Ohio GI Promise
Upon moving to Ohio, veterans with one year of honorable service (and their dependents) are immediately considered in-state residents for the purposes of tuition, state educational subsidies and financial aid. Active duty, guard, reserve service members and their families are also eligible for this educational benefit.
On June 26, 2012, Gov. John R. Kasich signed into law House Bill 490, a bill that includes provisions which expands the in-state tuition benefit to the spouse or dependents of a deceased veteran, regardless of the location of the death or the veteran’s residence at the time of death.
The residency officer at each public institution has sole authority to request any documentation in order to make the final determination as to the qualifying residency status of any qualified veteran or dependent under the provisions of the Ohio GI Promise.
An Application for Resident Tuition Status Change must be accompanied by a copy of the veteran’s DD-214 (member copy 4). The application and the veteran's DD-214 must be submitted to the Enrollment, Financial and Career Services division no less than seven days prior to the start of the term.
CHOICE ACT
Public Law 113-146 and Ohio Revised Code section 333.31 stipulate that all public institutions of higher education must treat any federal GI Bill® ™ education program funding recipient as an in-state resident for the purposes of tuition. The service member or veteran must be using VA education benefits under Chapter 30 or Chapter 33 (Post 9/11 GI Bill®), have served at least 90 days on active duty and have separated, enrolled in a state institution of higher education, and lives in Ohio as of the first day of a term of enrollment in an institution of higher education.
A spouse or dependent is eligible, only while using benefits, if they are the recipient of the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry scholarship or Chapter 33 transfer of entitlement, are enrolled in a state institution of higher education, live in Ohio as of the first day of a term of enrollment in an institution of higher education, and the veteran’s period of active duty was at least 90 days and they have separated.
The Records Office will identify the qualified VA benefit user and will provide instructions on the requirements for the Application for Residency Tuition Status Change. An Application for Resident Tuition Status Change must be accompanied by a copy of the service member or veteran’s DD-214 (member copy 4) and proof of in-state residency. Once the student establishes 12 consecutive months of in-county residency, they are required to re-apply for Resident Tuition Status Change following established residency petition guidelines. Residency Petitions must be submitted no less than seven days prior to the start of the term. Contact the LCCC Records Office for any questions related to this policy at 440-366-4067.
Rudisill Decision and GI Bill® Benefit Entitlement
In April 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in Rudisill v. McDonough that clarified how veterans may use their education benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill® (MGIB, Chapter 30) and the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33).
As a result of this decision, eligible veterans who qualify separately for both programs may be entitled to receive up to a combined maximum of 48 months of education benefits, rather than being limited to 36 months when transferring from one program to the other. This ruling applies to veterans who earned eligibility under each program through distinct periods of qualifying military service.
Students who previously used MGIB benefits and later became eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits may now be eligible for additional months of entitlement, depending on their individual service history and prior usage.
Eligibility determinations and benefit calculations are made solely by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Students should contact VA directly to review their eligibility and request a benefits evaluation if they believe they may be affected by this decision.
For additional information, visit www.va.gov/education or call the VA Education Hotline at 1-888-GI-BILL-1.