Choice Act

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In accordance with section 702 of the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 and the Colonel John M. McHugh Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act of 2021, all covered individuals living in New Jersey, using the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33), Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty (Chapter 30), Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Program (Chapter 31) and Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) at Thomas Edison State University (TESU) will qualify for the in-state Per Credit Tuition Plan, regardless of their formal state of residence. Covered individuals will remain eligible for in-state tuition as long as they reside in New Jersey. Once covered individuals move outside the state of New Jersey, they are no longer considered covered, and no longer qualify for in-state tuition rates.

Covered individuals are defined as follows:

  • A veteran who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence).
  • 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).
  • 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).

Covered individuals must submit the following documents to qualify for in-state tuition:

  • Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
  • Veteran Benefit Information Sheet (VBIS)

Under certain circumstances, other tuition options may also be available. Please contact the University’s veteran affairs office at va@tesu.edu to learn more, and see if you qualify for alternate tuition plans. Determining whether or not a student using VA educational benefits will have any out of pocket expenses depends on which chapter of the GI Bill they are using and the percentage covered. Some chapters pay the educational benefit directly to the veteran, while other chapters pay the educational benefit directly to the University. If you have detailed questions about your specific educational benefits, you should contact the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs at (888) 442-4551.

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 website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.