USM is proud to offer in-state tuition rates to all veterans and active duty service members⁠—even if they are not residents of Maine⁠—if they provide one of the following documents:

  • VA Certificate of Eligibility
  • DD-214 (Honorable Discharge)
  • Military ID/CAC

Every student accessing VA educational benefits is encouraged to fill out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), as your VA educational benefits are not factored in when reviewing your income. To apply, visit the FAFSA website.

Benefits Available to Veterans, Service Members, and their Families

You may qualify for one or more of the following benefits. To find out more, or how to use that benefit to finance your education at USM, click below.

The GI Bill® includes Post-9/11 benefits (including Transfer of Entitlement), Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E), Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA), and the Montgomery Active Duty and Selected Reserves chapters.

For specific support using your VA benefits at USM, check out our step-by-step GI Bill® guide.

Every student VA educational benefits is encouraged to fill out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), as your VA educational benefits are not factored in when reviewing your income. To apply, visit the FAFSA website.

If you are currently drilling in the Guard or Reserves, you may be eligible for Tuition Assistance (TA) in addition to any VA educational benefits. Please contact the education liaison at your unit or squadron for more information on applying for TA. Funds received for TA are considered when applying for federal aid.

The state of Maine provides a 100% waiver of tuition and mandatory fees for eligible dependents attending a public college or university in Maine (University of Maine System, Maine Community College System, or Maine Maritime Academy).

If you are:

  • a dependent (spouse or child) of a veteran who
    • has a 100% disability rating, or
    • died during service, or
    • died from a service-connected disability, and
  • the veteran, if living, has lived in Maine for 5 years or joined the service from Maine and currently lives here,

you may be eligible for VDEB.

If you live in Maine and are eligible for VA Chapter 35 (DEA) benefits, it’s a good idea to apply. Access the application on the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services website.

Important notes:

  • To use this benefit, you MUST apply for FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) each year.
  • You must be enrolled in a degree or certificate program.
  • This benefit waives tuition and fees for up to 120 credits; a standard bachelor’s degree.
  • This benefit requires the dependent to maintain a 2.0 GPA each term
  • Spouses of the veteran can use the benefit up to a graduate (Master’s) level program.
  • Children of the veteran can use the benefit up to an undergraduate (Bachelor’s) level program.

Are you interested in being a commissioned officer? USM participates in ROTC, which also provides scholarships. For more information, visit the ROTC website.

The University of Southern Maine offers several veteran-specific scholarships:

Non-USM military scholarships can be found here:

Non-military-connected scholarships can be found at the following websites:

Please note that some outside scholarships may affect your VA or federal financial aid benefits. Please contact the Student Financial Services office for more information on your financial aid package, if applicable.

If you are receiving an outside scholarship and you are a Chapter 33 (Post 9/11 GI Bill®) recipient, please contact M.A.S.H. to see if the scholarship will affect your GI Bill benefits.

A Note on Delayed VA Payment

The University of Southern Maine will not deny a student access to classrooms, libraries or other institutional facilities, make the student borrow money to cover the cost while waiting for payment from the VA or charge a student a late fee or penalty while we are awaiting payment from the VA for tuition and fees. If the balance due is not related to tuition and fees, USM may implement the same holds or penalties that apply to students not using Chapter 33 or Chapter 31 benefits.

The University of Southern Maine requires that students wishing to use their Chapter 33 or Chapter 31 benefits submit a request for certification online. In addition to this request, students are also required to submit a Certificate of Eligibility, a Form 1905 or a Statement of Benefit from the VA no later than the first day of classes.

This policy is written to comply with Section 103, PL 115-407 and ends when the VA makes payment or 90 days after the date the school certifies or invoices for tuition and fees provided the student submitted the required request for certification and required documentation outlining benefit eligibility.