It’s a boon to military families, but how much does tuition benefit program cost Va. colleges?

An earlier meeting of the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program Task Force. (Graham Moomaw/Virginia Mercury)

While it has served thousands of military families, the cost of operating the Virginia Military Survivors and Education Program has grown, from about $19 million annually in 2019 to over $65 million in 2023, according to recent data provided by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV). Data is still being collected for VMSDEP costs for the 2023-24 school year.

The program was established nearly 95 years ago to provide college tuition waivers to the spouses or children of permanently disabled military veterans or those killed in action.

Va. legislature restores funding for tuition benefit for military families, for now

Amy Griffin, wife of the late Norfolk firefighter Chris Griffin, said her husband’s sacrifice was a big loss for the family and challenged their financial stability. However, the tuition program changed their son’s life.

“I was told that school would be one less thing that we had to be worried about and one less thing I had to try and plan for,” said mother Amy Griffin, during a June 28 Senate Select Committee Workgroup. “That was such a relief to not have to worry about that.”

Chuck Zingler, commissioner of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services, added “people are definitely becoming more aware of the program” and are “able to enjoy the benefit of [an] education earned by deaths and wounds.”

Although military families say VMSDEP greatly benefits them, the rising costs for the state’s institutions of higher learning is a continuing concern for some lawmakers.

The cost to colleges

According to SCHEV’s figures, George Mason, Virginia Commonwealth and Old Dominion Universities have experienced the most significant cost impacts from the program year over year since 2019, compared to other schools.

Mike Porter, a spokesman for VCU, said the program’s cost has impacted the university’s ability to invest in essential areas such as academic programs, student experiences, and research initiatives.

Data shows that VCU lost more than $11 million due to the program during the 2022-23 school year, the most in a single year compared to other institutions.

“Although VMSDEP is a waiver program, there are real costs associated with delivering a comprehensive educational experience and support services to these students while receiving no revenue to support those costs,” said Porter.

He added that VCU has periodically raised tuition and fees to cover all new costs, though they can’t be pinned solely on the tuition waiver program.

“While increases have not been directly attributed to VMSDEP, the program’s costs are part of the overall financial picture that necessitates tuition hikes,” he said. “Without state support, VCU would need to increase tuition by 3.6% to cover the full cost of the VMSDEP waiver.”

Data shows that Old Dominion had the largest increase in VMSDEP waiver participation, jumping from 53 participants in 2018-19 to 735 in 2022-23. VCU had 538 participants in 2022-23, while George Mason had 514 and Virginia Tech enrolled 477.

Kelsey Kendall, a spokeswoman from Old Dominion, said in an email that the program has expanded access to the university for a number of students. As a result, she said, Old Dominion has had to realign internal resources to cover the growing expense, which includes reallocating funds to student services from non-student service areas, and making changes to student fees and tuition.

“While these adjustments did help, it did not fully cover the waivers, although needed services were provided to support students,” Kendall said in a statement. “With the new law now providing funds for VMSDEP waivers, the university looks forward to continuing to serve our military students and further investing in our long-standing commitment to access and excellence.”

According to the state’s figures, the program recorded 6,344 waiver recipients last school year; in contrast,the program provided 1,387 waivers during the 2018-19 school year.

How the program works

The Virginia Department of Veterans Services certifies applicants’ eligibility for the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program. SCHEV and Virginia’s public colleges and universities apply the program’s financial aid benefits including stipends, and tuition and fee waivers.

“Benefits are available for up to eight semesters, the equivalent of four academic years,” according to the Department’s website.

The program saw significant legislative changes that expanded its benefits, starting in the late 1970s, according to a May 28 House Appropriations Committee report . Some of the changes included shifting the benefit from appropriation-based to a waiver format and creating a stipend benefit for room, board, and books.

In 2019, the legislature also passed a measure expanding tuition waivers to applicants of a veteran with at least a 90% permanent and service-related disability.

Program changes prompted pushback, repeal

Debates about the program’s impact dominated the spring, after advocates urged Virginia lawmakers to repeal a budget provision that would have required family members of disabled veterans seeking a college education to first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), among other new eligibility requirements.

Lawmakers responded by repealing the changes last month and allocating $90 million in additional funding from the state’s surplus in addition to the $40 million included in the two year budget. However, the legislature’s actions left lingering questions about the program’s future.

In June, lawmakers directed JLARC to study the program to “ensure the long-term sustainability of the program and evaluate all aspects of eligibility criteria, program parameters, and impact on Virginia’s higher education institutions and tuition paying students.”

The letter also directs JLARC to provide recommendations on legislative action and budget modifications that could improve the stability and strength of the program and ensure its long-term viability.

JLARC’s findings are due to the governor and chairs of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees by Sept. 1. Gov. Glenn Youngkin also convened a task force to study the program.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect that a task force was formed to study the tuition benefit program.

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