VetCV Resources & Teaming Partners

Florida Veterans Education Benefits

Florida waives out-of-state tuition and fees for all honorably discharged veterans who reside in the state and who are enrolled in Florida public, post-secondary institutions, through the “Congressman C.W. Bill Young Veteran Tuition Waiver Act.” The out-of-state tuition and fee waiver is extended to spouses and dependent children receiving educational assistance from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and who reside in Florida while enrolled in Florida public, postsecondary institutions (see FS 1009.26(13)).

Out-of-state tuition and fees are waived for active duty members residing or stationed outside of the State of Florida (FS 1009.26(14)).

Florida waives undergraduate-level, certificate or diploma tuition at state universities, colleges, career and technical centers for Florida residents who are recipients of the Purple Heart and other combat related decorations superior in precedence to the Purple Heart. Call (850) 245-0407 for more information. (FS 1009.26(8)).

Florida postsecondary institutions will waive the transcript fee of active duty members or honorably discharged veterans, including his or her spouse and dependents (FS 1009.26(17)).

The Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) provides scholarship opportunities for dependent children and spouses of veterans who died from a service-connected disability or who are 100 percent service-connected permanent and total disabled veterans through the Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans program (FS 295.01). Visit www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org for application information, residency and eligibility requirements, or call FLDOE toll free (888) 827-2004 for more information.

Dependent children of service members Missing in Action or Prisoners of War may also be eligible for scholarship benefits. This scholarship may be received in addition to VA’s Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA – Ch 35).

Each Florida College System institution and state university offering priority course registration for segments of the student population shall provide priority course registration to veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces who are receiving GI Bill® educational benefits (FS 1004.075).

The benefit also applies to spouses and dependent children receiving transferred GI Bill® education benefits.

Florida State Colleges and Universities also allow current members of the U.S. Armed Forces and honorably discharged veterans to earn academic college credit for college-level training and education acquired in the military. Consult your local campus for details. Active Duty Service members using DoD’s Military Tuition Assistance for enrollment in Florida College System institutions may have fees waived by the institution (FS 1009.25(15)).

Honorably discharged veterans who were inducted into the U.S. Armed Forces prior to completing their high school education can be awarded a State of Florida High School Diploma.

Visit https://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/veterans-diplomas.stml or call (850) 245-0446 for more information.