Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP)
Waives tuition and mandatory fees for up to eight semesters at a Virginia public college, university, or Eastern Virginia Medical School for spouses and children of severely disabled or deceased veterans and service members. A stipend for costs like housing and books may also be available, set annually based on funding.
Who it is for
Spouses and children age 16 to 29 of a military service member who was killed, went missing, was taken prisoner, or was rated by the VA as totally and permanently disabled or at least 90 percent permanently disabled from military service. Virginia must have been the service member's home of record for at least five years before applying.
Focus: Surviving spouses and families, Veterans with disabilities
Before you start
How you apply: Apply through your state.
DVS certifies whether you qualify. Once certified, the college or university you attend applies the tuition waiver and any stipend.
How to apply
- Contact DVS at 844-838-7838 or vmsdep@dvs.virginia.gov to start the eligibility certification process.
- Once DVS certifies you, work with the veterans or financial aid office at the Virginia public college or university you plan to attend.
- Reapply or renew certification each year you use the benefit, since the stipend amount and available funding are set annually.
Deadline: There is no single fixed application deadline. Apply for DVS certification as early as possible before the term you plan to enroll, since colleges need certification on file before applying the waiver. (Rolling, apply any time)
Verified as of 2026-07-05. Resources are checked periodically against their official source. Details, amounts, and deadlines change. Confirm the current information on the official page before you rely on it.