Tuition Waivers Available for Purple Heart Recipients

During the 2006 Session, the Legislature approved and the Governor signed into law Senate Bills 122 and 2034.

The first law states that state universities and community colleges will waive tuition and related or matriculation fees for recipients of the Purple Heart or other combat decoration superior in precedence who:

• are enrolled as a full-time, part-time or summer-school student in an undergraduate program that terminates in a degree or certificate;
  
• are currently, and were at the time of the military action that resulted in award of the Purple Heart or other combat decoration superior in precedence, a resident of this state; and
  
• submit to the state university or the community college the DD-214 form issued at the time of separation from service as documentation that the student has received a Purple Heart or another combat decoration superior in precedence.

Such a waiver for a Purple Heart recipient or recipient of another combat decoration superior in precedence shall be applicable for 110 percent of the number of required credit hours of the degree or certificate program for which the student is enrolled.

Decorations superior in precedence to the Purple Heart are as follows:

• Medal of Honor
  
  
• Navy Coss / Air Force Cross / Distinguished Service Cross
  
  
• Distinguished Service Medal with Combat V
  
  
• Silver Star
  
  
• Legion of Merit with Combat V
  
  
• Distinguished Flying Cross
  
  
• Bronze Star with Combat V

The second law amended the previous sections to extend to spouses of eligible veterans certain state-sponsored educational benefits previously only available to the children of deceased or disabled veterans. The program will pay the equivalent of tuition and registration fees for degree or certificate programs for eligible applicants.

To apply for this tuition waiver at Florida Community College, students must provide to the College’s Bursar’s Office a copy of their DD-214 issued at the time of separation from service as documentation that the student has received a Purple Heart or another combat decoration superior in precedence. In addition, one of the following documents must be submitted evidencing residency in Florida at the time of the military action that resulted in the awarding of the combat decoration:

• DD-214 form, military separation document
  
  
• DD-2058 form, military state of legal residence certificate
  
  
• Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) or the Defense Finance Accounting Service (DFAS) Form 702, which specifies place of residence
  
  
• Letter of affidavit from the military administrative office verifying residence at the time of combat
  
  
• One or more state or federal documents evidencing legal ties to Florida (e.g., homestead exemption, driver’s license, vehicle registration)

If you have any questions or need assistance applying for this tuition waiver, please contact a military advisor at military@fccj.edu or at 904.357.8890 or 904.361.6206.