UCLA
Veteran Resource Center

VACAA - Non Resident Tuition Waiver

Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act (VACAA) Nonresident Tuition Waiver

Under the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act (VACAA) of 2014, certain students using VA education benefits may qualify for in-state tuition rates at public universities, even if they are not classified as California residents.

At UCLA, this means a Nonresident Supplemental Tuition (NRST) Fee Credit is applied to the student’s account. However, this waiver does not change the student’s official residency classification for UC purposes.

Eligibility for the VACAA Waiver

To qualify, students must:

  • Live in California while attending UCLA, and

  • Be using one of the following VA education benefits:

    • Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33)

    • Montgomery GI Bill® – Active Duty (Chapter 30)

    • Montgomery GI Bill® – Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606)

    • Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA, Chapter 35) – effective 8/1/2022

    • Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E, Chapter 31) – effective 3/1/2019

    • Fry Scholarship – effective 7/1/2017

    • Transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits from a veteran or active-duty sponsor

Students must maintain continuous enrollment at UCLA (excluding regularly scheduled academic breaks) to retain the waiver. Students keep the waiver even if they stop using or exhaust their VA benefits.

Important Notes

  • The VACAA waiver only removes the NRST. Students remain classified as nonresidents for all other residency-related purposes at UCLA.

  • This waiver does not establish California residency and does not make students eligible for residency-based programs such as the CalVet Fee Tuition Waiver.

  • The NRST is charged each term. A credit for the full amount is applied to the student’s BruinBill after fees are assessed.

  • During a student’s first enrolled term, it may take longer for the NRST credit to appear due to multi-departmental processing across UCLA (Registrar, Student Accounts, Veterans Resource Center).

How to Request the VACAA Waiver at UCLA

  1. Submit your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR).

  2. Complete the Statement of Legal Residence (SLR) to be classified as a nonresident.

  3. Submit your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for VA education benefits to the UCLA Certifying Official.

  4. The waiver will be processed by UCLA’s Registrar, Student Accounts, and Veterans Resource Center.
    The NRST credit will then be applied to your BruinBill.

Why This Waiver Matters

To remain eligible for GI Bill® program approval, public universities like UCLA must charge in-state tuition and fees to all "covered individuals." The VACAA waiver helps ensure compliance and provides critical financial support for veterans and dependents living in California during their studies.

🔗 For more information, visit the VA’s official page:
In-State Tuition Rates Under the Veterans Choice Act