North Carolina 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
Broad children's scholarship; no veteran tuition benefit.
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
No state education benefit for veterans was found beyond federal GI Bill benefits. Check with the agency below.
For spouses and children
NC Scholarship for Children of Wartime Veterans (G.S. 143B-1224 to -1226)
- What it covers
- Eight academic semesters within 8 years at NC schools. Amount depends on class (I-A, I-B, II, III, IV). Class details are in the statute.
- Who qualifies and limits
- Child under 25 and an NC resident/domiciliary. Veteran parent was an NC resident at entry, OR the child was born in NC and has lived there continuously. Parent was a wartime veteran (incl. Persian Gulf War, Aug 2, 1990 to present). Classes: KIA/died of service causes; 100% service-connected; 20-99% or Purple Heart; P&T pension, deceased, or combat-zone service with campaign medal; POW/MIA. The Fall 2026 portal is closed.
If you left the service 15 to 20 years ago
Nothing for veterans themselves found. The children's scholarship has a broad class for combat-zone service with a campaign medal, so a 2006-era combat veteran's kids under 25 may qualify.
Who to contact
- State veterans agency
- NC Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA)
- State Approving Agency (approves schools and programs for the GI Bill)
- North Carolina State Approving Agency (within NC DMVA)
Sources we checked
- milvets.nc.gov/benefits-services/scholarships
- ncleg.gov/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bysection/chapter_143b/gs_
- ncleg.net/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bysection/chapter_143b/gs_
Federal benefits such as the GI Bill and VR&E are separate. See the FAQ and the GI Bill programs.