Connecticut veteran education benefits
Stars rate how much each state offers veterans themselves for college, training and exam fees (family-only programs don't count): 5 = free public-college tuition for most resident veterans, no disability rating needed; 3 = partial grants or narrower eligibility; 1 = little or nothing beyond federal benefits. How we rate
Free tuition at all CT public colleges (incl. graduate at UConn/CSUs) for wartime-era veterans domiciled in CT; no rating or time limit (fees not covered).
Checked Oct 7, 2026. State benefits change often. Confirm the details with the state agency before you apply.
Verify on the official page means we could not fully confirm that detail on the agency's own page.
For veterans
Connecticut Veterans Tuition Waiver (UConn and CSCU)
- What it covers
- 100% tuition for credit courses at UConn, the four CT State Universities (undergraduate or graduate, must be formally admitted) and CT State Community College (credit study funded by the General Fund; not summer/intersession/Extension Fund). Also covers tuition exceeding the Post-9/11 GI Bill tuition benefit. 50% course-fee waiver for Extension Fund courses at CSUs; Charter Oak State College gives a 50% waiver. Does not cover books, student activity/course fees, parking, room and board.
- Who qualifies and limits
- Honorable discharge (or under honorable conditions); at least 90 cumulative days of active duty during a period of war (CGS 27-103; per the CT Office of Legislative Research, the Persian Gulf War period runs from Aug 2, 1990 to a date set by the President or law, service anywhere) unless discharged earlier for a VA-rated SC disability; domiciled in Connecticut at time of acceptance (domicile of less than one year counts). Waiver may be reduced by employer education reimbursement.
For spouses and children
Connecticut tuition waiver for dependents of KIA/MIA/POW
- What it covers
- Tuition waiver at CT public colleges and universities (tuition only).
- Who qualifies and limits
- CT-resident dependent child or surviving spouse of a CT-resident service member killed in action on/after 9/11/2001; or CT-resident dependent child of a service member declared MIA or POW after Jan 1, 1960.
If you left the service 15 to 20 years ago
Very good fit: no time-since-discharge limit and no disability-rating requirement. A veteran with 90+ days active duty after Aug 2, 1990 (e.g., separated 2006) who is domiciled in CT when accepted qualifies, even if they moved to CT recently. Tuition only – fees can be substantial. Waiver covers tuition beyond the Post-9/11 GI Bill, so GI Bill need not be exhausted.
Who to contact
- State veterans agency
- Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs (CT DVA)
- Education office
- Connecticut Office of Higher Education (OHE) – Veteran education benefits
- State Approving Agency (approves schools and programs for the GI Bill)
- Connecticut Office of Higher Education – State Approving Agency
Sources we checked
- ct.edu/admission/veterans
- portal.ct.gov/ohe/knowledge-base/articles/for-students/veteran-education-
- portal.ct.gov/ohe/-/media/ohe-beta/pdf/veterans-programs/veteranstuitionw
- cga.ct.gov/2022/rpt/pdf/2022-R-0186.pdf
- nasaa-vetseducation.com/nasaa-contacts/
Federal benefits such as the GI Bill and VR&E are separate. See the FAQ and the GI Bill programs.