The Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) is a Commonwealth of Virginia program that provides education benefits to spouses and children of qualifying veterans who have been rated by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (USDVA) as totally and permanently disabled or at least 90 percent permanently disabled as a result of military service or qualifying military service members killed, missing in action, taken prisoner, or who have been rated by the USDVA as totally and permanently disabled or at least 90 percent permanently disabled as a direct result of involvement in covered military combat.
Scholarship Details
- Provides tuition and mandatory fee waivers at Virginia public colleges and universities
- Includes a stipend to offset other educational costs
- Available for up to eight semesters (four academic years)
- Administered by the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (VDVS)
- Benefits applied by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and participating institutions
Eligibility Criteria
- Spouses and children of qualifying veterans or service members
- Veterans must be rated by the USDVA as totally and permanently disabled or at least 90 percent permanently disabled due to military service
- Eligibility also extends to dependents of service members killed in action, missing in action, taken prisoner, or disabled as a result of covered military combat
- Service must include duty in the United States Armed Forces, Armed Forces Reserves, or Virginia National Guard
- Applicants must meet Virginia residency requirements
Application Process
- Visit the Virginia Department of Veterans Services website to access the VMSDEP application
- Submit documentation proving eligibility, such as military service records and VA disability ratings
- Complete residency verification and enrollment with a Virginia public college or university
- Await certification of eligibility from the Virginia Department of Veterans Services
- Once certified, coordinate with your school to apply the tuition waiver and receive the stipend
Evidence showing the qualifying Veteran meets the domiciliary requirement as defined in the Code of Virginia § 23.1-608 is required if Virginia is not listed as the Home of Record Upon Entry on the item used to show Proof of Military Service.
