College Fee Waiver

Waiver Program

The State of California will waive mandatory system-wide tuition and fees at any State of California Community College, California State University, or University of California campus for the eligible dependents of veterans. To be eligible the veteran must be receiving service-connected compensation from 0 to 100% and received a discharge that was Under Honorable Conditions.

Most eligible students will qualify for the program under either “Plan A” or “Plan B.” Medal of Honor recipients and their children and dependents and survivors of permanently disabled National Guard members may qualify under different plans.

Please note the eligible dependents are not entitled to receive the VA's Chapter 35 educational benefit and have their college fees waived under the State of California's "Plan A" benefit

Waiver Program - Plan A

Eligibility

  • Benefits cannot be awarded if student receives Chapter 35 VA benefits
  • The child of a wartime veteran who is 100% service-connected disabled, or whose death was officially rated as service-connected
  • Children between 14 and 27 years of age, or between 14 and 30 years of age if the child is a veteran
  • Date of veteran’s service-connected death or 100% disability rating must occur prior to child’s 21st birthday
  • The spouse or registered domestic partner (RDP) or a wartime veteran who is 100% service-connected disabled
  • Surviving spouses and un-terminated RDPs must not have remarried
  • There is no age limit for spouses, surviving spouses or RDPs
  • There is no income limit
  • The unmarried surviving spouse or un-terminated RDP of a wartime veteran whose death was service connected

What We Need

  • Copy of birth certificate
  • If step child, parents’ marriage certificate
  • Verification of Veteran's S/C rating
Apply

Waiver Program - Plan B

Eligibility

A child of a veteran who has a service-connected disability, had a service-connected disability at time of death, or died as a result of his or her of service-connected conditions.

  • Benefit is for children only
  • Benefits can be awarded even if student receives Chapter 35 benefits
  • Child’s adjusted gross income plus the value of parental support must not exceed the Census Bureau
  • Current academic year benefits are based upon the previous calendar year’s annual income (2020), contact us for current income  limit
  • There is no age limit
  • Wartime service is not a requirement

What We Need

  • Copy of student's tax return for previous year, such as IRS form 1040EZ or similar State form, or a statement of non-filing from the IRS or California Franchise Tax Board
  • If the applicant is a step-child, we will need a copy of the parents’ marriage certificate
  • Copy of birth certificate
  • Verification of veteran's service-connected rating 
  • Copy of veteran's DD-214

Apply

Obtaining Non-Filing Letters

There are instances when a student did not file federal or state tax returns. In these cases, we need for the student to obtain a Verification of Non-Filing Letter (Form 4506-T) from the IRS.

The student may also request a Verification of Non-Filing Letter from the California Franchise Tax Board.  The nearest State of California Taxpayer Service Center to Nevada County is located at:

3321 Power Inn Road
Sacramento, CA 95826
Monday - Friday 8am to 5pm
(916) 845-3626

What it Pays For

The College Tuition Fee Waiver Program for Veterans Dependents waives mandatory system-wide tuition and fees at any California Community College, California State University, or University of California campus. The student is responsible for campus-based fees such as books, housing and parking.