HELENA – Montana National Guard members will now be able to attend all schools in the Montana University System tuition-free starting next fall, thanks to a recent waiver policy approved by the state Board of Regents.
Most Guardsmen are now eligible for the federal tuition assistance program, the GI Bill and state-funded scholarships, which are given on a first-come, first-serve basis, state officials said. But these resources don’t cover total tuition costs.
The waiver in Montana will be used as a “last-dollar award,” making up the difference between the total cost and other grants and scholarships, officials said Tuesday.
Forty states now provide full tuition waivers to National Guard members, including Idaho, Wyoming, North Dakota, Washington, Colorado and Utah, officials said. The regents finalized the plan on Nov. 2 Friday. The Montana University System has 16 public universities and colleges, enrolling more than 44,000 students each semester.
Roger Hagan, legislative advocate for Montana National Guard Association and the Enlisted Association of National Guard of Montana, said the move by the state has been a long time in coming.
“This is very good news,” he said Tuesday.
Gov. Steve Bullock said the tuition waiver is a way for the state to show gratitude for those who serve.
“Montana is honored to strive to make good on our promises by providing greater opportunity to access a quality education right here in our Montana University System,” he said in a news release.