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A Tuition Waiver for Foreign Service — but the Institution Chooses Whether to Grant It

Washington public institutions MAY waive all or a portion of tuition and fees for an active or reserve member, or a Guard member called to active duty, who served in ACTIVE FEDERAL SERVICE ON FOREIGN SOIL OR IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS. The word to read carefully is MAY. This is PERMISSIVE, not mandatory: the statute authorises the waiver and each institution decides its own policy, so the same veteran can be granted it at one Washington college and refused at another. Ask the specific school before enrolling — and if refused, ask whether another has a different policy.

Verified August 27, 2026

What this benefit is

Washington public institutions MAY waive all or a portion of tuition and fees for an active or reserve member, or a Guard member called to active duty, who served in ACTIVE FEDERAL SERVICE ON FOREIGN SOIL OR IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS. The word to read carefully is MAY. This is PERMISSIVE, not mandatory: the statute authorises the waiver and each institution decides its own policy, so the same veteran can be granted it at one Washington college and refused at another. Ask the specific school before enrolling — and if refused, ask whether another has a different policy.

What it's worth: All or part of tuition and fees, at the institution's discretion

  • Institutions MAY waive ALL OR A PORTION of tuition and fees. THE STATUTE IS PERMISSIVE.
  • EACH INSTITUTION SETS ITS OWN POLICY, so the same veteran can be granted it at one Washington college and refused at another.
  • It covers an active or reserve member of the U.S. military or naval forces, or a NATIONAL GUARD MEMBER CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY.
  • The service must have been in ACTIVE FEDERAL SERVICE ON FOREIGN SOIL OR IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS.
  • Because it is discretionary, do not budget on it until the specific institution has confirmed in writing.
  • Statutory basis: RCW 28B.15.621.

Who is entitled to it

  • You serve or served in the U.S. armed forces.
  • You are enrolled or applying.
  • Washington public institutions.

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

  1. 1Ask the institution directly what its policy under RCW 28B.15.621 is, and get the answer in writing before enrolling.
  2. 2If refused, ask another Washington public institution — policies genuinely differ, and this is one of the few benefits where shopping around works.
  3. 3Have evidence of active federal service on foreign soil or in international waters.
  4. 4Guard members called to active duty are inside the statute; say so specifically.
  5. 5Do not treat this as secured funding until it is granted.
Form
Application to your institution under RCW 28B.15.621
File with
Your Washington public institution
Documents you will need
dd214
Annual
Claimed once a year.
Known gapBecause the waiver is permissive we cannot say what any given veteran will actually receive. Publishing it as though it were an entitlement would be wrong; leaving it out would hide a benefit that some institutions grant in full.

Sources

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