Military Personnel and Dependents

All Military-Affiliated Students

Military members (including national guard and reservists), veterans, and dependents (spouses, former spouses, and children) who are eligible for VA educational assistance or rehabilitation benefits are a Washington resident student.

All military-affiliated students are required to send supporting documentation to veterans@rtc.edu. The Residency Officers will confirm documentation with the Veterans Office, but may request the following documents:

  • Certificate of Eligibility.
  • DD-214.
  • Leave and Earning Statement (LES).
  • Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders.
  • Military ID.

All reclassifications will be accepted up to the 30th calendar day of the quarter. If all documentation required has not been submitted by the 30th calendar day, that request will be considered for the following quarter. Submitting documentation and any supporting information does not guarantee residency for tuition purposes. Residency is not retroactive and cannot be redetermined for a previous quarter. Residency Officers may ask for additional documentation or information to clarify residency status.

Current Military Members

If you meet the requirement(s), you are eligible for In-State Residency for Tuition Purposes:

  • Active-duty members stationed in Washington.
  • Starting June 9, 2022: Active-duty members who are stationed out-of-state after being stationed in Washington maintain resident student status as long as they are either:
    • Enrolled in a Washington institution prior to the reassignment and stay continuously enrolled after the reassignment or
    • Enroll in a Washington institution within three years of the date of reassignment.
  • Active-duty members who live in Washington and are stationed in an Oregon county that borders Washington.
  • Washington National Guard members (do not have to be on active duty).
  • Active-duty members or Washington national guard members stationed out-of-state who entered service as Washington residents and maintained their Washington domicile.

Military Veterans

If you meet the requirement(s), you are eligible for In-State Residency for Tuition Purposes:

  • Starting June 9, 2022: Veterans who had at least 10 years of honorable service and at least 90 days (of active-duty service (separation does not have to be from active duty).
    • This is for students who are not eligible for VA educational or rehabilitation benefits
    • They must enter school within three years of separation/retirement from the military
    • They do not need to live in Washington
    • They maintain resident student status as long as they stay continuously enrolled
    • Does not apply to veterans who have a dishonorable discharge from the uniformed services
  • Veterans who were discharged from the uniformed services due to sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.
    • They do not need to live in Washington
    • They do not need to enter school within a certain amount of time after separating from the military
    • They maintain resident student status as long as they stay continuously enrolled
    • Does not apply to veterans who have a dishonorable discharge from the uniformed services

Military Dependents

If you meet the requirement(s), you are eligible for In-State Residency for Tuition Purposes:

  • Spouses, state registered domestic partners, or dependents (as defined in Title 10 U.S.C. Sec. 1072(2)) of active duty members stationed in Washington or of Washington national guard members (national guard members do not have to be on active duty).
    • The student does not need to live in Washington
    • If the active-duty member or national guard member is stationed out-of-state, the student maintains resident student status as long as they are either:
      • Enrolled in a Washington institution prior to the reassignment and stay continuously enrolled after the reassignment or
      • Starting June 9, 2022: Enroll in a Washington institution within three years of the date of reassignment.
  • Spouses, state-registered domestic partners, or dependents (as defined in Title 10 U.S.C. Sec. 1072(2)) of active duty members or Washington national guard members stationed out-of-state who entered service as a Washington resident and maintained their Washington domicile. The student does not need to live in Washington.
  • Spouses, state-registered domestic partners and children under 26 of a veteran who separated or retired from the uniformed services with at least ten years of honorable service and at least 90 days of active duty service (separation/retirement does not have to be from active duty).  
    • This is for students who are not eligible for VA educational or rehabilitation benefits.
    • The student must enter school within three years of the veteran’s separation/retirement.
    • Neither the dependent nor the veteran need to live in Washington.
    • The student maintains resident student status as long as they stay continuously enrolled.
    • Does not apply if the veteran had a dishonorable discharge from the uniformed services.
  • People who live in Washington and are spouses or dependents of active-duty members who live in Washington and are stationed in an Oregon county that borders Washington. If the active-duty member moves out of Washington or is stationed outside of an Oregon county that borders Washington, the student maintains resident student status as long as they are either:
    • Enrolled in a Washington institution prior to the reassignment/move and stay continuously enrolled after the reassignment/move or
    • Admitted to an institution before the reassignment/move and enrolled in the institution for the term the student was admitted.