Veterans

As a veteran you may be eligible for in-state tuition as soon as you arrive and establish Colorado as your permanent domicile if you were honorably discharged from the Armed Forces. 

For further information regarding Active Military Personnel and members of the Colorado National Guard, please refer to the Active Military Residency page. 

Residency Classifications

• R - In state Resident (Those the meet state laws determining in state classification)
• U - WUE (Western Undergraduate Exchange)
• N - Non-Resident (Those who are not residents of Colorado)
• M - Military (Those that qualify for in state but have not meet the required domicile period. Charges the same tuition as R - In state Resident)

• GI Promise - Honorably Discharged Veterans

  All honorably discharged veterans and their dependents who show established domicile in Colorado immediately preceding the start of the semester, regardless of length of time, shall be granted in-state tuition.

  The veteran can also petition for this benefit for their spouse and dependent if the veteran established domicile in Colorado. A dependent is an unmarried undergraduate student and under the age of 23 on or before the first day of class. Honorable discharge status must be verified using the Honorably Discharged Veteran In-State Tuition Application form.

• Veteran Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 (Choice Act)

  In August 2014 Congress passed the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014. Section 702 of the “Choice Act” requests that UNC provide in-state residency for tuition purposes to veterans and their family members using the Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33), Survivors' and Dependents' Education Assistance (Chapter 35) or the Active Duty Montgomery GI Bill® (Chapter 30) for terms that begin after July 1, 2015 (re-authorized July 1, 2017) with the following qualifying circumstances:.

  • 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 of discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more; 
  • A spouse or child using transferred 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 from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more; 
  • A spouse or child using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship 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 following a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
  • Anyone using transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits who live in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located and the transferor is a member of the uniformed service who is serving on active duty. 

  Required documents for application for Section 702 classification are:

  • Most recent DD-214, Member Copy 4 for the veteran who earned the GI Bill® entitlement to be used or copy of active duty member's military ID (front and back) and;
  • Certificate of Eligibility (COE) showing eligibility for either Chapter 33 (Post 9/11), Chapter 35 (DEA) or Chapter 30 (GI Bill®)
  • Completed Section 702 Residency Application Form and; 
  • Proof of an Colorado address, such as a housing contract, lease agreement, or mortgage.

  A residence determination cannot be made until all supporting documents have been received.  Once a covered individual is determined to have met the qualifications for in-state residence, this person will retain his or her status as long as he or she remains continuously enrolled in the institution. 

  Visit the link for more information regarding the Section 702 Veterans Choice Act.

• Qualifying Armed Forces

  Qualifying active-duty armed forces include:

  • United States Army
  • United States Navy
  • United States Air Force
  • United States Marine Corps
  • United States Coast Guard
  • United States Public Health Service
  • United States NOAA Corps

Yellow Ribbon

At University of Northern Colorado we work with veterans to use their Yellow Ribbon benefits, the Post 9-11 GI Bill®, as well as university financial support, to cover many of the costs of studying at UNC, including the full cost of tuition for both resident and non-resident qualifying veteran students. In addition, Post 9-11 GI Bill® benefits help cover the cost of housing and provides a book stipend. The Yellow Ribbon program is a cost-share program with the Department of Veterans Affairs and universities that covers out-of-state tuition for Post 9-11 GI Bill® benefit users.

In order to participate in Yellow Ribbon, students must be eligible for Post 9-11 GI Bill® benefits at 100 percent, must be using the benefits, must be enrolled as an UNC student, and live outside of the State of Colorado. Per state statute, non-residents are not eligible to receive funds through the College Opportunity Fund (COF). 

If you would like to see how changing your residency status would affect your benefits, please contact the Bursar's Office at bursar@unco.edu or at 970-351-4862 Option 1.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.