Student veterans moved one step closer to receiving in-state tuition rates at any state-run institution, as the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed H.R. 357 on February 3.
That’s good news not only for helping keep educational costs down for veterans, but also good news for organizations like the Student Veterans of America, the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, which have long pushed for the legislation.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill covers the cost of in-state tuition, but does not cover any additional cost of a veteran who is attending a school but has not established residency in that state to currently qualify for in-state rates.
According to The Military Times, the average cost of in-state tuition at public schools in the 2012-13 school year was $8,655, according to the College Board. For out-of-state students, it was $21,706.
Lawmakers from each side of the aisle spoke on the House floor in support of the bill, including Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL), chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, who said, “The men and women who served this nation did not just defend … citizens of their own home states, but the citizens of all 50 states. The educational benefits they receive from the taxpayers should reflect the same reality.”
The measure passed the House by a vote of 390-0.
You can download a copy of the text of the bill by clicking here.
