In-State Military Tuition

Military-affiliated students—veterans, active-duty military personnel, reservists, Tennessee National Guard members and Army and Air Force ROTC cadets—can now attend a UT institution of their choosing at the in-state tuition rate, even if they live out of state.

UT campuses across the state are continually recognized for their support of the military. UT Knoxville was named a 2021-22 Military Friendly Gold School, which is the highest designation awarded by Military Friendly, a company that measures commitment, effort and success in creating opportunities for the military community. UT Chattanooga has a variety of veteran-support programs, from peer mentoring to specialized counseling services, and a national innovation and entrepreneurial program that offers a highly innovative immersion program built around hands-on learning, personalized interaction and exposure to inspiring role models. UT Martin was also named a 2021-22 Military Friendly Gold School for their support provided to campus veterans. In addition to the Gold award, UT Martin was recently named among the 2021 “Best for Vets” by the Military Times. UT Martin was also designated a Tennessee Veterans Education Transition Support “VETS Campus,” a designation that helps men and women who have served in the military achieve their post-military educational goals. The UT Health Science Center in Memphis was also designated a “VETS Campus” in 2015.

 

FAQs

1. What is the legislation?

Tennessee Public Chapter 791, passed in April 2022, “authorizes the governing board of each public institution of higher education to classify a veteran or military-affiliated individual as a Tennessee resident for tuition purposes only if the veteran or military-affiliated individual is enrolled in the institution and resides outside of this state.”

For the purposes of this new legislation, military-affiliated students who are eligible for this waiver/reclassification include veterans, active-duty military personnel, reservists, members of the National Guard, and Army and Air Force ROTC Cadets. Additionally, military-affiliated students in the following groups are eligible for this new tuition benefit:

  • Attending any University of Tennessee institution (UT Knoxville, UT Chattanooga, UT Southern, UT Martin, UT Health Science Center)

  • Enrolled part-time or full-time

  • Pursuing an undergraduate, or a graduate or professional degree
  • Enrolled in online, hybrid, or in-person classes
  • Out-of-state students residing in Tennessee or living outside of the state while enrolled

Yes! This new benefit is available starting in Fall 2022 for both new and continuing students meeting the requirements previously listed. If you are a military-affiliated student who has in the past been classified as out-of-state, who has in the past been classified as out-of-state, you will be able to determine in collaboration with your financial aid office which classification–in-state or out-of-state–is best for you.

This legislation does not include dependents and spouses. Here are other opportunities available in Tennessee for these groups.
[Insert link]

If you are a new student entering Fall 2022 and select certain categories in your application for admission, you will be coded as in-state.

For continuing students…
Students using VA education benefits should turn in a copy of their VA letter of eligibility to the Veterans Success Center. Students may also turn in a DD-214. Students who are not using VA education benefits should fill out the application.

For more information about this new tuition benefit for military-affiliated students, please reach out to the appropriate person on your campus listed below.

 

Campus Contacts

 

UT Knoxville

Residency and Eligibility:
 
Undergraduate Students

Janet Green
Registrar’s Office
jgree148@utk.edu
865-974-0487

Graduate School

Tina Wicker
Graduate Admissions
twicker@utk.edu
865-974-1338

College of Law

Frances Nash
Associate Director
fnash1@utk.edu
865-974-6794

College of Veterinary Medicine

Deborah Shepherd
Counselor
dshepherd@utk.edu
865-974-7354

Other Contacts:
 

Jayetta Rogers
Director, Veterans Success Center
jrogers4@utk.edu
865-974-1500

LTC Justin Howe
Army ROTC, Department Head and Professor of Military Science
jhowe12@utk.edu
865-974-8863

LTC Tony Estep
Air Force ROTC, Professor of Aerospace Studies
westep1@utk.edu
865-974-3041

Jennifer Hardy
Deputy Registrar (residency)
jhardy11@utk.edu
865-974-1310

 

Sylvana Matthews
Director, Veteran and Military Affairs
sylvana-matthews@utc.edu
423-425-4663

CPT A.J. Herink
ROTC, Department Head, Military Science
alexander-herink@utc.edu
423-425-5581

 

Sarah Catherine Richardson
Dean of Students
scrich@utsouthern.edu

Chris Mattingly
Registrar and Director of Institutional Research
cmattin3@utsouthern.edu
931-424-4060

 

Jason Earley
Veterans Services Coordinator
jearley3@utm.edu
731-881-1689

LTC Bernard House
ROTC, Professor of Military Science
bhouse5@utm.edu
731-293-3782

Carah Hooten-Dellinger
Registrar’s Office, Student Records Coordinator
chooten2@utm.edu
731-881-3050

 

Erica Fulton
Associate Registrar
efulton3@uthsc.edu
901-448-1572

 
UTHSC Residency Classification:

registrar@uthsc.edu