Education at OHSU

Education at OHSU

Veterans’ Dependent Tuition Waiver

If you are the dependent of a veteran, you may be eligible for the Veteran’s Dependent Tuition Waiver under ORS 350.285.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must:

1. Be admitted to a bachelor's or master's degree program at OHSU

2. Meet the requirements for Oregon Residency as stipulated in OHSU’s Residency Policy (You do NOT meet this criterion if you are receiving in-state tuition through an exception to the residency policy, such as the School of Nursing In-state Tuition for Border County Residents policy)

3. Meet one of the following two criteria:

  • Purple Heart Criterion: You are a child*, adopted child*, or stepchild* of a Purple Heart recipient. 
    • A Purple Heart recipient is a person, alive or deceased, who was relieved or discharged from service in the Armed Forces of the United States with either an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions and was awarded the Purple Heart in 2001 or thereafter for wounds received in combat.

OR​

  • ​Deceased or Disabled Criterion: You are a child*, adopted child*, stepchild*, spouse, or unmarried surviving spouse of a member of the United States Armed Forces who:
    • Died while on active duty, or
    • Died as a result of a military service connected disability, or
    • Is 100% disabled as a result of a military service connected disability as certified by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs or any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States.

* A child must be aged 23 or younger at the time of application for the waiver or be applying for a master’s program waiver within 12 months of receiving a bachelor’s degree for which the child was receiving the waiver. OHSU may consider applications from students over 23 if they are transferring directly from another Oregon public university where they are using the waiver.

Documentation of Eligibility

You must provide the following documentation of eligibility with your application:

Dependent of recipient of Purple Heart

  • A copy of the Purple Heart Medal documentation, or
  • A DD214 with Purple Heart listed in section 13 for record of service on or after 2001

Dependent of veteran who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-connected disability or is 100% disabled as a result of a service-connected disability

  • DEA Certificate of Eligibility, or
  • Veteran Sponsor’s Disability Letter with 100% rating (Note: The disability rating must be 100%. If the sponsor is rated less than 100% but is receiving disability pay at the 100% level due to individual unemployability, the student does not qualify)

How to Apply

Students Receiving Benefits through the GI Bill®

The Veteran’s Dependent Tuition Waiver may impact tuition benefits you receive though the GI Bill®, depending on which chapter you fall under.

Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill You must be at least half-time to ensure you receive both benefits. Students falling below half-time with $0 tuition may become ineligible for Chapter 30 benefits.
Chapter 31 Veteran Readiness & Employment (VRE) Because you will be paying no tuition, no tuition funds will be disbursed. Your months of GI Bill® benefits will be used up during this period.
Chapter 33: Post-9/11 GI Bill Because you will be paying no tuition, no tuition funds will be disbursed. You can receive housing benefits if you qualify, but your months of GI Bill® benefits will be used up during this period.
Chapter 35: Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) Program You must be at least half-time to ensure you receive both benefits. Students falling below half-time with $0 tuition may become ineligible for Chapter 35 benefits.
Chapter 1606: Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve You must be at least half-time to ensure you receive both benefits. Students falling below half-time with $0 tuition may become ineligible for Chapter 1606 benefits.

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.

Does the waiver apply to my program?

The waiver can be applied to courses that lead to a bachelor’s degree (B.S.) or master’s degree (M.B.A., M.C.R., M.N., M.P.A.S, M.P.H, or M.S.)

The waiver cannot be applied to courses for a doctoral degree of for a certificate at any level.

For students in the  M.S. Nutrition/Dietetic Internship program, the waiver applies only to coursework in the M.S. degree. It does not apply to coursework leading to the Dietetic Internship certificate.