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Arkansas In-State Tuition for Veterans, Service Members and Families

A public Arkansas college, trade school or vocational school must charge in-state tuition, whatever the student's residence, to a veteran honorably discharged after at least 90 days of active duty within three years before enrolling, and to that veteran's dependents, to current service members and their spouses, and to contracted ROTC cadets.

Also called: 6-60-205, in-state tuition, resident tuition, 90 days, three years, ROTC, dependents.

For: Veteran or service member, spouse, child.

Where it applies

Written for the jurisdictions listed here.

Arkansas Code section 6-60-205 says that "regardless of residence" a state-supported institution of higher education, trade school or vocational school shall treat as in-state, for every program including distance learning, a student who is: 1. A veteran who received an honorable discharge from a period of not less than 90 days of active duty within three years before the date of enrolment. 2. A dependent of such a veteran. 3. A member of the Armed Forces. 4. The spouse of a member. 5. An ROTC cadet with an executed service contract. The three-year window. A veteran who left service more than three years before enrolling falls outside the state rule. Federal law then usually takes over for a veteran using a VA education benefit. 38 U.S.C. 3679(c) makes VA disapprove any course at a public institution that charges a covered individual living in the state more than the resident rate, and it covers a veteran with at least 90 days of active service using chapter 30, 31, 33 or 35 benefits, family members using transferred Post-9/11 entitlement, and, for academic periods beginning on or after August 1, 2026, users of the Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve under chapter 1606. The federal rule has no window after discharge: Public Law 116-315 removed its own three-year limit for terms beginning on or after August 1, 2021, and it does not ask about the character of discharge beyond the benefit's own eligibility. So the Arkansas rule, with its three-year window and its honorable discharge test, decides the rate mainly for a veteran who is paying without a VA education benefit. Honorable, not general. The statute says honorable discharge, so a general discharge does not qualify on its words. A service member who is an Arkansas resident may also have Guard tuition or federal tuition assistance; this section only fixes the rate.

Thresholds

Thresholds for Arkansas In-State Tuition for Veterans, Service Members and Families
GateRule
Honorable discharge after 90 days of active duty, within three years before enrollingArk. Code Ann. § 6-60-205(1).
Using a VA education benefit, federal law applies with no window after discharge38 U.S.C. § 3679(c): chapters 30, 31, 33 and 35, and chapter 1606 from August 1, 2026; the three-year limit was removed from August 1, 2021 by Pub. L. 116-315.

Sources

Legislation

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Public Law 119-55 (H.R. 983) Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserves Tuition Fairness Act: adds chapter 1606 users to the federal in-state tuition rule

Catalog reconciledEnactedScope changed

Signed Takes effect

  1. Introduced Done, , step 1 of 6
  2. In committee Done, , step 2 of 6
  3. Passed one chamber Done, , step 3 of 6
  4. Passed both chambers Done, , step 4 of 6
  5. Signed by the President Done, , step 5 of 6
  6. In effect Done, , step 6 of 6

Expands benefits Adds Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve users under chapter 1606 to the veterans a public school must charge in-state tuition.

Signed December 12, 2025. Adds users of the Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve under 10 U.S.C. chapter 1606 to the covered individuals in 38 U.S.C. 3679(c), for academic periods beginning on or after August 1, 2026.

Sponsor

  • Derrick Van OrdenRepublican, House, WI-3

Touches 38 U.S.C. § 3679(c)

Also touches

Official record

Public Law 116-315, section 1005 Removed the three-year window after discharge from the federal in-state tuition rule

Catalog reconciledEnactedScope changed

Signed Takes effect

  1. Introduced Done, , step 1 of 6
  2. In committee Done, , step 2 of 6
  3. Passed one chamber Done, , step 3 of 6
  4. Passed both chambers Done, , step 4 of 6
  5. Signed by the President Done, , step 5 of 6
  6. In effect Done, , step 6 of 6

Expands benefits Removed the three-year window after discharge from the rule that public schools charge covered veterans in-state tuition.

Struck "less than three years before the date of enrollment in the course concerned" from 38 U.S.C. 3679(c)(2)(A), for terms beginning on or after August 1, 2021. A veteran with ninety days of active service using a covered VA education benefit and living in the state must be charged the resident rate at a public institution however long ago the discharge was. State guides and at least one catalog entry still described the old window.

Sponsor

  • Mike LevinDemocratic, House, CA-49

And 10 co-sponsors

Touches 38 U.S.C. § 3679(c)

Also touches

Official record

Updated

Last updated .

What changed then:

  • Source removed: “U.S. Army benefits library, Arkansas”.

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Disclaimer

VetTOC is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. Information is for reference only and is not an eligibility determination. Verify with VA, the relevant state or territory, or an accredited VSO.