Residency—Military

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.

Resident Category

This category defines residency for current and former active duty military and their spouses and dependents, as well as members of the Washington National Guard and their spouses and dependents.

These residency classifications are mandatory and colleges must charge resident tuition rates to those students who meet the residency requirements.

Definition of related terms

  • "Uniformed Services" means United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, Space Force, Public Health Service commissioned corps and NOAA commissioned officers.
  • "Active Duty Service" means full-time duty, other than active duty for training, as a member of the Uniformed Services of the United States. Active duty as a National Guard member under Title 32 U.S.C. for the purpose of organizing, administering, recruiting, instructing, or training and active duty service under 32 U.S.C. Sec. 502(f) for the purposes of responding to a national emergency is recognized as active duty service.
  • "Active Military Duty" means a person serving on active duty in the armed forces of the United States, Washington National Guard and Coast Guard, Merchant Marines or other nonmilitary when such service is recognized by the United States as equivalent to service in the armed forces.

Fee pay status: 09

The state of Washington has established definitions for residency that include:

  1. Active duty military and WA National Guard stationed in-state, and their spouse/domestic partner and dependents;
  2. Active duty military and WA National Guard stationed out-of-state, who entered service as a resident of Washington and has maintained Washington as their domicile.  Eligibility also includes their spouse/domestic partner and dependents;
  3. Active duty military, reassigned out-of-state, who are admitted to college prior to the transfer and stay continuously enrolled, or enroll within three years of reassignment.  Eligibility also includes their spouse/domestic partner and dependents;
  4. Those separated from the uniformed services, with at least ten years of honorable service, and at least ninety days of active duty and have enrolled in a college within three years of separation. Eligibility also includes their spouse/domestic partner, or child under the age of 26;
  5. Student who is eligible for VA educational assistance or rehabilitation benefits under Title 38 U.S.C. or educational assistance under Title 10 U.S.C Chapter 1606;
  6. A student who is defined as a "covered individual" in 38 U.S.C. Section 3679(c)(2). Please refer to WSAC for additional guidance and details;
  7. Students discharged from uniformed services due to sexual orientation;
  8. Active duty military residing in-state and stationed in Washington Border Counties.  Eligibility also includes their spouse/domestic partner and dependents;

RCW 28B.15.012(2)(g)-(o), (r), (s) - Classification as resident or nonresident student - definitions. (sub-sections below)

(g) Active Duty Military stationed in Washington and Washington National Guard

(h) Active Duty Military or National Guard deployed out of state who enlisted while a resident of WA and maintains domicile in WA

(i) Active duty military stationed out-of-state after having been stationed in Washington before the reassignment, who are admitted to college prior to the transfer and stay continuously enrolled, or enroll within three years of reassignment. 

(j) Spouse/Domestic Partner or Dependent of person defined in (g), (h) or (i).

(k) A student who is eligible for veterans administration educational assistance or rehabilitation benefits under Title 38 U.S.C. or educational assistance under Title 10 U.S.C. chapter 1606.

(l) A student who has separated or retired from the uniformed services with at least 10 years of honorable service and at least 90 days of active duty service, and who enters an institution of higher education in Washington within three years of the date of separation or retirement

(m) A student who is the spouse, state registered domestic partner, or child under the age of 26 years of an individual who has separated or retired from the uniformed services with at least 10 years of honorable service and at least 90 days of active duty service, and who enters an institution of higher education in Washington within three years of the service member's date of separation or retirement

(n) A student who has separated from the uniformed services who was discharged due to the student's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression

(o) A student who is defined as a covered individual in 38 U.S.C. Section 3679(c)(2) as it existed on the effective date of this section, or such subsequent date as the Student Achievement Council may determine by rule

(r) A student who resides in Washington and is on active military duty stationed in the Oregon counties of Columbia, Gilliam, Hood River, Multnomah, Clatsop, Clackamas, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, or Washington

(s) A student who resides in Washington and is the spouse or a dependent of a person defined in (r) of this subsection.  If the person defined in (r) of this subsection moves from Washington or is reassigned out of the Oregon counties of Columbia, Gilliam, Hood River, Multnomah, Clatsop, Clackamas, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, or Washington, the student maintains the status as a resident student so long as the student resides in Washington and is:

(i) Admitted to an institution before the reassignment and enrolls in that institution for the term the student was admitted; or

(ii) Enrolled in an institution and remains continuously enrolled at the institution.