Free Tuition for the Families of the Killed, the Missing, the Captured — and Guard Line-of-Duty Casualties
Three entitlements to tuition at state-supported schools. A child under 25 of a service member killed in action or who died on active duty qualifies under one; the spouse or child of a prisoner of war or a person missing in action qualifies under the other, which also covers mandatory fees. Separately, dependants of South Dakota National Guard members who died or became disabled in the line of duty — children 24 and under AND spouses — receive a 100 percent tuition waiver.
Verified August 27, 2026
What this benefit is
Three entitlements to tuition at state-supported schools. A child under 25 of a service member killed in action or who died on active duty qualifies under one; the spouse or child of a prisoner of war or a person missing in action qualifies under the other, which also covers mandatory fees. Separately, dependants of South Dakota National Guard members who died or became disabled in the line of duty — children 24 and under AND spouses — receive a 100 percent tuition waiver.
What it's worth: Full tuition at state-supported schools; the prisoner-of-war and missing-in-action route also covers mandatory fees
- The killed-in-action route: a child under 25, resident here, whose parent was killed in action or died on active duty, where the parent was resident here for at least six months before entering service.
- The prisoner-of-war and missing-in-action route reaches spouses as well as children, and is stated to cover tuition and mandatory fees.
- The prisoner-of-war route applies where the claimant is not eligible for an equal or greater federal benefit.
- The National Guard route reaches dependants of South Dakota National Guard members who died or became disabled in the line of duty: children aged 24 and under, AND spouses. The Board of Regents states it as a 100 percent tuition waiver.
- Spouses qualify on the Guard route in their own right — this is not a children-only entitlement.
Who is entitled to it
- You are in the family class these two entitlements are written for.
- You are in this state.
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
- 1Work out which of the routes you are on before you apply, because they have different ceilings and different coverage. Killed in action or died on active duty is one; prisoner of war or missing in action is another; a Guard death or permanent disability on duty is a third.
- 2Watch the age ceiling, because it is the thing that actually expires. The killed-in-action route is stated at under 25; the Guard survivors route at under 24.
- 3Ask whether mandatory fees are covered on your route. The prisoner-of-war route is stated to cover tuition and mandatory fees; the killed-in-action route is stated as tuition.
- 4On the prisoner-of-war route, bring the federal benefit position with you. The entitlement is written around not being eligible for an equal or greater federal benefit, so the file needs that settled.
- 5Establish the parent's residency before service. The killed-in-action route names a six-month residency here before entering service, and that is a records question best answered early.
- 6Go through the state department rather than the campus financial aid office first. The department certifies eligibility; the campus applies it.
- Form
- Application to the state Department of Veterans Affairs, with the parent's service and casualty documentation
- File with
- The state Department of Veterans Affairs, then the institution
- Documents you will need
- dd214
- Each term
- Claimed per academic term.
Sources
This finder provides an informational match, not a government eligibility determination. The responsible agency decides your application.