Louisiana 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
Good tuition exemption for children of 90%+ rated vets; nothing for veterans themselves.
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
Louisiana residency for tuition purposes
Verify on the official page
- What it covers
- Resident rate for stationed service members and dependents (and some veterans per statute). Rate only.
- Who qualifies and limits
- See La. R.S. 17:2137.
State Tuition Exemption Program (STEP) / Louisiana Patriot Scholarship
Verify on the official page
- What it covers
- Tuition exemption (STEP) and mandatory fees (Patriot) at Louisiana public schools.
- Who qualifies and limits
- Current Louisiana National Guard members only.
For spouses and children
Title 29 In-State Tuition Exemption (La. R.S. 29:288 et seq.)
- What it covers
- Exemption from tuition at any Louisiana state college or university, incl. community and technical colleges; can be used with GI Bill benefits. Student has five years to obtain four years of education.
- Who qualifies and limits
- Living veterans: CHILDREN only (age 16-25), veteran rated 90-100% overall or 100% IU, veteran a Louisiana resident for 1+ year before the student starts; full-time attendance. Spouses qualify only if veteran is POW/MIA or deceased (separate rules for deceased veterans).
If you left the service 15 to 20 years ago
Nothing for veterans themselves. Children's exemption needs a 90%+ rating and only 1 year LA residency – no discharge deadline.
Who to contact
- State veterans agency
- Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs (LDVA)
- Education office
- LDVA Education (Title 29 benefit; State Approving Agency)
- State Approving Agency (approves schools and programs for the GI Bill)
- Louisiana State Approving Agency (Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs)
Sources we checked
- vetaffairs.la.gov/education/title-29
- vetaffairs.la.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Title29EligReqsLiving.pdf
- vetaffairs.la.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Title29ResidencyReqs.pdf
- myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Benefit-Library/State/Territory-Benefits/Louisiana
Federal benefits such as the GI Bill and VR&E are separate. See the FAQ and the GI Bill programs.