CalVet Fee Waiver

• Basic Benefit Information

  The College Tuition Fee Waiver for Veteran Dependents benefit waives mandatory system-wide tuition and fees at any State of California Community College, California State University, or University of California campus. This program does not cover the expense of books, parking or room and board. There are four plans under which dependents of veterans may be eligible. Visit the California Department of Veterans Affairs website for more information about the four plans, eligibility, contact information, FAQ’s and additional resources.

• How Do I Apply?

  Apply through your local County Veteran Service Office (CVSO). Once you get to the website put your zip code, and check the box on the right that is labeled "education". After you click "search" it will give you a list of the nearest VA offices that can process your Cal Vet application. 

  Once approved, you will receive and Authorization Letter from the CVSO for the county in which your application has been submitted. Once the authorization letter is received, the student will need to email a copy of the letter to the VA Certifying Official at UCSB at veteransbenefits@sa.ucsb.edu. Please include the students UCSB student ID number (Perm #) in your email. 

  Reminder: You must reapply every academic year you wish to receive this benefit. Benefits are awarded on an academic year basis, and students are required to reapply each year for ongoing benefits. It is recommended that you apply for benefits and submit your authorization letter in a timely manner prior to attending school to have your fees waived before the initial fee payment deadline.

• What Fees are Waived at UCSB?

  Not all fees are waived under this program. Fees which are eligible for exemption at UCSB campus include: tuition and student services fee. Once you submit the authorization letter, and once your fees are assessed prior to each quarter, the waiver will automatically apply to your BARC billing account waiving the tuition charge (does not cover the campus-based fees). For amounts please see our Cost of Attendance page.

  Summer is an optional quarter and is billed differently than the standard fall, winter and spring terms. The waiver will be applied for summer, but it will only cover the "per unit fee" (which for Summer 2023 undergrads is $279 per unit).

• What Fees are NOT Waived?

  Fees which are NOT eligible for exemption include: student health insurance and campus based fees.

  More information about student health insurance and waiving/unwaiving insurance can be found on the UCSHIP Insurance page.

   

• What if I Have Been Assessed Non-Resident Fees?

  All questions concerning residency must be directed to the Resident Deputy in the Office of The Registrar. A Statement of Legal Residency must be completed and submitted to the Office of the Registrar for a determination of the student's residency status for tuition purposes. If you are not classified as a California Resident by UC, your fee waiver will be invalid and you will be billed for full fees.

• Will my Financial Aid, Cal Grant or Other VA Benefits be Affected by the Waiver?

  Yes. Both the Cal Grant and the CA Veterans College Fee Waiver are considered fee-paying resources and cover the exact same tuition/fees. Therefore, students are only eligible to receive one during a period of enrollment. The Cal Grant will take precedence and automatically credit to the BARC. The waiver can be applied to a summer program, as the Cal Grant is not automatically awarded during the summer session.

  Additional financial aid may also be affected by the waiver, up to the amount of the waiver, including the university scholarship and loans.

  The Post-9/11 GI Bill®, Chapter 33 payments for tuition and fees are also affected by the waiver (or by Cal Grant). The tuition and fees that the VA will pay directly to the school will be reduced by the amount of the waiver or Cal Grant.

• How Does the Waiver Work for the Academic Year and Summer?

  Approval for benefits under this program is granted on a year to year basis and are valid for one full academic year. An academic year goes from Fall quarter through the following Summer quarter. For example, an authorization letter for the 2023-2024 academic year will automatically cover Fall 2023 through Summer 2024. Applicants must re-establish eligibility for each subsequent academic year in order to maintain entitlement and it is the responsibility of the student to provide evidence of eligibility for benefits each academic year.

• Freshmen Summer Start Program and New Transfers

  New incoming freshmen enrolled in the Freshmen Summer Start Program or new incoming Transfer students attending summer sessions may use the college fee waiver to apply towards the unit cost. Summer is considered a "trailer" to the academic year, the last term in the year. A new student wishing to use the fee waiver for the program during Summer 2023 would need to apply for the waiver and submit an authorization letter for the 2022-2023 academic year, as well as an authorization letter for the upcoming 2023-2024 academic year.

• Can I Submit a Retro Waiver?

  Yes, but generally only for the current academic year or one year prior. Claims for fee waivers must be presented during the academic year for which the claim applies. Retroactive approval for a prior academic year can be granted only in situations in which students applied for the waiver in a timely manner, but approval was delayed by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs processing of original or reopened service-connected disability compensation or Dependency and Indemnity Compensation claims. In these circumstances students are required to submit the petition "Notice of Intent to Secure VA Disability Rating" immediately with VA documentation to support the veterans disability rating application submission.

• Additional CA CVSO Resources

  • College Fee Waiver Main Page
  • Application (PDF)
  • CVSO Contact Information