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In-State Tuition for Veterans at the University of the District of Columbia

The District’s only public university must charge the resident rate to a veteran with 90 days of service and to GI Bill family users living in the District, with no waiting period and, since August 2021, no three-year window. UDC’s own posted policy is the 2015 version, and a District scholarship fund for post-9/11 veterans exists only on paper.

Also called: University of the District of Columbia, UDC, 38 U.S.C. 3679(c), in-state tuition, Section 702, Choice Act, chapter 1606, Veterans Appreciation Scholarship Fund, D.C. Code 1-325.141, Fry Scholarship.

For: Veteran or service member, spouse, child, survivor.

Where it applies

Written for the jurisdictions listed here.

The District has no tuition law of its own for veterans. It has federal law, one public university, and a fund on paper. The federal rule. 38 U.S.C. 3679(c) tells VA to disapprove any course at a public institution that charges a covered individual living in the state more than the resident rate, "regardless of the covered individual's State of residence". Covered individuals are a veteran with at least 90 days of active service, a Fry Scholarship or transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill user, a Veteran Readiness and Employment participant and a Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance user. Public Law 119-55, signed December 12, 2025, added the Selected Reserve Montgomery GI Bill, chapter 1606 of title 10, for academic periods beginning on or after August 1, 2026. The institution may require a covered individual to show intent to establish residence, but not by a physical presence period. What UDC publishes. The University of the District of Columbia's veterans page links a "Veterans Policy Amendment - In-State Tuition", effective July 1, 2015. It waives the 12-month residence requirement for chapter 30 and chapter 33 users living in the District, but only if they enroll "within three years of discharge", the original 2014 wording. Congress removed the three-year window in Public Law 116-315 for terms beginning on or after August 1, 2021, and has added chapters 31, 35 and 1606 since. The federal statute governs; if UDC's office quotes the 2015 policy, cite section 3679(c). UDC's Office of Military and Veteran Student Services is at (202) 274-6099. The scholarship fund that is not funded. D.C. Code 1-325.141, enacted in 2009, creates a Veterans Appreciation Scholarship Fund "funded by appropriations" and says that, subject to available money, District residents who served in the military on or after September 11, 2001 "shall be granted reimbursement of tuition, fees, books, and other materials" at UDC for four years after returning from active duty. No District budget act since has mentioned the fund, and UDC's scholarship pages do not list it. It is law without money. What else the District does. The DC Tuition Assistance Grant and UDC's own aid are open to District residents generally. None is specific to veterans.

Thresholds

Thresholds for In-State Tuition for Veterans at the University of the District of Columbia
GateRule
Living in the District and using chapter 30, 31, 33 or 35, or chapter 1606 from August 1, 202638 U.S.C. 3679(c), as amended by Pub. L. 119-55.

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

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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.