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Residency - Active Duty Military and Dependents; Honorably Discharged Uniformed Service Members and Dependents; Washington National Guard and Dependents

Resident Category

This classification defines residency for current and former active duty military and their spouses and dependents, as well as members of the Washington National Guard and their spouses and dependents.

These residency classifications are mandatory and colleges must charge resident tuition rates to those students who meet the residency requirements.

Definition of related terms

  • "Uniformed Services" means United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, NOAA commissioned officers and United States Public Health Service commissioned corps.
  • "Active Duty Service" means full-time duty, other than active duty for training, as a member of the Uniformed Services of the United States. Active duty as a National Guard member under Title 32 U.S.C. for the purpose of organizing, administering, recruiting, instructing, or training and active duty service under 32 U.S.C. Sec. 502(f) for the purposes of responding to a national emergency is recognized as active duty service.
  • "Active Military Duty" means a person serving on active duty in the armed forces of the United States, Washington National Guard and Coast Guard, Merchant Marines or other nonmilitary when such service is recognized by the United States as equivalent to service in the armed forces.

Fee pay status: 09

The definition for this residency category was changed by SB 5778 in the 2017 legislative session.  Definitions for this residency category were changed by HB 1688 in the 2019 legislative session.

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The state of Washington has established definitions for residency that include:

  1. Active duty military stationed in Washington, and their spouse and dependents;
  2. Active duty military stationed out-of-state, who entered service as a resident of Washington and has maintained Washington as their domicile, eligibility also includes their spouse and dependents;
  3. Members of the Washington National Guard, and their spouse and dependents (spouses and dependents must reside in Washington state);
  4. Members of the Washington National Guard stationed out-of-state, who entered service as a resident of Washington, and has maintained Washington as their domicile, and their spouse and dependents;
  5. Those separated from the uniformed services, under any period of honorable service, after at least ninety days of active duty; is eligible for any federal law authorizing educational assistance benefits for veterans and will have enrolled in a college within three year of separation;
  6. Those entitled to transferred post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits based on their relationship as a spouse, former spouse, or child to an individual who is on active duty in the uniformed services.
  7. Those entitled to Veterans Administration educational assistance benefits, based on their relationship as a spouse, former spouse or dependent, to an individual who has separated from the uniformed services with any period of honorable service after at least ninety days of active duty. Students must enroll in a college within three year of separation of the service members; date of separation;
  8. Those entitled to Veterans Administration educational assistance benefits, based on their relationship with a deceased member of the uniformed services who died in the line of duty.
  9. A student who is entitled to federal vocational rehabilitation and employment services for veterans that have service-connected disabilities under 38 U.S.C. Section 3102(a)
  10. A student who is defined as a covered individual in 38 U.S.C. Section 3679(c)(2). Please refer to WSAC for additional guidance and details.

A student retains resident student status for items 5 - 10 above as long as the student remains continuously enrolled at an institution of higher education.

RCW 28B.15.012(2)(g)-(p) - Classification as resident or nonresident student - definitions. (sub-sections below)

(g) Active Duty Military stationed in Washington and Washington National Guard

(h) Active Duty Military or National Guard deployed out of state who enlisted while a resident of WA and maintains domicile in WA

(i) Spouse or Dependent of Active Duty Military deployed out of state who enlisted while a resident of Washington and maintains domicile in Washington

(j) Spouse, Former Spouse, or Child entitled to transferred federal post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits based on their relationship to an individual who is on active duty in the uniformed services

(k) Spouse or Dependent of Washington National Guard member

(l) Separated from Uniformed Service with a least ninety days of active duty service, honorably discharged, eligible under any federal law authorizing educational assistance benefits for veterans and is enrolled within three years of separation

(m) A student, who is entitled to Veterans Administration educational assistance benefits, based on the students relationship as a Spouse, former Spouse or Child to a person honorably discharged from Uniformed Service with a least ninety days of active duty service, and the student enrolls within three years of the service members date of separation

(n) A student, who is entitled to Veterans Administration educational assistance benefits, based on the student’s relationship as a Spouse, former Spouse or Child with a deceased member of the Uniformed Services who  died in the line of duty

(o) A student who is entitled to federal vocational rehabilitation and employment services for veterans with service-connected disabilities under 38 U.S.C. Section 3102(a)

(p) A student who is defined as a covered individual in 38 U.S.C. Section 3679(c)(2) as it existed on the effective date of this section, or such subsequent date as the Student Achievement Council may determine by rule

Page Manager: bmyhre@sbctc.edu
Last Modified: 3/16/23, 4:37 PM

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