General Hazel Johnson-Brown was a career U.S. Army nurse who later became a professor at Mason, where she taught and mentored many nursing students.
Active-Duty Military Eligibility
If you or your child want to be considered for in-state tuition, notify Mason during the application process by selecting you wish to be considered for in-state tuition. If you don't, the application will be classified as out-of-state. Under federal code, active duty stationed in Virginia and their dependents are eligible for in-state tuition. Under state code, active duty residing in Virginia are eligible for in-state. Dependents are eligible if the sponsor is stationed in Virginia or a state contiguous to Virginia and reside in the state of Virginia. It is possible to be eligible under both federal and state code. It's important we classify students under the provision most beneficial. Please ensure you complete the application for in-state tuition.
Find details of the requirements in the pamphlet Comparison of Federal and State Military Provisions published by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (PDF).
If you have already been admitted and feel you meet the criteria, the Domicile Appeals process is managed by the Office of the University Registrar. A Request for Tuition Reclassification can be submitted until the first day of the semester.
Veteran Eligibility
If a veteran lives in Virginia and has been discharged for reasons other than "dishonorable" or with a higher characterization, he or she can get in-state tuition. Make sure you select you want to be considered for in-state tuition when applying. If you have already been admitted and domiciled out-of-state, please submit a Request for Tuition Reclassification no later than the first day of class.
Out-of-State Tuition Waiver - Section 702
Eligibility is based on meeting the conditions of a "covered individual" defined as:
- A Veteran who lives in the state where the Institution of Higher Learning (IHL) is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and was discharged or released after a minimum of 90 days of military service and using Post 9/11 or Chapter 30 benefits.
- An individual using transferred Post 9/11 benefits who lives in the state where the IHL is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence).
- Anyone using transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits who lives in the state where the IHL is located and the transferor is a member of the uniformed service who is serving on active duty. (1 July 2017)
- Anyone using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship who lives in the state where the IHL is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence). (1 July 2017)
- Anyone using educational assistance under chapter 31, Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&E) who lives in the Commonwealth of Virginia while attending a school located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. (1 March 2019)
- Anyone using Chapter 35 Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits who lives in the state where the IHL is located while attending classes. (1 Aug 2022)
What documents need to be submitted?
- Certificate of Eligibility for VA Benefits
- Proof of Residency in Virginia. The residency requirement could be satisfied via off-campus housing within Virginia, on-campus housing, temporary housing, rental or ownership housing, or documented confirmation of a non-contract residence with another individual.
When should an application be submitted?
The application for the waiver should only be submitted once, prior to the first semester a student meets the eligibility criteria.
What happens next?
Upon approval under the Section 702 provision, the registrar periodically audits student records to ensure eligibility requirements are satisfied. If there is any change in circumstance that reflects the student is no longer using VA benefits or has moved out-of-state, then the tuition rate will revert to out-of-state the following term.
Where is the application?
The application is a dynamic form accessible using a Mason NetID and password. Click here for the application.