Veteran and Military Connected Students include:
- Students currently serving on active duty
- Students In the National Guard
- Students In the U.S. Reserves
- Students participating in ROTC
- Students who are veterans: anyone with prior military service regardless of whether or not you retired or what your discharge status was
- Students who are a dependent spouse or child
- Students who are a surviving dependent of a deceased service member
These categories apply to students in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces: Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force.
Tuition:
The Board of Regents Policy on Exemptions to Non-Resident Tuition outlines the different military connected student types who are eligible to receive the resident tuition rate. This includes:
- United States military personnel stationed in Hawai‘i on active duty, and their authorized dependents during the period that the personnel are stationed in Hawai‘i
- Members of the Hawai‘i National Guard and the Hawai‘i Reserves
- Veterans eligible to use Post 9/11 GI Bill® or Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty Program educational benefits per the Isakson and Roe Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (P.L.116-315), who live in Hawai‘i and those who subsequently move but maintain continuous enrollment
- Individuals eligible to use transferred Post 9/11 GI Bill educational benefits per the Isakson and Roe Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (P.L.116-315), who live in Hawai‘i and those who subsequently move but maintain continuous enrollment
- Individuals eligible to use educational benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship, who live in Hawai‘i and those who subsequently move but maintain continuous enrollment
- Individuals eligible to use educational assistance under the Survivors’ or Dependents’ Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) program, who live in Hawai‘i and those who subsequently move but maintain continuous enrollment
- Veterans with service-connected disabilities who are eligible for benefits provided for in Title 38, U.S. Code, Chapter 31, otherwise known as the Veteran Readiness and Employment or VR&E (formerly called Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment) program, who live in Hawai‘i and those who subsequently move but maintain continuous enrollment
Continuing students who have qualified for the Board of Regents non-resident tuition exemption as authorized dependents of active-duty military personnel stationed in Hawaii will continue to be exempt from paying the non-resident tuition differential, should the military service member be transferred out of the State of Hawai’i due to military orders per UH Executive Policy 6.207 Authorized Dependents of Active Duty Military.
Additionally, students who are “covered individuals” under the Choice Act or using VA educational assistance may be eligible for an exemption from non-resident tuition.
For more information please contact the Residency Officer at your home campus.
Using VA Education Benefits:
Students wanting to use their VA Education Benefits should contact the Veterans Affairs School Certifying Official (SCO) at the campus where they will be enrolling for assistance. First-time users of VA Education Benefits must apply online to the VA for their benefits. For more information visit Vets.gov or the VA’s Education and Training website. Students who are currently using their benefits at another post-secondary institution must complete a VA Change of Program Form.
Tuition Assistance:
Students wanting to use Tuition Assistance (TA) to help fund their education must follow the procedures set forth by their service branch and contact their Education Service Officer (ESO) or Education Counselor prior to enrolling.
Air Force
Army
Coast Guard
Marine Corps
Navy
Space Force
Veteran and Military Connected Students Scholarships and Financial Support:
All students are encouraged to apply for scholarships via the UH System Common Scholarship Application. However, Veteran and Military Connected students may be eligible for additional scholarships offered by both the federal government and private organizations. The Federal Student Aidʻs Military Website lists several different scholarship and loan repayment assistance programs. Additionally, some Active Duty, National Guard and Reserve spouses may be eligible for My Career Advancement Account Scholarship (MyCAA).
Transferring Credits:
Military connected students often have transfer credits from different colleges, universities, and service schools. The University of Hawaiʻi has a tool to help you determine course equivalencies for each UH campus. This is a guide and transferability is not guaranteed until an official transfer credit evaluation has been completed. Check out the UH Transfer Database for more information. Please keep in mind that only courses that have been previously evaluated by the campuses are included in the UH Transfer Database so the website may not include courses from new, recently changed, or infrequently transferred courses.
Students using VA Education Benefits must send all of their prior transcripts to the campus certifying their courses. This helps to ensure that students are only taking the classes they need.
Contact your prior college or university for directions on how to have your transcripts sent.
Army, Coast Guard, Marines, and Navy transcripts can be requested through Joint Services Transcripts (JST).
Air Force, CCAF transcripts can be requested through Air University.
Campus Websites for Veterans and Military-Connected Students
UH Hilo Veteran and Military Student Services
UH Mānoa Office of Veteran Student Services
UH West Oʻahu Military and Veteran Students
Hawaiʻi Community College Information for Veterans
Honolulu Community College Veterans Information
Kapiʻolani Community College Veteran & Military Resource Center
Kauaʻi Community College Veterans
Leeward Community College Military
UH Maui College Veterans Resource Center
Windward Community College VA Education Benefits
News & Updates
- Veterans Field Guide to Government Shutdown (posted 9/29/23)
- SECVA McDonough’s press conference with information on the possible Federal Government Shutdown impact. (posted 9/27/23)
- Maui Fire Assistance Information for Veterans (posted 8/31/23)
- UH West Oʻahu was approved effective March 11, as a provider under the Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program (VRRAP), which offers education and training for high-demand jobs to veterans who are unemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nine certificate programs out of 11 total at UH West Oʻahu have been approved for VRRAP. (posted 4/14/22)
- Post-9/11 GI Bill Students: Did you remember to verify your enrollment last month? If not, you will need to call the Education Call Center at 1-888-442-4551 to verify and avoid your payments being placed on hold. Visit the VA’s Education and Training Enrollment Verification website for more information. (posted 3/30/22)
- On June 1, 2022, COVID-19 legislation that permits you to receive MHA at the resident (in person) rate, while taking courses converted to online training due to COVID-19 will end. Visit the VA’s Education and Training Student FAQs website for more information. (posted 3/30/22)
UH Military Connected and Veteran Policies
Authorized Dependents of Active Duty Military (EP 6.207)
Board Exemptions to Non-Resident Tuition (RP 6.208)
Reinstatement of Deployed Active-Duty Military, Hawaii National Guard, and Reservists (EP 5.217)
Hawaiʻi State Approving Agency (SAA)
State Approving Agencies (SAAs) grew out of the GI Bill of Rights. Title 38, U.S. Code, Chapter 36, Administration of Education Benefits, which authorizes the establishment of SAAs. Learn more about the SAAʻs responsibilities at the Hawaiʻi State Approving Agency website.
‘GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at http://www.benefits.va.gov/
