Tuition Waivers

Tuition Waivers are administered by the Financial Aid Office. For all students, inquiries should be directed to the Financial Aid Office. All waivers are based on financial need as a criterion whenever possible, except for honor scholarships for National Merit Scholarship semifinalists, high school honor scholarships, and faculty and staff fee waivers. Waivers do not require repayment. Waivers are state funded and require Montana residency status with the exception of the faculty/staff fee waiver.

American Indian Waiver

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Tuition is waived for students who submit documentation showing they are at least 1/4 American Indian or are an enrolled member of a state or federally recognized Indian tribe located within the State of Montana, complete an affidavit stating they have been bona fide residents of the State of Montana for at least one year prior to enrollment in the Montana University System, and demonstrate financial need by completing the FAFSA. Applicants for this tuition waiver must file a FAFSA, complete their financial aid file, and complete the tuition waiver application available in the Financial Aid Office. Recipients of this tuition waiver are subject to satisfactory academic progress requirements.

Department of Corrections Partial Tuition Waiver

Residents of a Montana youth correctional facility who have been recommended by the Montana Department of Corrections may receive a $500 tuition waiver per semester (maximum $1,000/year). Awards are limited to five new waivers each year and given on a first-come, first-served basis. Students must complete the waiver application form and attach a letter of recommendation from the Montana Department of Corrections. Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress for financial aid purposes for continued eligibility. Failure to meet those requirements will result in permanent revocation of the waiver. Contact the Financial Aid Office to apply.

Dependent Waiver

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Employees of the Montana University System will be eligible for a partial tuition waiver benefit for their dependents.

Employee/Dependent Eligibility: Employees must be employed at least ¾ time for 120 calendar days (e.g., four months) before being eligible for a dependent tuition waiver benefit. Eligibility begins at the start of the first full academic semester or summer session that follows the 120-day waiting period. Up to two dependents may utilize the dependent tuition waiver simultaneously in an academic term. Employees who utilize the faculty and staff waiver are eligible for a single (one) dependent waiver during the same academic term. Employees must be employed at least ¾ time during the entire academic term (e.g., semester or summer session) in which a dependent utilizes the waiver in order to receive the benefit of the waiver. A dependent includes the employee’s spouse or adult dependent, as defined in the MUS Employee Benefits Plan, and financially dependent children as defined by the Internal Revenue Code who are unmarried and under age 25.

Dependent Tuition Waiver Benefit: The tuition waiver benefit for dependents shall be for 50% of the residential tuition. In no case may registration, course fees or any other mandatory or miscellaneous fees be waived. Dependents may utilize the tuition waiver benefit to take courses at a two-year college that is affiliated with either Montana State University or the University of Montana or in any other two-year or certificate programs and to obtain a first baccalaureate degree at any unit of the university system. Dependents may not use the tuition waiver benefit to attend law school or obtain a graduate degree. The tuition waiver does not apply to non-credit, continuing education or other self-supporting courses.

Faculty and Staff Waiver

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Tuition and some fees are waived for a maximum of 6 credits per term for permanent Montana University System employees who are employed at least ¾ time during the entire period of enrollment. Registration, building, program, required course fees, and other non-mandatory fees are not waived and remain the responsibility of the employee. Application forms are available from the Financial Aid Office.

Honorably Discharged Veteran Waiver

An Undergraduate or Graduate student who is a Honorably Discharged Veteran from the United States Armed forces is eligible for a tuition waiver provided the student meets the following criteria:

• Is a resident of the State of Montana (per BOR Policy 940.1) and is attending a MUS qualifying campus;
• Has received an Honorable discharge (Honorable Under General Conditions will not be accepted) for service in active duty for other than training purposes; 
• Has elected to become eligible for V.A. education benefits under Title 38, Title 10, of the U.S. Code but benefits have expired or were exhausted;
• Has applied for the waiver no later than the third week of the first semester for which the waiver is being requested;
• Maintains reasonable academic progress in accordance with the campus’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy used in administering federal financial aid; and
•  Has an outstanding tuition balance after applying all other sources of aid.

The MT Honorably Discharged Veteran Tuition Waiver is a last dollar award and is calculated based on the in-state tuition rate. ALL federal, state and private grants and/or scholarships sent to the campus on behalf of the student, must be deducted from tuition before the waiver is applied. Waivers will only be applied if there is an outstanding tuition balance after all other sources of aid have been applied.

Click here for more details and application instructions. 

Montana National Guard Tuition Waiver

Tuition is waived for members of the MT National Guard who have an outstanding tuition balance after all other sources of aid are applied. The MT National Guard Tuition Waiver is a last dollar award and is calculated based on the in-state tuition rate. ALL federal, state and private grants and/or scholarships sent to the campus on behalf of the student, must be deducted from tuition before the waiver can be applied and waivers will only be applied if there is an outstanding tuition balance (see example in link below). GI Bill benefits are not included in the tuition waiver award calculation.  Click here for more details and application instructions.

Montana Senior Citizen Waiver

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Tuition is waived for students classified as Montana residents for fee purposes at least 65 years of age at the time of registration. To apply, students must submit a copy of their driver’s license or state ID card to the Financial Aid Office, along with the Senior Citizen Tuition Waiver application.

Surviving Dependents of Montana Firefighters/Peace Officers Waiver

Tuition is waived for the surviving spouse or child of any Montana firefighter or peace officer killed in the course and scope of employment. This waiver does not apply to any person eligible for educational benefits from any governmental or private benefits program that provides comparable benefits. To apply, please contact the Financial Aid Office. Recipients of this waiver are subject to satisfactory academic progress requirements.

War Orphans Waiver

Tuition is waived for those students, aged 25 or under, whose parent was a member of the armed forces of the United States who served on active duty during World War II, the Korean, Vietnam, Iraq or Afghanistan conflicts; such members of the armed forces must have been Montana residents at the time of entry into service and must have been killed in action or died as a result of combat related injury, disease, or other disability while in the service.  To apply, please contact the Financial Aid Office. Recipients of this waiver are subject to satisfactory academic progress requirements.