Effective for academic terms beginning after July 1, 2019, a student enrolled at a campus of the California Community Colleges or the California State University who meets all of the following requirements shall be exempt from paying nonresident tuition or any other fee that is exclusively applicable to nonresident students if: 
(1) The student resides in California.
(2) The student meets the definition of “covered individual,” as that term is defined in Section 3679(c)(2) of Title 38 of the United States Code.
(3) The student is eligible for education benefits under the federal Montgomery GI Bill–Active Duty program (Chapter 30 (commencing with Section 3001) of Title 38 of the United States Code), the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program (Chapter 31 (commencing with Section 3100) of Title 38 of the United States Code), or the Post-9/11 GI Bill program (Chapter 33 (commencing with Section 3301) of Title 38 of the United States Code), as each read on January 1, 2019.

Covered Individuals

1. A Veteran who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of discharge from a period of active-duty service of 90 days or more.
2. A spouse or child entitled to transferred education benefits who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within 3 years of the transferor’s discharge from a period of active-duty service of 90 days or more.
3. A spouse or child using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (provides Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to the children and surviving and surviving spouses of Servicemembers who died in the line of duty while on active duty) who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of the Servicemember’s death in the line of duty following a period of active-duty service of 90 days or more.
4. After the expiration of the three-year period following discharge as described in Section 3679(c)(2)(A) or (B)(ii)(I) of Title 38 of the United States Code, a student who qualifies for an exemption from paying nonresident tuition and other applicable fees under paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) shall be deemed to maintain “covered individual” status as long as the student remains continuously enrolled at a campus, even if the student enrolls in multiple programs, and the student shall continue to be exempt from paying nonresident tuition and other fees that are exclusively applicable to nonresident students. As used in this section, “continuously enrolled” means enrolled for at least the fall and spring semesters of an academic year, or for at least three of the quarters in an academic year for an institution using the quarter system.

How do I obtain the VACA Act Tuition Fee Waiver?

The VACA Act Tuition Fee Waiver form is available online on the Coastline website, Student Forms page, in the Students-Military folder. Select the Military VACA Exemptions document.