Tuition and Fee Waiver for Children and Spouses of Officers, Firefighters and Military Killed in the Line of Duty
West Virginia state institutions of higher education (W. Va. Code 18B-10-7)
Free tuition and fees at West Virginia public colleges for children and spouses of WV law-enforcement, corrections, parole/probation, natural resources police officers, firefighters, and WV National Guard/reserve/active-duty members killed in the line of duty.
- How much
- Full tuition and fees (after other tuition-dedicated grant aid)
- Who qualifies
- Child or spouse of a WV law-enforcement/corrections/parole/probation/natural resources police officer or firefighter, or WV-resident National Guard/reserve/active-duty member, killed in the line of duty
- Admitted to a WV public institution; FAFSA filed; other tuition-dedicated aid applied first; undergraduate courses, space available.
- For students starting college, undergrads
- When to apply
- Apply any time No statewide deadline; request through the college's financial aid office before the term.
- How to apply
- Apply and be admitted to a West Virginia public college or university, file the FAFSA, and ask the college's financial aid office about the line-of-duty tuition waiver (W
- Va
- Code 18B-10-7) with documentation of the parent's or spouse's death in the line of duty
- What you'll need
- FAFSA only
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (code.wvlegislature.gov)
The details
Each state institution of higher education must waive tuition and fees for the child or spouse of: a law-enforcement officer, state correctional officer, parole officer, probation officer, natural resources police officer or registered firefighter (including volunteer firefighters serving a WV political subdivision) killed in the line of duty while employed by the state or a political subdivision; or a West Virginia-resident National Guard or reserve member killed in the line of duty, or a West Virginia resident on federal or state active military duty killed in the line of duty. Conditions: admitted to the institution; FAFSA filed; other tuition-and-fee-dedicated aid used first (loans excluded); renewal requires satisfactory academic progress. Undergraduate courses on a space-available basis. Lab, special course and parking fees may still be charged.
More money from West Virginia
- West Virginia PROMISE ScholarshipUp to $5,500 per year (or tuition and mandatory fees, whichever is less)
- West Virginia Higher Education GrantUp to $3,400 per year at eligible West Virginia schools; up to $600 per year at eligible Pennsylvania schools (2026-27)
- Future Workforce Grant (formerly HEAPS Workforce)Up to $2,000 per academic year
- Reduced Tuition for Senior Citizens (60 and older)Non-credit: up to $50 per course; for credit: no more than 50% of normal resident tuition and fees
- West Virginia Invests GrantTuition, mandatory fees and approved academic program fees not covered by other grants or waivers (last-dollar)
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia
- 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.