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Montana Guard Tuition — the Last Dollar, at Any Campus in the System

A serving Montana National Guard member in good standing with Initial Entry Training complete has their REMAINING in-state tuition waived at any Montana University System campus, after all other grants and scholarships are applied — up to the annual in-state tuition. A Guard member who does not otherwise meet MUS residency is GIVEN in-state status for the purposes of the waiver, so an out-of-state member is not shut out. Flat-fee courses are excluded, and the application deadline is the THIRD WEEK OF THE SEMESTER, which is the thing that loses it.

Verified August 27, 2026

What this benefit is

A serving Montana National Guard member in good standing with Initial Entry Training complete has their REMAINING in-state tuition waived at any Montana University System campus, after all other grants and scholarships are applied — up to the annual in-state tuition. A Guard member who does not otherwise meet MUS residency is GIVEN in-state status for the purposes of the waiver, so an out-of-state member is not shut out. Flat-fee courses are excluded, and the application deadline is the THIRD WEEK OF THE SEMESTER, which is the thing that loses it.

What it's worth: Remaining in-state tuition waived after all other aid, up to the annual in-state rate

  • LAST-DOLLAR: it waives what remains AFTER all other grants and scholarships, up to annual in-state tuition. What you get therefore depends on what else you hold.
  • Current Montana National Guard members, ARMY OR AIR, in good standing with INITIAL ENTRY TRAINING COMPLETE. This is not a veteran benefit.
  • A Guard member who does not meet MUS residency is GIVEN in-state tuition status for the waiver.
  • FLAT-FEE COURSES ARE EXCLUDED.
  • APPLY BY THE THIRD WEEK OF THE SEMESTER.
  • Available at Montana University System campuses under Board of Regents policy, with certification by the Montana National Guard.

Who is entitled to it

  • You serve in the U.S. armed forces.
  • You are a Guard or Reserve member.
  • You are enrolled or applying.
  • Montana University System campuses.

Not sure whether that describes you?

Answer a few questions about this benefit specifically — we only ask what this one actually depends on, and we stop as soon as we know.

How to claim it

Deadline: Third week of the semester
  1. 1Diary the THIRD WEEK OF THE SEMESTER deadline. It is the most common way this is lost.
  2. 2File your other aid first — it is last-dollar, so unclaimed grants come out of what the waiver would have paid.
  3. 3Get certification of good standing from the Montana National Guard.
  4. 4If you do not meet MUS residency, apply anyway: Guard members are given in-state status for this.
  5. 5Check whether your courses are flat-fee — those are outside the waiver.
Form
Waiver application to your MUS campus, certified by the Guard
File with
Your Montana University System campus
Each term
Claimed per academic term.
Worth knowingBecause it is last-dollar, a scholarship you win does not increase what you receive — it replaces part of the waiver. That is not a reason to skip other aid, but it is worth knowing before you count on both.

Sources

This finder provides an informational match, not a government eligibility determination. The responsible agency decides your application.