2.2.2 State Residency: U.S. Military Members, Spouses, and Dependent Children Riverland Procedure

Purpose

To determine if students who are current or former members of the U.S. military, their spouses, or dependent children are eligible for resident tuition.

Background

Current and former members of the U.S. military, their spouses, and dependent children, or any persons meeting the eligibility requirements under Chapter 33 - the Post-9/11 GI Bill®, Forever GI Bill – Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act, Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty Chapter 30 and Selected Reserve Chapter 1606, Chapter 31 – Vocational Rehabilitation, Chapter 35 – Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance Act, Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship, or similar federal and state laws are eligible for resident tuition.

Procedural Steps

Documentation Used to Determine Eligibility Status

Riverland will use the following documents to determine the eligibility status of students seeking resident tuition as a current or former member of the U.S. military, their spouse, or dependent child. Regardless of whether state or federal military educational benefits are available, eligible students are entitled to resident tuition.

Acceptable documents:

For current and former members of the U.S. military:

  • U.S. Department of Defense Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD214)
  • Military ID
  • Certificate of eligibility
  • Joint services transcript (JST)

Their spouses who have state or federal military educational benefits:

  • Military ID
  • Certificate of eligibility
  • Transfer of eligibility letter

Their spouses who have no state or federal military educational benefits:

  • Military ID
  • DD214 of their spouse and front page of the prior year tax returns

Their spouses who are widowed and not remarried and have state or federal military educational benefits:

  • Military ID
  • Certificate of eligibility
  • Transfer of eligibility letter

Their spouses who are widowed and not remarried and have no state or federal military educational benefits:

  • DD214 of their spouse and marriage license and death certificate and front page of their prior year tax returns

Dependent children who have state or federal military educational benefits:

  • Military ID
  • Certificate of eligibility
  • Transfer of eligibility letter

Dependent children who have no state or federal military educational benefits:

  • Military ID
  • DD214 of their parent and front page of the prior year tax return form of the parent that lists the child as a dependent

Appeal

Riverland students who have been denied eligibility as a current or former member of the U.S. military, or as their spouse or dependent child may appeal this decision. Appeals must be submitted in writing to the Vice President of Strategic Enrollment and Equity whose decision will be final. A student whose appeal is successful must be charged the resident tuition rate effective at the beginning of the term of enrollment in which the appeal was submitted.

Related Policies or Forms

Riverland Policy 2.2 Residency

Riverland Procedure 2.2.1 State Residency Reclassification Procedure

Minnesota State System Board Policy 2.2 State Residency

Minnesota State System Procedure 2.2.1 State Residency Reclassification

Minnesota State System Procedure 2.2.2 U.S. Military Members, Spouses, and Dependent Children

Revisor's Office website

  • Minn. Stat. 197.775 Higher Education Fairness

U.S. Government Publishing Office website

  • Public Law 113-146 - Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014
  • Chapter 33 - the Post-9/11 GI Bill
    • Federal Register Citation - 74 FR 14654
    • Code of Federal Regulations Citation 38 CFR 21
  • Forever GI Bill – Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act
    • Bill Number – H.R. 3218
    • Public and Private Law References - Public Law 110-252, Public Law 111-377, Public Law 113-291
    • United States Code References
      • 10 U.S.C. 16167 and Chapter 1607
      • 20 U.S.C. 1002, 1099b and 2302
      • 29 U.S.C. 3102
      • 37 U.S.C. 403 and 403
      • 38 U.S.C. 101, 3312, 3313, 3319, 3320, 3671, 3672, 3674, 3699, 3699A and Chapters 11, 33 and 36
      • 42 U.S.C. 401 and 415
  • Montgomery GI Bill - U.S. Code Title 38, Chapter 30
  • Chapter 31 – Vocational Rehabilitation - U.S. Code Title 38, Chapter 31
  • Chapter 35 – Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance Act - U.S. Code Title 38, Chapter 35
  • Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship – Amend title 38 U.S.C. – H.R. 2210 – 113th Congress (2013-2014)

Date Implemented: New September 2025

Responsible Division / Author: Academic Affairs / VP of Academics & Innovation

Date Revised: Separated procedure from policy September 2025