Military Educational Benefits

The University of Virginia School of Law is proud to serve all military affiliated students including active duty, veterans, reservists, National Guard members and dependents in pursuing their academic and professional goals.

  • The Post 9/11 GI Bill™ benefits cover in-state tuition rates at public schools (including UVA School of Law) at the percentage you're eligible for. 
  • This means if you're entitled to 100%, the VA will cover the full cost of tuition and mandatory fees (not including the cost of student health insurance). 
    • Likewise, if you're entitled to 60% of your Post 9/11 GI Bill™ benefits, the VA will cover 60% of tuition and mandatory fees.  
  • Even if you're an out-of-state student using military benefits, you may receive in-state/resident tuition rate under the Veterans Choice Act. 

*GI Bill™ is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website. 

Helpful Resources:

  • For questions about using your benefits, please contact Matt Wakeman, Assistant Dean of Financial Aid:  @email or 434-924-7805.
  • In addition to the information listed below, you may also visit the University's VA resource page.
  • For more information on in-state privileges, domicile requirements, and other information for active duty, retired, and discharged military members, please see the Office of Virginia Status eligibility page.
In-state Tuition Rates & Veterans Choice Act

Through the Veterans Choice Act, all veterans and active-duty military personnel (including LL.M students) using military benefits will qualify for in-state tuition and fee rates even if they haven't lived in Virginia prior to attending UVA. 

Once students have established a physical address in Virginia, non-residents of Virginia should submit the Virginia Student Status Application and include a copy of their DD-214 or a copy of their orders to Charlottesville if active duty. 

Dependents using transferred GI Bill benefits may also be eligible for in-state tuition via the Veterans Choice Act. When submitting the Military Education Benefits Request Form, dependents should indicate their intent to use the Choice Act on the form. Proof of a Virginia address and a copy of the veteran's DD-214 or a copy of active military orders will also be required. 

Virginia Military Survivors & Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP)

The Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) is a Commonwealth of Virginia program that provides education benefits to spouses and children of qualifying Veterans (domiciled in Virginia) who have been rated by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (USDVA) as totally and permanently disabled or at least 90 percent permanently disabled as a result of military service or qualifying Military Service Members killed, missing in action, taken prisoner, or who have been rated by the USDVA as totally and permanently disabled or at least 90 percent permanently disabled as a direct result of involvement in covered military combat. Military service includes the United States Armed Forces, United States Armed Forces Reserves, or the Virginia National Guard.

As part of our ongoing commitment to the VMSDEP program, UVA Law agrees to waive all tuition and mandatory fees for eligible students. 

Additional details and application information can be found on the University's Military Benefits website.

Note:  To ensure scholarship opportunities are provided to the greatest number of students, recipients of VMSDEP tuition and fee waivers at UVA Law are not eligible for additional scholarship funds provided by the Law School. This includes but is not limited to scholarships offered during the admissions process. 

Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E) or Chapter 31

This program assists veterans with service-connected disabilities to obtain and maintain employment. VR&E, also known as Chapter 31, helps those eligible with job training, employment accommodations, resume development, and pursuing education if it is deemed necessary as part of the retraining process. In order to be eligible for VR&E benefits you need have a service connected disability rating of at least 10% from the VA.

The benefits pays tuition, a monthly housing stipend and typically covers required books and supplies.

Please see more details on the VA’s website.

Yellow Ribbon Program

The VA determines the amount your Post 9/11 GI Bill® will pay based on whether you attend a public school or a private school. 

  • Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits cover all public school in-state tuition and fees. UVA Law is a public school. 
  • Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits are limited to an annual cap when students attend a private school.
    • The Yellow Ribbon Program is applicable to students with 100% eligibility who attend private schools that cost more than the annual cap. 

Because the University of Virginia is a public school and not limited by an annual cap (all in-state tuition and fees are covered by Post 9/11 benefits), the Yellow Ribbon Program is not needed.