Here are state education benefits for Texas and south-central states.
Arkansas
Free Tuition for Dependents
Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE) has the authority to provide free tuition and fees at any state supported college, university, technical school, or vocational school; to the wife and children of any Arkansan who has been declared to be Prisoner of War or placed in a missing-in-action status since January 1, 1960. The same provisions apply to the surviving spouse and children of any Arkansas resident killed in action since 1960.
Check out our Arkansas veterans' benefits page to see what other state benefits you may be eligible for.
Louisiana
Dependents Educational Assistance
Section 288 of Title 29 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 has been amended and re-enacted to provide financial aid for children and surviving spouses of certain veterans of this state who died in service in the Armed Forces of the United States or died of a service connected disability incurred during a wartime period.
The law provides the same benefits for those children of living veterans who are rated 90% or above disabled, including 100% individual unemployability, by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs "Schedule for Rating Disabilities", as a result of a disability or disabilities incurred in service in the Armed Forces of the United States.
The law further requires that the deceased veteran must have been a resident of the State of Louisiana for at least twelve months immediately preceding entry into service. The living veteran must have resided in the state not less than twenty-four months immediately preceding the child's admission into the Program.
The surviving spouse must use this Program within ten years of the date eligibility is established. A child must be between the ages of sixteen and twenty-five.
National Guard Tuition
Members are exempt from tuition at any state-funded college, university, or vocational/technical school for five years or a bachelor's degree, whichever comes first. The Adjutant General of Louisiana is responsible for the overall policies, guidance, administration, and proper utilization of this program.
Check out our Louisiana veterans' benefits page to see what other state benefits you may be eligible for.
Oklahoma
No specific education benefits.
Check out our Oklahoma veterans' benefits page to see what other state benefits you may be eligible for.
Texas
The Hazlewood Act
The Hazlewood Act is a State of Texas benefit that provides qualified Veterans, spouses, and dependent children with an education benefit of up to 150 hours of tuition exemption, including most fee charges, at public institutions of higher education in Texas. This does NOT include living expenses, books, or supply fees.
A Veteran must:
- At the time of entry into active duty the U.S. Armed Forces, designated Texas as Home of Record; or entered the service in Texas; or was a Texas resident;
- Have received an honorable discharge or separation or a general discharge under honorable conditions as indicated on the Veteran's Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214);
- Served at least 181 days of active duty service (excluding training);
- Have no federal Veteran’s education benefits, or have no federal Veterans education benefits dedicated to the payment of tuition and fees only (such as Chapter 33 or 31; for term or semester enrolled that do not exceed the value of Hazlewood benefits;
- Not be in default on a student loan made or guaranteed by the State of Texas;
- Enroll in classes for which the college receives tax support (i.e., a course that does not depend solely on student tuition and fees to cover its cost), unless the college’s governing board has ruled to let Veterans receive the benefit while taking non-funded courses; and
- Meet the GPA and excessive hour requirement of the institution's satisfactory academic progress policy in a degree or certificate program as determined by the institution's financial aid policy.
Veterans who are granted their first Hazlewood Act exemption beginning fall, 2011 must reside in Texas during the semester or term for which the exemption is claimed. This requirement does not apply to the Veterans who either received the exemption prior to the 2011-2012 academic year, have reenlisted into active duty, or reside with a spouse who is on active duty.
Legacy Act (Child)
Eligible Veterans may assign unused hours of exemption eligibility to a child under certain conditions.
Qualifications
A child (legacy recipient) must:
- Be classified by the institution as a Texas resident;
- Be the biological child, stepchild, adopted child, or claimed as a dependent in the current or previous tax year;
- Be 25 years old or younger on the first day of the semester or term for which the exemption is claimed (unless granted an extension due to a qualifying illness or debilitating condition); and
- Meet the GPA and excessive hour requirements of the institution's satisfactory academic progress policy in a degree or certificate program as determined by the institution's financial aid policy.
Legacy recipients will receive an exemption for the number of degree certified hours reported by the institution for that term or semester. Maximum degree certified hours awarded to the Legacy recipient will be dependent upon the degree or certificate program in which the student is enrolled for that term or semester and shall be consistent with the program length as defined within the school catalog as approved by the regional accreditation commission. *If a child to whom hours have been delegated fails to use all of the assigned hours, a Veteran may re-assign the unused hours that are available to another child. Only one child will use Hazlewood Legacy benefits at a time.
Hazlewood Act for Spouse/Child
Spouses and dependent children of eligible Active Duty, Reserve, and Texas National Guard who died in the line of duty or as a result of injury or illness directly related to military service, are missing in action, or who became totally disabled for purposes of employability as a result of a service-related injury or illness are entitled to each receive a 150 credit hours exemption.
Qualifications
A spouse must:
- Be a spouse of a Veteran who, at the time of entry into the U.S. Armed Forces, be classified by the institution as a Texas resident, designated Texas as Home of Record, or entered the service in Texas;
- Be a spouse of a Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces or the Texas National Guard who died as a result of service-related injuries or illness, is missing in action, or became totally disabled (100%) as a result of service-related injury or illness or is entitled to receive compensation at the 100% rate due to individual employability (IU) due to a service connected injury or illness;
- Have no federal Veterans education benefits, or have no federal Veterans education benefits dedicated to the payment of tuition and fees only (such as Chapter 33 or 31) for term or semester enrolled that do not exceed the value of Hazlewood benefits;
- Be classified by the institution as a Texas resident; and
- Meet the GPA and excessive hour requirements of the institution's satisfactory academic progress policy in a degree or certificate program as determined by the institution's financial aid policy. This requirement does not apply to the spouse of a MIA, KIA, or service connected deceased Veteran.
A child must:
- Be a child of a Veteran who, at the time of entry into the U.S. Armed Forces, be classified by the institution as a Texas resident, designated Texas as Home of Record, or entered the service in Texas;
- Be a child of a Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, Texas National Guard, or Texas Air National Guard who died as a result of service-related injuries or illness, is missing in action, or became totally disabled (100%) as a result of a service-related injury or illness or is entitled to receive compensation at the 100% rate due to individual employability (IU) due to a service connected injury or illness;
- Have no federal Veterans education benefits, or have no federal Veterans education benefits dedicated to the payment of tuition and fees only (such as Chapter 33 or 31; for term or semester enrolled that do not exceed the value of Hazlewood benefits;
- Be classified by the institution as a Texas resident; and
- Meet the GPA and excessive hour requirements of the institution's satisfactory academic progress policy in a degree or certificate program as determined by the institution's financial aid policy. This requirement does not apply to the child of a MIA, KIA, or service connected deceased Veteran.
Dependent children of MIA / POWs
EILIGIBILITY:
Dependent children of TX military personnel MIA or POW.
BENEFITS:
Exemption for payment of tuition and some fees at public colleges and universities. Exemptions from charges for continuing education courses is optional on the part of the institution.
APPLICATION:
Financial aid officer of the state-supported institution of choice.
National Guard State Tuition Assistance
State Tuition Assistance (State TA) is a state funded tuition assistance program for active drilling members of the Texas Army National Guard (TXARNG), Texas Air National Guard (TXANG) and Texas State Guard (TXSG). It provides up to $9,000 annually ($4,500-Fall/$4,500-Spring) in education benefits for college tuition and eligible fees at a Texas college or university.
Eligibility Requirements
- Active drilling members in "Good Standing" with TXARNG, TXANG or TXSG.
- Completed Basic Training. Members of the State Guard must complete BOT, RBOT or AIT.
- Enlisted (E1-E9), Officers (O1-O5) and Warrant Officers (WO1-CW3).
-
Eligible school must be a Texas state college or university with headquarters in Texas as defined in Texas Education Code Section 61.003.
- AGR not eligible.
- Must be accepted to and registered in a qualifying institution for a minimum of 3 semester credit hrs.
- Expiration of Term of Service (ETS) or Mandatory Retirement Date (MRD) must occur after the official last day of class.
- Interstate Transfers must be complete prior to utilizing STRP.
- Applicants with Prior Service must complete enlistment process prior to utilizing STRP.
- ROTC Cadets who are utilizing the housing scholarship/option; Cadets using tuition option are not eligible.
Check out our Texas veterans' benefits page to see what other state benefits you may be eligible for.
Keep Up With Your Education Benefits
Whether you need a guide on how to use your GI Bill, want to take advantage of tuition assistance and scholarships, or get the lowdown on education benefits available for your family, Military.com can help. Subscribe to Military.com to have education tips and benefits updates delivered directly to your inbox.
