Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program
Offered by Virginia Department of Veterans Services
About this scholarship
The Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program waives tuition and mandatory fees for eligible spouses and children at Virginia public colleges and universities. The benefit covers up to eight semesters, regardless of full-time or part-time enrollment. It may be used for undergraduate, graduate, professional, online, remedial, and qualifying study-abroad coursework when the student is admitted to and the program is provided by a Virginia public institution; private schools, out-of-state schools, and noncredit courses are excluded. Tier 1 covers qualifying veterans rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as totally and permanently disabled or at least 90 percent permanently disabled due to military service, subject to Virginia domicile rules. Tier 2 covers qualifying combat-related deaths, missing-in-action or prisoner-of-war cases, and qualifying combat-related disability ratings. Eligible children must generally be biological or adopted children ages 16 through 29; certain stepchildren qualify under Tier 2 rules. Spouses have no age limit. Tier 2 beneficiaries may also receive a semester stipend for room, board, books, or supplies, but the amount depends on enrollment, participation, and available funding. Applicants register in the official portal, request veteran verification, and submit the benefit application. The state recommends applying at least 60 days before tuition is due, with target dates of July 1 for fall, November 1 for spring, and April 1 for summer.
Eligibility
- Be the spouse or eligible child of a qualifying veteran or service member
- Meet the applicable Tier 1 or Tier 2 military-service and disability, death, MIA, or POW criteria
- Meet Virginia domiciliary requirements
- Be admitted to a Virginia public college or university
- If applying as a child, generally be between ages 16 and 29
- Provide the required veteran, relationship, residency, and school-admission documentation
- Register an account, request veteran verification, and submit the application in the VMSDEP portal
- Apply at least 60 days before tuition is due when possible
- For spring 2027 use, submit by the November 1, 2026 target date