State Tuition Waiver

Colorado National Guard Tuition Waiver

Applications for the Colorado National Guard Tuition Waiver are now closed. Applications submitted after July 31, 2025 will not be accepted.

Tuition Waiver applications will be reviewed and processed within 10 business after the open enrollment period closes.

If you have questions or need assistance with your application, please email: Tuition@dmva.state.co.us

All documents uploaded need to be current to verify current ETS/MRD Dates

Review Required Documents

Submit an Application

Overview

Effective July 1, 2025, the Colorado Tuition Waiver Program will replace the current State Tuition Assistance (TA) Program. Previously, the State TA Program offered up to $5,000 per semester in tuition assistance. Despite this benefit, usage remained relatively low—only 207 out of more than 5,000 eligible CONG members participated during the Fall 2024 semester.

The new program will cover 100% of tuition cost for eligible members of the Colorado National Guard (CONG). While the Colorado Tuition Waiver covers 100% of tuition, it does not include mandatory fees, textbooks, or other related educational expenses. To help offset these remaining costs, service members are encouraged to explore and utilize Colorado State Grants and Financial Aid, Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA), and/or their GI Bill benefits.

Credit Hour Limits under the Tuition Waiver Program:

• 2-Year Institutions: Up to 65 credit hours
• 4-Year Institutions: Up to 130 credit hours
• Combination of 2-Year and 4-Year Institutions: Maximum of 145 credit hours

In addition, each service member is eligible to complete one postgraduate degree with DMVA approval:

• Master’s Degree: Up to 60 credit hours
• Doctoral Degree: Up to 90 credit hours
• Professional Degree: Up to 150 credit hours

These postgraduate credit limits are in addition to the maximum allowable credit hours for associate and bachelor’s degree programs.

The Tuition Waiver also covers full tuition for one Certificate of Completion per service member. Any request for an additional certificate waiver requires formal approval from the DMVA Tuition Waiver Manager.

In accordance with Senate Bill 25-247, the program includes student enrollment and tuition expenditure caps per fiscal year, which will be monitored and administered by the DMVA Tuition Waiver Manager.

Eligibility Criteria – Colorado State Tuition Waiver Program

1. All Colorado National Guard (CONG) service members are eligible to apply for the State Tuition Waiver Program.
2. Applicants must be active members of the Colorado Army or Air National Guard and in good standing with their unit and command.
3. Completion of Basic Training is required (if applicable to the service member’s military occupational path).
4. Members transferring from other states or service components are eligible to use the Tuition Waiver immediately, no waiting period is required, provided Basic Training has been completed.
5. ROTC Scholarship Recipients:
   1. Those who elected the “room and board” option in their ROTC contract are eligible for the State Tuition Waiver.
   2. Those who selected the “tuition and fees” option in their ROTC contract are not eligible for the State Tuition Waiver.
6. The applicant’s Expiration Term of Service (ETS) must not occur during the semester or quarter in which the Tuition Waiver is being used.
   1. Members anticipating separation must submit documentation confirming reenlistment to remain eligible.
7. Applicants must be admitted to a Designated Institution of Higher Education (DIHE) in the State of Colorado.
8. Annual submission of a FAFSA or CASFA is required.
   1. Applicants are not required to qualify for aid—only submission is mandatory.
   2. FAFSA and CASFA may not be submitted together.
   3. Service members eligible for Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) are strongly encouraged to apply for and use FTA before utilizing the State Tuition Waiver.
   4. Use of GI Bill benefits is not required to be eligible for the Tuition Waiver.
9. Applicants must complete all registered courses and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as defined by their institution.
10. There is no additional service obligation required for any Colorado National Guard member—regardless of rank—who participates in the State Tuition Waiver Program.

Student Enrollment Caps

In accordance with the SB25-247 State Tuition Waiver Program, each participating Designated Institution of Higher Education (DIHE) is assigned an annual student enrollment cap. This cap represents the maximum number of Colorado National Guard service members who can receive tuition waiver funding at that institution during a given semester in the fiscal year.

Once an institution reaches its cap, no additional tuition waiver funds can be awarded for that semester, regardless of individual student eligibility. Service members attending institutions that have met their cap may need to explore alternative funding options or consider applying for the waiver at another eligible institution.

Enrollment caps are established annually and may change based on legislative appropriation, institutional participation, and statewide demand. Updated cap amounts will be published prior to each open enrollment period to ensure transparency and support informed enrollment decisions.

Prioritization of Tuition Waiver Awards

In alignment with SB25-247, tuition waiver awards will be prioritized to ensure fair and equitable distribution of funds. Priority will be given to service members who are pursuing their first degree (associate’s, bachelor’s, etc.) at a participating Designated Institution of Higher Education (DIHE). Applicants who have already completed the same level of degree they are seeking (e.g., associate’s to associate’s, bachelor’s to bachelor’s) will receive secondary consideration after all first-degree seekers have been reviewed.

After first-degree seekers are accommodated, all remaining tuition waiver applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible applicants who meet program requirements and whose institution has not yet reached its enrollment cap for the fiscal year.

This prioritization ensures the program supports educational access for those beginning their degree pathway, while still allowing other eligible members the opportunity to benefit as funding allows.

Maximizing Your Benefits

Service members are encouraged to:

• Speak with their unit’s education officer or benefits advisor to determine eligibility and coordination of benefits.
• Apply early for FTA, GI Bill, and other aid to avoid delays in funding.

Application Documentation Best Practices

To be considered for the Colorado State Tuition Waiver Program, applicants must submit current official documentation verifying their eligibility. All documents must clearly show the service members’ name and must be valid at the time of submission.

Above is the link to all officially accepted documents. However, listed below are best practices and common issues we frequently encounter with application submissions.

Required documentation includes, but is not limited to:

Military Status & Service Dates:

• Applicants must provide current, official documentation verifying their military status in the Colorado National Guard, as well as their ETS (Expiration Term of Service) or MRD (Mandatory Retirement Date).
  • Outdated documents with expired ETS or MRD dates will not be accepted.
  • Documents must consist of all pages of each document.
    • Partially uploaded documents cannot be accepted.

Transfers From Another State: 

• If a service member has transferred from another state’s National Guard or Reserves, they must provide proof of their IST (NGB22-5 Form), along with supporting documentation validating their ETS or MRD dates.
  • DMVA cannot approve applications with documentation showing they are serving for a state other than Colorado. 
• If a service member’s Expiration Term of Service (ETS) date falls during the semester they are applying for, the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) requires reenlistment documentation to confirm continued eligibility.
  • If you do not provide this with your application, the application will be considered incomplete.
  • This documentation is required to ensure the applicant is actively serving in the Colorado National Guard and eligible for the State Tuition Waiver at the time of application.

FAFSA or CASFA:

In accordance with Senate Bill 25-247, all service members applying for the Colorado State Tuition Waiver Program must complete either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA) each fiscal year prior to submitting their Tuition Waiver application to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA).

• A screenshot of the FAFSA or CASFA submission confirmation page, showing the applicant’s name and status of the application.
• Applicants should not upload the actual application to FAFSA or CAFSA. Only the proof of submission.

School Admission

A screenshot or official document showing acceptance to the specific institution, including the applicant’s name and institution.

Proof of Basic Training Completion (if applicable):

Official documentation showing completion of Basic Training, with the applicant’s name clearly displayed.

Note: If an application is incomplete or missing required documents, the applicant will have 3 business days from the date of notification to upload the proper documentation.

• If the requested documents are not submitted within this timeframe, the application will be denied as incomplete.
• Applications will not be held for later correction; consideration will move to the next eligible applicant.

Applicant's Responsibility

It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure all documents are accurate, complete, current, and legible at the time of submission. Failure to meet these requirements will result in denial of benefits for that semester/term.

Designated Institutions of Higher Educations

Approved designated institutions include:

Colorado State Tuition Waiver Appeals Process

1. 1Appeals must be submitted via email to tuition@dmva.state.co.us within 10 calendar days of either:
   1. Receiving notification of a State Tuition Waiver denial or,
   2. Becoming aware of a procedural error.
2. Appeals will not be accepted if the denial was due to:
   1. The institution reaching its enrollment cap, or
   2. Insufficient program funding for the State Tuition Waiver.
3. The State Tuition Waiver Advisory Board will review appeals within 3 business days of receipt and provide the applicant with a written decision.

For Schools

Tuition Waiver Reporting Form

Additional Resources

• Read the Full Communication Plan
• Tuition Waiver Flyer
• GI Bill Information
• CSU Global Academic Calendars and Important Dates Video
• CSU Global Academic Calendars

Federal Tuition Assistance

The State TA office does not handle Federal Tuition Assistance benefits. If you have question about Federal Tuition Assistance please contact: