College Fee Waiver Program (Cal Vet)

California offers a College Fee Waiver Program (CalVet) to children and dependents of service-connected disabled or service-related deceased veterans. This program is administered by the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CDVA).

This fee waiver applies only at California State Universities, University of California campuses and California Community Colleges. Benefits are awarded on an "academic year" basis, and students are required to reapply each year for continued benefits.

Eligibility Requirements

  1. Have a parent who is a disabled veteran (0% or more disabled); or
  2. Have a spouse who is service-connected (S/C) deceased or rated 100% S/C disabled.
  3. Be a child earning less than $11,702 in 2011 (student's income, not parents'). Note: there is no income limit for a spouse or children of S/C deceased or 100% S/C veterans.
    Note: there is no income limit for a spouse or children of S/C deceased or 100% S/C veterans.
  4. Attend a California Community College, California State University, or a University of California school.
  5. Provide proof of the student's relationship to the veteran such as a copy of a birth or marriage certificate.

If you have questions regarding eligibility requirements and or need assistance in applying for these valuable benefits, please contact your local County Veterans Service Office or call CDVA at 916-653-2573.

Application Procedures

  1. Download the College Fee Waiver Program application [pdf] [pdf].
  2. Submit the form to your local County Veterans Service Office.
  3. If you are eligible, an Authorization Letter will be mailed to you. Photocopy your Authorization Letter and email to: veterans@sjsu.edu or bring the copy to the Veterans Resource Center.

Important note: the CalVet fee waiver is awarded for one academic year. Students must reapply each year for continued benefits. To avoid a disruption in the benefit, is is strongly suggested that students reapply every April so the benefit is in place when registering for Fall classes.

What fees are waived by the CalVet benefit?

The CalVet benefit will only waive the Mandatory State University Tuition fee. Students are responsible for paying the SJSU campus fees, parking permits, course fees, books and other optional services.

Visit the Bursar's Office website for more information about fees.

What semester or terms are covered by the CalVet Fee Waiver?

The CalVet Fee Waiver will waive the Mandatory State University Tuition fee for a matriculated student for the Fall and Spring semesters (courses must be REGULAR SESSION Enrollment which are State funded-Not Special Session enrollment).  It will NOT cover Campus Fees, you will be responsible for covering those.

The following enrollment periods DO NOT qualify for the CalVet Fee Waiver:

  • Winter Session (January)
  • Summer / Special Sessions (Please note: Special Session MLIS students have the option to switch to regular session to be eligible for the fee waiver. After being switched to regular session, they can only take classes in fall and spring semesters for the waiver. Summer classes in the School of Information are only offered in special session.)
  • Open University students/courses