Financial Aid - Fee Waivers
Fee waivers are administered by the Financial Aid Office. For all students, inquiries should be directed to the Financial Aid Office. All fee 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. Fee waivers do not require repayment. Fee waivers are state funded and require Montana residency status with the exception of the faculty/staff fee waiver.
Honorably Discharged Veterans’ Fee Waiver
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Tuition shall be waived for certain honorably discharged persons who served with the United States Armed Forces in specified time periods and are currently residents of the State of Montana according to the Board of Regents residency policy. A provision of this policy states that the fee waiver shall not apply to persons who qualify under federal laws granting educational benefits to veterans. Application forms are available from the Financial Aid Office. Recipients of this fee waiver are subject to satisfactory academic progress requirements. Fee waivers are available for War Orphans and dependents of prisoners of war. Direct inquiries to the Financial Aid Office.
Indian Student Fee Waiver
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This waives tuition each semester and is awarded by the Financial Aid Office to students who submit documentation that they are at least 1/4 American Indian, complete an affidavit stating that 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 fee waiver must file a FAFSA, complete their financial aid file, and complete the fee waiver application available in the Financial Aid Office. Recipients of this fee waiver are subject to satisfactory academic progress requirements.
Montana Senior Citizen Fee Waiver
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Tuition shall be waived for students classified as in-state residents for fee purposes and who are at least 65 years of age at 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 Fee Waiver application.
Surviving Dependents of Montana Firefighters/Peace Officers Fee Waiver
Tuition shall be waived for the surviving spouse or child of any Montana firefighter or peace officer killed in the course and scope of employment. This waiver shall not apply to the extent that any person is 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 fee waiver are subject to satisfactory academic progress requirements.
Faculty and Staff Fee Waiver
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All fees, except registration and building fees, shall be waived for a maximum of 6 credits per term for permanent Montana University System employees who are employed at least 3/4-time during the entire period of enrollment. Application forms are available from the Financial Aid Office.
Dependent Fee Waiver
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All employees who have been employed at least ¾ time for at least five years without a break in service are eligible for a dependent waiver benefit. The employee must remain employed for the entire time during which the tuition waiver is utilized. Eligible jointly employed spouses may utilize the dependent tuition waiver benefit for two children at one time but any one child may not receive more than a 50% tuition waiver under the dependent tuition waiver policy. Applications for the dependent tuition waiver benefit are to be initiated by the employee or the employee’s dependent. Employees who do not submit a timely application for a dependent tuition waiver may be denied the dependent tuition waiver benefit.
Employees will be required to sign a statement verifying
- that they are not utilizing the tuition waiver for themselves, and
- the child utilizing the tuition waiver is claimed as a dependent for federal tax purposes, is unmarried and has not reached age 25 as of the first day of the semester for which the tuition waiver is granted; or
- the employee is married to the spouse utilizing the tuition waiver. Documentation that a dependent has been claimed in the tax year the benefit is used may be required for audit purposes or in cases of suspected misuse. False certification of dependent eligibility for the tuition waiver is cause for discharge and the employee shall be required to repay the cost of the tuition waiver.
The dependent tuition waiver benefit is a 50% reduction in the cost of residential tuition. This benefit is not taxable. In no case may registration, course fees, or any other mandatory fee be waived. There is no limitation on the number of credits that may be taken per semester under the tuition waiver benefit. Contact the Financial Aid Office for additional information.
