Children and Spouse or the Domestic Partner of Totally Disabled or POW/MIA or Deceased Eligible Veterans or National Guard Members Waiver

The tuition waivers and residency classifications document contains information on tuition waivers, residency classifications and the Running Start Program that may be applicable to students enrolling in Washington state's community and technical colleges.

Waiver Purpose

The legislature established this waiver to honor active, reserve and honorably discharged veterans, National Guard members and their dependents. This is a mandatory tuition waiver for the children and spouse or domestic partner of totally disabled or POW/MIA or deceased eligible veterans or National Guard Members.

This waiver had been offered prior to fall of 2007 as a permissive waiver of all or a portion of tuition and fees.  It is now a mandatory waiver of all tuition and fees.

ctcLink: Waiver Code - W72

Legacy: Fee Pay Status - 72

Community and technical colleges shall waive all tuition and fees for a child/spouse/domestic partner of an eligible veteran or National Guard member who:

  • became totally disabled as a result of active federal military or naval service;
  • is determined by the federal government to be a prisoner of war or missing in action; or
  • lost his or her life as a result of active federal military or naval service.

"Eligible veteran or national guard member" means a Washington domiciliary who was an active or reserve member of the United States military or naval forces, or a national guard member called to active duty, who served in active federal service,  in a war or conflict fought on foreign soil or in international waters or in another location in support of those serving on foreign soil or in international waters, and if discharged from service, has received an honorable discharge.

"Totally disabled" means a person who has been determined to be one hundred percent disabled by the federal Department of Veterans Affairs.

"Washington domiciliary" means a person whose place of habitation is the state of Washington. "Washington domiciliary" includes a person who is residing in rental housing or residing in base housing.

Conditions for applying for this waiver include:

  • The child/spouse/domestic partner must be a Washington domiciliary.
  • Child is defined as a biological child, adopted child, or stepchild.
  • Children must between the age of 17 and 26.
    A child’s marital status does not affect eligibility.
  • Surviving spouses or domestic partners have 10 years from the date of the death, total disability, or federal determination of prisoner of war or missing in action status of the eligible veteran or national guard member to receive the waiver.
  • Surviving spouses or domestic partners are ineligible for the waiver upon remarriage or registration in a subsequent domestic partnership.
  • Each recipient’s continued participation in the waiver program is subject to the colleges’ satisfactory progress policy.
  • Total credits earned using this waiver may not exceed 250 quarter credits, or the equivalent of semester credits.

RCW 28B.15.621(4) and (5) – Tuition waivers – Veterans and national guard members – Dependents – Private institutions.