Dive Brief:
- Several states are requiring major expansion of veterans benefits at public colleges to comply with a federal law that was set to take effect July 1 but was put off for six more months.
- In Pennsylvania, legislators went beyond the federal requirements to offer in-state tuition to eligible veterans and their dependents regardless of how long ago they served in the military — the federal law requires the benefit only within three years of discharge.
- In Virginia, state law already allowed for in-state tuition for veterans but complying with the federal law means public colleges must now extend that benefit to a veteran’s spouse and children.
Dive Insight:
As many states expand education benefits to veterans, prompted by the federal law, Texas is in the process of limiting the generous benefits it has provided since 2011. The cost to Texas colleges and universities of offering veterans benefits grew from $25 million in 2010 to $170 million in 2014 thanks to a change in state law that now offers free tuition to veterans and their children. The higher education institutions carry most of the financial burden, and, in response to sometimes crippling expenses, legislators have committed to revising the policy so veterans and their dependents get fewer free credit hours. The new legislation would also put a 15-year expiration date on the benefits.