www.WisVets.com/Education

Wisconsin G.I. Bill Tuition Remission | VetEd Reimbursement Grant
Personal Loan Program | Tuition Residency | Academic Credit for Military Experience
Federal G.I. Bill Benefits | H.S. Diplomas

The State of Wisconsin provides a number of educational programs for state veterans that are in addition to any federal veterans' educational benefits that may be available. Eligibility varies between programs, including state residency requirements.

The Federal Government provides several educational benefits for veterans and their dependents. See below for additional information.

Wisconsin G.I. Bill Tuition Remission Program
www.WisVets.com/WisGIBill

The Wisconsin G.I. Bill provides a full waiver (“remission”) of tuition and fees for eligible veterans and their dependents for up to 8 full-time semesters or 128 credits at any University of Wisconsin System (UWS) or Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) institution for continuing education, or for study at the undergraduate or graduate level.

In accordance with 2005 Wisconsin Act 468, signed into law by Governor Jim Doyle on Memorial Day 2006 and effective with the 2007-08 academic year, the tuition remission is a full 100% of tuition and fees.

"If you served after September 10, 2001, and are currently using the WI GI Bill or plan to use the WI GI Bill; DO NOT MAKE AN IRREVOCABLE CHOICE TO CHANGE TO POST 9/11 Chapter 33 FEDERAL BENEFITS UNTIL YOU HAVE ALL THE FACTS. Visit our Wisconsin GI Bill Changes Proposed webpage for additional information.

The Wisconsin G.I. Bill is a state program that is entirely separate from the federal VA's Montgomery G.I. Bill. For more information on the federal G.I. Bill, see the Wisconsin SAA page.

For additional information, eligibility criteria, instructions on how to apply for the Wisconsin G.I. Bill, and statutory citations for the program, see the WDVA B0105 information and application booklet.

See the UWS WisGIBill FAQs or WTCS WisGIBill FAQs for frequently asked questions regarding the Wisconsin G.I. Bill and the University of Wisconsin System and the Wisconsin Technical College System.

Wisconsin G.I. Bill Tuition Remission Program for Veterans

For the Wisconsin G.I. Bill, the veteran must have been a Wisconsin resident at the time of entry onto active duty. Character of service and active duty service requirements apply.

The benefit recipient must reside in Wisconsin.

For veterans, there is no post-service time limitation (such as the federal Montgomery G.I. Bill 10-year delimiting date) on the use of the benefit. The veteran may attend full-time or part-time.

The benefit may be used for continuing education, or for study at the undergraduate or graduate level.

Wisconsin G.I. Bill Tuition Remission Program for Dependents

A 100% remission is provided to the qualifying dependents of an eligible veteran:

• Spouse; or
  
• Unremarried Surviving Spouse; or
  
• Child between the ages of 17 through 25,

Where the qualifying Wisconsin (must have been a Wisconsin resident at the time of entry onto active duty) veteran:

• Is currently rated by the federal VA with a combined service-connected disability rating of 30% or greater (Effective Fall Semester 2005); or
  
• Died in the line of duty while on active, Reserve, or Guard duty (Effective Fall Semester 2005); or
  
• Died as the direct result of a service-connected disability, as determined by the federal VA (Effective July 1, 2006).

For qualifying spouses and unremarried surviving spouses, the benefit must be used within 10 years of the date of death or the initial disability rating of 30% or greater. The spouse or unremarried surviving spouse may attend full-time or part-time.

For qualifying children, the benefit is available from ages 17 through 25. The child may attend full- or part-time.

For the Wisconsin G.I. Bill, the veteran must have been a Wisconsin resident at the time of entry onto active duty. Character of service and active duty service requirements apply.

The benefit recipient must reside in Wisconsin.

VetEd Reimbursement Grant

The Veterans Education (VetEd) grant program provides a reimbursement grant based on a credit-bank system that is based on length of active duty military service to eligible veterans who have not yet been awarded a bachelor’s degree for the reimbursement of tuition and fees following successful course completion at an eligible UW, technical college, or approved private institution of higher learning.

Veterans may currently receive federal VA Chapter 30 Montgomery G.I. Bill benefits and VetEd for the same semester. Individuals eligible for Wisconsin G.I. Bill benefits must apply for, and use those benefits in order to be eligible for VetEd reimbursement. VetEd reimbursement will be reduced to the extent that tuition and fees have already been paid by other grants, scholarships, and remissions provided for the payment of tuition and fees, including federal VA Chapter 33 Post 9/11 G.I. Bill tuition benefits.

Personal Loan Program (PLP)

Veterans may qualify for low interest rate personal loans with up to 10 years to repay. The Personal Loan Program (PLP) may be used for the education of veterans, their spouses, and children. The veteran’s spouse must be a co-applicant, and all loans require security of either a mortgage or a guarantor.

Unremarried spouses and dependent children of deceased veterans who were eligible for the PLP may also be eligible for personal loans. In addition, a remarried spouse of a deceased eligible veteran may be eligible for a PLP for the education of the veteran’s children.

There is no maximum income limit on the PLP. The Personal Loan Program page has current information on maximum loan amounts, interest rates, and loan terms, and how to apply.

Tuition Residency for Wisconsin Veterans

Under state law, veterans who entered active duty as a Wisconsin resident retain permanent eligibility for in-state tuition at University of Wisconsin System institutions. To be eligible, a person who was a resident of Wisconsin at the time of entry into federal active duty military service, who is a resident of and living in this state at the time of registering at a UW institution, and who meets the criteria for determination of veteran status under s. 45.01(12) of the Wisconsin Statutes are eligible for in-state tuition rates at UW institutions. There are no restrictions regarding residency after entry onto active duty but before registering at the UW institution under the program.

For more information, and to apply, see the WDVA B0105 information and application booklet, or contact the schools Veterans Certifying Official (a listing for each campus is included in the booklet).

Academic Credit for Military Experience

Service members, reservists, and veterans pursuing a college education may be able to obtain academic credit for military courses they have completed through the military. Prior to enrollment individuals should discuss possible credit with the Veterans’ Coordinator at the college or university they plan to attend; credit received may reduce attendance time and cost. They may obtain information regarding transcripts and potential credit for military experience from the links below.

ACE
The American Council on Education's (ACE) College Credit Recommendation Service (CREDIT) provides access to academic credit for formal courses and examinations taken outside traditional degree programs. The ACE Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services contains recommended credit awards for formal military courses and occupations.

DANTES
The Department of Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) sponsors several programs that advance the acceptance of military education and experience at civilian colleges and universities. Information is available on the DANTES website for these programs and obtaining transcripts for the programs already used.

Transcript Services
Each branch of service provides transcripts for current and former service members that include individual military education, training, and experience, which are evaluated according to ACE standards for recommended college credit:

• U.S. Army: Army/American Council on Education Registry Transcript System (AARTS)
• U.S. Navy: Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART)
• U.S. Air Force: Community College of the Air Force (CCAF)
• U.S. Marine Corps: Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART)
• U.S. Coast Guard: U.S. Coast Guard Institute (CGI)
• GED: Obtain your GED transcript based on the original testing center.

DSST
The DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSSTs) are approved by ACE and accepted or administered at over 1,900 colleges and universities nationwide. DSSTs enable people to use the knowledge acquired outside the classroom to accomplish educational and professional goals. The website includes downloadable forms, practice tests, and other information.

SOC
Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) is a consortium of over 1800 colleges and universities pledged to support the higher education needs of military personnel. SOC works with civilian and military educators to overcome obstacles associated with gaining a college education when pursued through traditional means. Among its key goals is the award of credit for military training and experience. The SOC Consortium Guide provides specific information for awarding credit for national testing programs, military experience, and other non-traditional learning.

Service members, reservists, and veterans are encouraged to review their military transcript, obtained from their branch of service (see above), alongside the institutions’ credit-award information contained in the SOC Consortium Guide. They should contact the school SOC Representative and Veterans’ Coordinator for additional information.

Federal G.I. Bill Benefits

"If you served after September 10, 2001, and are currently using the WI GI Bill or plan to use the WI GI Bill;DO NOT MAKE AN IRREVOCABLE CHOICE TO CHANGE TO POST 9/11 Chapter 33 FEDERAL BENEFITS UNTIL YOU HAVE ALL THE FACTS. Visit our Wisconsin GI Bill Changes Proposed webpage for additional information.

Are you waiting for your federal VA Education Benefits?  Learn about advance payments

The Wisconsin State Approving Agency (SAA) approves programs for the enrollment of veterans and other eligible persons that lead to educational, vocational, and professional objectives. These include college degrees, vocational certificates and diplomas, high school diplomas, GEDs, flight training, correspondence training, and programs leading to required licensure or certification to practice a profession.

The Wisconsin SAA maintains a searchable database listing all institutions offering college degrees and non-college degree programs in Wisconsin approved for the following programs:

• Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty (Chapter 30)
• Post-Vietnam Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) (Chapter 32)
• Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act (Chapter 33)
• Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance (Chapter 35)
• Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606)
• Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) (Chapter 1607)

The Wisconsin SAA also provides consumer protection on behalf of veterans and dependents eligible for these programs.

High School Diplomas

Local School Boards in the state of Wisconsin, under the authority of Wisconsin Statutes section 120.13 (37), may award a high school diploma to veterans who left high school before receiving a high school diploma to join the U.S. armed forces during a statutorily designated war period.

For more information, see the Diplomas page.