Minnesota Higher Education Fairness for Veterans

Section 197.775 is short and does four useful things, none of which involves money changing hands. Resident tuition. A state college or university, meaning a unit of the University of Minnesota or of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, must treat a veteran as a Minnesota resident for the purpose of determining the veteran's undergraduate tuition rate. There is no waiting period and no requirement that the veteran ever lived here. For graduate tuition the test is narrower: the veteran must have been a Minnesota resident on entering military service and must start the graduate programme within two years of completing military service. Federal law closes most of that graduate gap for anyone using a VA education benefit. Under 38 U.S.C. 3679(c), a public institution must charge the in-state rate, at every level of study, to a covered individual using chapter 30, 31, 33 or 35 benefits who lives in Minnesota while enrolled, whatever the formal state of residence, and from August 1, 2026 also to anyone using the Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve under 10 U.S.C. chapter 1606 (Public Law 119-55). Covered individuals include a veteran discharged after at least 90 days of active service and a spouse or child using transferred Post-9/11 or Fry Scholarship entitlement. Since terms beginning August 1, 2021 there is no limit on how long ago the veteran was discharged (Public Law 116-315, section 1005). So the two-year graduate window binds only a veteran paying with other money. "Veteran" in this section is wider than elsewhere. Subdivision 1, paragraph (d) takes the section 197.447 definition and adds any person serving in active service as defined in section 190.05, subdivision 5. A currently serving member gets the resident undergraduate rate. Academic credit. Minnesota State Colleges and Universities must recognise courses and award educational credits for courses that were part of a veteran's military training or service where the courses meet American Council on Education standards or equivalent. The statute then adds a sentence that exists because institutions were doing the opposite: consideration must be given to academic skills developed in all aspects of the training course curriculum, and may not be limited solely to the physical fitness or activity components. That is the difference between a transcript credited as coursework and a transcript credited as two physical education credits. The University of Minnesota and private colleges are encouraged to do the same but are not required to. Graduate admission. Minnesota State must adopt a policy recognising an applicant's veteran status as a positive factor in deciding whether to grant admission to a graduate or professional degree programme, and the Board of Trustees must report annually by February 15 to the legislature on how many veterans applied and how many were accepted. The University of Minnesota and private institutions are encouraged rather than required. Delayed payment. A state college or university may not assess late fees or other late charges against a veteran who is eligible for federal or state educational assistance and has applied for it but not yet received it, and may not prevent that student from registering for a subsequent term because of outstanding tuition arising from delayed federal or state payments. The institution may ask without delay for the amount above expected assistance, and may require the full balance within 30 days of the assistance arriving. This is the provision to cite when a certifying official puts a hold on a registration because the VA has not paid.