The Wisconsin GI Bill provides full tuition and segregated fee remission for eligible veterans and their dependents for up to eight semesters or 128 credits, whichever is greater, at any University of Wisconsin System or Wisconsin Technical College System school. This is a state-funded program and is separate from the federal GI Bill®.
Supporting Veterans and Their Families with Higher Education
The Wisconsin GI Bill provides a waiver of tuition and fees, administered by participating University of Wisconsin (UW) System institutions and Wisconsin Technical Colleges. For more details, visit:
Eligibility – Veteran Students
The veteran must be a current Wisconsin resident and currently living in Wisconsin at time of applying who was either:
- A Wisconsin resident at time of entry (or re-entry) into active-duty service (Home of Record WI)
- A Wisconsin resident for at least five consecutive years preceding the beginning of any semester or session for which he or she registers at a qualifying institution
The veteran must have been discharged under honorable conditions from active duty in the U.S. armed forces and meet at least one of the following:
- Served on active duty for at least 90 days during a war period
- Served on active duty for 2 consecutive years (or full period initial service obligation) during peace time
- Was discharged due to:
- A service-connected disability
- A disability subsequently adjudicated to have been service-connected
- Hardship
- Reduction in force
- Served on active duty under Executive Order 10957 (August 10, 1961)
- Received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Navy Expeditionary Medal, the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal or an equivalent expeditionary medal
- Served in a designated crisis zone
Eligibility – Spouse/Child Students
The veteran must meet one of the following residency requirements:
- A Wisconsin resident at time of entry (or re-entry) into active-duty service (Home of Record WI)
- A current Wisconsin resident and has been a Wisconsin resident for at least five consecutive years preceding the beginning of any semester or session for which the person’s spouse or child registers at an institution
- A Wisconsin resident at time of entry (or re-entry) into active-duty service (Home of Record WI) and who was a Wisconsin resident when they died as a result of one of the following:
- died on active duty
- died as the result of a service-connected disability
- died in the line of duty while on active or inactive duty for training purposes
- A Wisconsin resident for at least five consecutive years after the person attained the age of 18 and was a Wisconsin resident when they died as the result of one of the following:
- died on active duty
- died as the result of a service-connected disability
- died in the line of duty while on active or inactive duty for training purposes
The veteran must meet one following disability requirements:
- Has held at some point at least a 30% VA service-connected disability rating
- Died in the line of duty
- Died as the result of a service-connected disability
Note: The child of an eligible veteran must be at least 17 but not yet 26 years old.
Note: the spouse or child must meet the school’s “residency for tuition purposes” requirements.
Military Service Requirements
The veteran must have:
- Served 90+ days during wartime OR 2+ continuous years (or full initial obligation) during peacetime.
- Been honorably discharged due to:
- A service-connected disability.
- A subsequent adjudicated service-connected disability.
- Force reduction.
- Served in a designated crisis zone or received an eligible expeditionary/service medal.
- If a spouse or child is requesting certification as the student, the veteran only needs one day of active duty or active duty for training.
How to Apply
Complete one of the following options to apply for the Wisconsin GI Bill.
- Visit MyWisVets.com and create an account.
- Enter required information and complete the privacy agreement.
- Upload a copy of your DD-214 reflecting your Character of Service.
- If the Home of Record on your DD-214 is not Wisconsin, upload proof of Wisconsin residency (e.g. Wisconsin state income tax filings, Wisconsin voting records, Wisconsin driver’s license or DMV driver’s license history, etc.).
- If applying for a spouse or child, upload proof of your VA disability rating.
- Wait for an initial eligibility evaluation to be conducted, after which you will be notified via email.
- After your eligibility has been evaluated, you can submit requests to add dependents to your account. Upload a copy of your marriage certificate to add a spouse or a copy of your child’s birth certificate or social security card to add a child.
- Review your eligibility matrix that identifies the individual benefits for which you qualify.
- If you are eligible for the Wisconsin GI Bill, click Apply Online Now to submit your application.
- Apply by completing and submitting the WDVA Form 2030 (Wisconsin GI Bill Request for Certification). Provide the following documentation in addition to the WDVA 2030:
- A copy of the veteran’s DD-214 reflecting Character of Service.
- If the Home of Record on the veteran’s DD-214 is not Wisconsin, provide proof of Wisconsin residency.
- If applying for a spouse or child, provide proof of the veteran’s VA disability rating.
- If applying for a spouse, provide a copy of the marriage certificate.
- Submit this documentation to WDVA via:
- Email to Records@dva.wisconsin.gov
- Fax to (608) 267-0403
- Mail to Wisconsin Department of Veteran Affairs, Att. Veterans Benefits Resource Center, PO Box 7843, Madison WI 53707-7843
After You Apply
Applying for the Wisconsin GI Bill is a two-part process:
- WDVA Certification: If determined eligible, WDVA will send the WDVA 2031 (Wisconsin GI Bill Certification) to the veteran.
- Once approved by WDVA, the student does not need to complete another application even if changing educational institutions within the University of Wisconsin System or Wisconsin Technical College System. Please complete step 2 (below) for any school where you wish to use the Wisconsin GI Bill
- School Determination: Contact the Veteran Certifying Official at the school where the student plans to use the Wisconsin GI Bill and submit the WDVA Form 2029 (Schools’ Application for Wisconsin GI Bill).
Please note, the school may require additional documentation and proof of Wisconsin residency to verify the student’s eligibility. The student must qualify for residency for tuition purposes in order to use the Wisconsin GI Bill. WDVA does not verify the student meets this requirement; please contact the Veteran Certifying Official with any questions about the school’s requirements.
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