Waivers:
Students who have received a Purple Heart are eligible for tuition and fee waivers for Florida military veterans who have received a Purple Heart OR combat decoration that is “superior in precedence.”
- Purple Heart
- Bronze Star (must be “V” designation or device)
- Distinguished Flying Cross
- Legion of Merit (must be “V” designation or device)
- Silver Star
- Air Force Cross
- Navy Cross
- Distinguished Service Cross
- Medal of Honor
To be eligible, you must prove you are a current resident for tuition purposes. The Purple Heart Waiver covers the tuition and fees toward a degree or certificate program up to 110% of the required hours for the program of study. An eligible student enrolled in any associate degree, baccalaureate degree, or career and technical certificate program at a Florida College System institution would qualify.
Service members and honorably discharged Veterans who were awarded a Purple Heart on or after September 11, 2001, will be entitled to Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits at the 100-percent benefit level for up to 36 months. This is effective on August 1, 2018.
Purple heart waiver requests are handled through the FSW Cashier Office.
Out of State Fee Waiver for Veterans and Other Eligible Students
To be considered a Florida Resident for tuition purposes a student would usually have to be a resident of Florida for a full year before the start of the term. If you have not been a Florida resident for at least a year or cannot provide adequate documentation to prove this the State of Florida allows for us to waive the out of state fees for recently separated veterans and those using VA Education benefits.
Florida SouthWestern State College shall waive out-of-state fees for honorably discharged veterans of the United States Armed and Reserve Forces (Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, and Navy) and the National Guard (Army and Air) or any other student who is entitled to and uses educational assistance provided by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs who physically resides in Florida while enrolled as a degree or certificate-seeking student.
Please complete the form and return to the Office of Admissions, along with appropriate documentation to receive this waiver. Evidence of eligibility may include:
- Proof of physical residence in Florida (Ex. driver’s license, state I.D., lease agreement, utility bill)
- Military separation documentation such as the most recent Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (i.e., D.D. Form 214) to demonstrate veteran and discharge status.
- Documentation from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs that the student requesting the out-of-state fee waiver is eligible for educational assistance.