Title 29 In-State Tuition Exemption (Veterans' Dependents)
Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs (LDVA)
Free tuition and school fees at Louisiana public colleges for children of 90-100% disabled or deceased veterans and for spouses/surviving spouses of qualifying veterans.
- How much
- Tuition and school-imposed fees waived at Louisiana public colleges
- Who qualifies
- Child, spouse or surviving spouse of a qualifying disabled, deceased, MIA or POW veteran
- Veteran residency: living veterans must have lived in Louisiana at least one year before the student starts; for deceased veterans, 12 months before entering service or before death, or permanent assignment to a Louisiana installation. No residency requirement for the child. Children 16-25; full-time attendance required.
- For students starting college, undergrads, grad students, trade school students, adults going back to school
- When to apply
- Apply any time No deadline; apply before enrolling (certificate needed by your school).
- How to apply
- Make an appointment with a veterans assistance counselor at your parish veterans service office (LDVA)
- They determine eligibility and send the certificate to LDVA, which mails it to you
- Take the certificate to your school's Title 29 office
- What you'll need
- state application
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (vetaffairs.la.gov), page 2, page 3 and page 4
The details
Under La. R.S. 29:288, eligible dependents attend any Louisiana public college or university (including community and technical colleges) without paying tuition, matriculation, registration, lab, athletic, medical and other school-imposed fees, including nonresident fees. Children (ages 16-25) qualify if the veteran is rated 90-100% service-connected disabled (or 100% unemployable) or died/was killed in service, is MIA/POW, or died of a wartime service-connected disability; spouses qualify if the veteran is MIA/POW, and surviving spouses of deceased qualifying veterans qualify (no age limit, must use within 10 years, remarriage ends eligibility). Students have five years to complete four years of education (children until they age out) and must attend full-time and meet the school's standards. More than 4,200 dependents currently use it; it can be combined with GI Bill benefits but not with the R.S. 17:1686 military-child scholarship.
More money from Louisiana
- TOPS Excellence AwardTuition and fees or $12,000 per year, whichever is less (public); tuition and fees or $8,500, whichever is less (LAICU private)
- Louisiana Geaux Teach Scholarship ProgramUp to $5,000 per year
- Louisiana GO Grant$300 minimum to $3,000 maximum per year (set by your school)
- Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship$2,000 per year (undergraduate); $3,000 per year (graduate); $12,000 cumulative maximum
- M.J. Foster Promise Program$3,200 per award year ($1,600 per semester) full-time; up to $6,400 total (full $6,400 in one year for certain high-cost programs)
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.