Virginia Department of Veterans Services – Education
The following information is located at the Virginia Department of Veterans Services website http://www.dvs.virginia.gov/veterans-benefits.shtml .
Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program
The Military Survivors and Dependents Program (MSDEP) provides education benefits to spouses and children of military service members killed, missing in action, taken prisoner, or who became at least 90 percent disabled as a result of military service in an armed conflict. Military service includes service in the United States Armed Forces, United States Armed Forces Reserves, the Virginia National Guard, or the Virginia National Guard Reserves. Armed conflict includes military operations against terrorism or as the result of a terrorist act, a peace-keeping mission, or any armed conflict after December 6, 1941. This program may pay for tuition and fees at any state-supported college or university. This program waives tuition and fees in Virginia. Benefits are available for up to four years.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible, children and spouses of qualifying military service members must meet the following requirements.
- The child must be between ages 16 and 29; There are no age restrictions for spouses.
- The military service member is and must have been a Virginia citizen at the time he/she entered active duty or must have been a Virginia citizen for at least five years immediately prior to the date of the application for admission.
- In the case of a deceased military service member the veteran's surviving spouse can meet the residency requirements if he/she lived in Virginia for at least five years prior to marrying the military service member or has been a citizen of Virginia for at least five years immediately prior to the date of application.
Required Documentation
In most cases, eligibility will be determined using documentation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. However, the veteran or surviving spouse may be asked to provide documentation verifying residency or the applicant's age or relationship. State income tax records, birth certificates, and/or marriage certificates are usually sufficient.
Recertification
To continue receiving MSDEP benefits, qualifying enrolled students must provide a letter to the Virginia Department of Veterans Services stating their continued enrollment, the period of time attended, and the period of time for which they are requesting benefits.
Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program FAQs (PDF) (38KB)
Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program Application (PDF) (251KB)
For More Information
To learn more about the VMSDE program,Phone: (540) 597-1730
Voice: (540) 875-7573
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Virginia Department of Veterans Services
270 Franklin Road, S.W., 8th Floor
Roanoke, VA 24011
Honorary Diplomas
Veteran Honorary High School Diplomas recognize the life experiences of veterans who were unable to complete their high school education because of service in the armed forces during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Since the first honorary diplomas were issued in 2001, more than 1,000 have been awarded to veterans of these three wars.
To obtain an honorary diploma, a veteran may submit a statement to the Veterans Education Unit of the Virginia Department of Education describing his/her service, the location of the last school attended, and affirming that he/she was unable to complete high school upon return to civilian life. The guidelines also allow family members and veterans' organizations to submit this information on behalf of the veteran.
Veterans Honorary High School Diploma Program
Virginia Department of Education
P. O. Box 2120
Richmond, Virginia 23218-2120
Find out more at the Virginia Department of Education.
