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Free Tuition for Overseas Combat Veterans — a Medal, Not a Rating

An honorably discharged veteran who was a resident for a year before entering service and holds an armed forces expeditionary medal or authorized campaign medal from a foreign armed conflict attends the University of Wyoming or any community college with tuition free — eight semesters within eight years.

Verified August 21, 2026

What this benefit is

An honorably discharged veteran who was a resident for a year before entering service and holds an armed forces expeditionary medal or authorized campaign medal from a foreign armed conflict attends the University of Wyoming or any community college with tuition free — eight semesters within eight years.

What it's worth: Tuition free at UW and the community colleges — 8 semesters in an 8-year window, capped at the UW undergraduate rate

  • The statute caps funding at the UW current undergraduate rate per semester regardless of the programme attended.

Who is entitled to it

  • You were honorably discharged.
  • You are a resident of 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

  1. 1The gate is a MEDAL, not a rating: the armed forces expeditionary medal or another authorized service or campaign medal showing service in an armed conflict in a foreign country, plus honorable discharge and one year of residency BEFORE entering service.
  2. 2The benefit is "successive education" — pursuing a degree or certificate at a higher level than you have already earned with it — at UW or any community college, 8 semesters inside an 8-year window.
  3. 3A separate Vietnam-veteran definition (Vietnam service medal 1964-75, non-dishonorable discharge, one year of residency) runs on the same track.
Form
Programme application through the institution
File with
The programme manager or VA certifying official at UW or any community college
Documents you will need
dd214
Annual
Claimed once a year.
Worth knowingThe same section educates the fallen's families: the surviving spouse and dependents of a member whose death was service-connected — or who is officially captured or missing — receive free tuition, with a combat dependent qualifying if under 22 when the parent died in overseas combat. The commission's page describes the survivor track as covering tuition AND fees.

Sources

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