office (305) 237-2841 * Fax (305) 237-2164 * Email veterans@mdc.edu * Webpage www.mdc.edu/veterans
OUT-OF-STATE TUITION WAIVER
Information & Eligibility
1) Effective July 1, 2015 and pursuant to Title VII, Sections 701 and 702 of the Veterans Access, Choice
and Accountability Act of 2014, all public institutions administering VA GI Bill Programs must charge
in-state tuition and fee amounts to “covered individuals.” A “covered individual” is defined in the
Choice Act as:
a. A veteran who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of
his/her formal state residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of discharge from a
period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
b. A spouse or child using transferred 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 veterans discharge from a period of active duty of 90 days or more.
c. A spouse or child using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship 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 of 90 days or more.
Note 1: Individuals who initially meet the requirements above will maintain “covered individual” status as
long as they remain continuously enrolled at the institution of higher learning, even if they are outside the 3-
year window or enroll in multiple programs.
Note 2: Individuals enrolled in Virtual College (taking online courses and residing outside of the State of
Florida) are not covered under federal or state law and are not exempt from paying the out-of-state tuition
and fees.
2) Pursuant to Florida Statutes Rule 6A-14.0305, out-of-state fees are waived for honorably discharged
veterans of the United States Armed and Reserve Forces (Air Force, Army Coast Guard, Marines and
Navy) and the National Guard (Army or Air) or any other student who entitled to and used
educational assistance provided by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs who physically
resides in Florida while enrolled as a degree or certificate seeking student. Tuition and fees charged
to a student who qualifies for out-of-state fee waiver under this subsection may not exceed the
tuition and fees charged a resident student enrolled in the same program.
3) Pursuant to Florida Statues Chapter 1009.26 (13) (a), Congressman C.W. “Bill” Young Veteran
Tuition Waiver Program expands eligibility for out-of-state fee waiver to veterans’ spouses and
dependents and any other student who entitled to and used educational assistance provided by the
United States Department of Veteran Affairs who physically resides in Florida while enrolled as a
degree or certificate seeking student. This provision also includes honorably discharged veterans of
the U.S. Armed Forces, U.S. Reserve Forces or the National Guard who are not using VA Educational
Benefits. It also eliminates the 110 percent credit hour limitation.
4) Pursuant to Florida Statute 1009.285, a student will be required to pay tuition at 100 percent of the
full cost of instruction upon the third attempt of a course unless the Florida College System
institution has granted an exception due to extenuating circumstances.
5) Pursuant to Florida Statute 1009.21 (10), an Active Duty member of the Armed Services of the
United States residing or stationed in this state, their spouse, and dependent children, and active
drilling members of the Florida National Guard are classified as resident for tuition purposes.
