UTRGV - Financial Aid Office
The Hazlewood Act is a State of Texas benefit that provides qualified Veterans, spouses, and dependent children with an education benefit of up to 150 hours of tuition exemption, including most fee charges, at public institutions of higher education in Texas. This does NOT include living expenses, books, or supply fees.
The student is always responsible for paying the 'Student Service Fee' and any other fees not covered by Hazlewood by the payment deadline for the applicable term.
All students who wish to receive Hazlewood Act Benefits (including Veterans, Dependents, and Legacy children) must complete an initial application with the necessary supporting documents when applying for the first time at UTRGV. For students continuing their enrollment in the following years, Veterans, Spouses, and Dependent Children only need to submit a renewal application. However, Legacy Children must submit a new initial application each year to confirm that the Veteran has authorized them to continue using the benefits.
Students who are receiving Hazlewood benefits for the Fall and/or Spring semesters and wish to use the exemption during the Summer sessions must submit a renewal application once Summer registration opens.
A Veteran must meet all the eligibility requirements as drawn from the Hazlewood Act Statute and 40 Texas Administrative Code §461:
- At the time of entry into active duty of the U.S. Armed Forces
- designated Texas as Home of Record;
- or entered the service in Texas;
- or was a Texas resident;
- Have received an honorable discharge or separation or a general discharge under honorable conditions as indicated on the Veteran’s Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty,
- Served at least 181 days of active duty service (excluding training);
- Currently reside in Texas;
- Have no federal Veteran’s education benefits, or have no federal Veterans education benefits dedicated to the payment of tuition and fees only (such as Chapter 33 or 31; for term or semester enrolled that do not exceed the value of Hazlewood benefits;
- Not be in default on a student loan made or guaranteed by the State of Texas;
- Enroll in classes for which the college receives tax support (i.e., a course that does not depend solely on student tuition and fees to cover its cost), unless the college’s governing board has ruled to let Veterans receive the benefit while taking non-funded courses; and
- Meet the GPA requirement of the institution’s satisfactory academic progress policy in a degree or certificate program as determined by the institution’s financial aid policy and, as an undergraduate student, not be considered to have attempted an excessive amount of credit hours.
* View all Cost of Attendance components.
Veterans who are granted their first Hazlewood Act exemption beginning fall, 2011 must reside in Texas during the semester or term for which the exemption is claimed. This requirement does not apply to the Veterans who either received the exemption prior to the 2011-2012 academic year, have reenlisted into active duty, or reside with a spouse who is on active duty.
- Initial Hazlewood Application
- Sections A, C, and D must be complete
- Must have handwritten signature (not typed) on Part D
- Veterans DD- 214 Form (Member-4 copy
- Character of Service must be included
- Certificate of Eligibility for GI Bill® Benefits
- Required if the Veteran served on or after 9/11/2001
- Eligibility or ineligibility letter must be submitted
- How To Apply For The GI Bill And Related Benefits | Veterans Affairs
- Registration with the Texas Veterans Commission
- Provide a printout of the Veteran’s logged hours
- Login for Veterans and Students - TVC Hazlewood
Note: Applications and all supporting documentation must be received by the institution no later than the last day of class to be considered for the current semester or term. General Academic Calendar | UTRGV
NOTICE: Students should submit documents to Hazlewood@utrgv.edu, via document central or in person at U Central in Edinburg or Brownsville. All Hazlewood applications and/or documents submitted to our office for review, will be processed within 7-10 business days, if further clarification is required, we will contact the student via email.
Contact us! If you need assistance, please contact the Financial Aid Office at: Hazlewood@utrgv.edu, by phone at 956-882-4026 or visiting U-Central (Brownsville or Edinburg). In addition, information is available by visiting the Texas Veterans Commission website at Hazlewood Act ⋆ Texas Education Benefit ⋆ Texas Veterans Commission.
Eligible Veterans may assign or transfer unused hours of exemption eligibility to a child under certain conditions as drawn from the Hazlewood Act Statute and 40 Texas Administrative Code §461
- Be classified by the institution as a Texas resident;
- Be the biological child, stepchild, adopted child, or claimed as a dependent in the current or previous tax year;
- Be 25 years old or younger on the first day of the semester or term for which the exemption is claimed (unless granted an extension due to a qualifying illness or debilitating condition); and
- Have no federal Veteran’s education benefits, or have no federal Veterans education benefits dedicated to the payment of tuition and fees only (such as Chapter 33 or 31; for term or semester enrolled that do not exceed the value of Hazlewood benefits;
- Not be in default on a student loan made or guaranteed by the State of Texas;
- Enroll in classes for which the college receives tax support (i.e., a course that does not depend solely on student tuition and fees to cover its cost), unless the college’s governing board has ruled to let Veterans receive the benefit while taking non-funded courses; and
- Meet the GPA requirement of the institution’s satisfactory academic progress policy in a degree or certificate program as determined by the institution’s financial aid policy and, as an undergraduate student, not be considered to have attempted an excessive amount of credit hours.* View all Cost of Attendance components.
Legacy recipients will receive an exemption for the number of degree certified hours reported by the institution for that term or semester. Maximum degree certified hours awarded to the Legacy recipient will be dependent upon the degree or certificate program in which the student is enrolled for that term or semester and shall be consistent with the program length as defined within the school catalog as approved by the regional accreditation commission. (40 TAC §461.30)
*If a child to whom hours have been delegated fails to use all of the assigned hours, a Veteran may re-assign the unused hours that are available to another child. Only one child will use Hazlewood Legacy benefits at a time.
- Initial Hazlewood Application
- Sections A, B, C, and E must be complete
- Must have handwritten signature of Veteran and Student (not typed) on Part E
- Veterans DD- 214 Form (Member-4 copy) or DD1300 – Report of Casualty (if deceased)
- Character of Service must be included on DD-214
- Veterans Current Driver’s License (Not Expired)
- Student’s Certificate of Eligibility for GI Bill® Benefits
- Required if the Veteran served on or after 9/11/2001
- Eligibility or ineligibility letter must be submitted
- How To Apply For The GI Bill And Related Benefits | Veterans Affairs
- Proof Relationship to Vetera
- Biological Child – Birth Certificate
- Step Child – Birth Certificate & Marriage Certificate to Veteran
- Adopted Child – Adoption documents
- IRS Dependent – Current IRS Tax Transcript (Required each academic year)
- Registration with the Texas Veterans Commissio
- Student and Veteran must be registered
- Provide a printout of the Veteran’s and Student’s logged hours
- Login for Veterans and Students - TVC Hazlewood
Note: Applications and all supporting documentation must be received by the institution no later than the last day of class to be considered for the current semester or term. General Academic Calendar | UTRGV
NOTICE: Students should submit documents to Hazlewood@utrgv.edu, via document central or in person at U Central in Edinburg or Brownsville. All Hazlewood applications and/or documents submitted to our office for review, will be processed within 7-10 business days, if further clarification is required, we will contact the student via email.
Contact us! If you need assistance, please contact the Financial Aid Office at: Hazlewood@utrgv.edu, by phone at 956-882-4026 or visiting U-Central (Brownsville or Edinburg). In addition, information is available by visiting the Texas Veterans Commission website at Hazlewood Act ⋆ Texas Education Benefit ⋆ Texas Veterans Commission.
Be the spouse/dependent of an eligible veteran who is determined by the VA to be 100%, total and permanent, service-connected veteran or one who became totally disabled for purposes of employability as a result of a service-related injury or illness. The spouse/dependent(s) of an eligible veteran who meets the requirements below are entitled to receive a 150 credit hours exemption, each, under certain conditions as drawn from the Hazlewood Act Statute and Texas Administrative Code §461:
- Be a spouse / child of a Veteran who, at the time of entry into the U.S. Armed Forces, (DD Form 214 required) , (40 TAC §461.50) & (40 TAC §461.60)
- designated Texas as Home of Record,
- or entered the service in Texas;
- or was a Texas resident;
- Be a spouse / child of a Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces or the Texas National Guard who
- became totally and permanently disabled or meets the eligibility requirements for individual unemployability according to the disability ratings of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as a result of a service-related injury, or:
- died as a result of service-related injuries, or
- Missing in action (MIA), or
- Killed in action (KIA).
- Have no federal Veterans education benefits, or have no federal Veterans education benefits dedicated to the payment of tuition and fees only (such as Chapter 33 or 31) for term or semester enrolled that do not exceed the value of Hazlewood benefits;
- Be classified by the institution as a Texas resident;
- Not be in default on a student loan made or guaranteed by the State of Texas;
- Enroll in classes for which the college receives tax support (i.e., a course that does not depend solely on student tuition and fees to cover its cost), unless the college’s governing board has ruled to let Veterans receive the benefit while taking non-funded courses; and
- Meet the GPA requirement of the institution’s satisfactory academic progress policy in a degree or certificate program as determined by the institution’s financial aid policy and, as an undergraduate student, not be considered to have attempted an excessive amount of credit hours. *This requirement does not apply to the spouse / child of a MIA, KIA, or service-connected deceased Veteran.* View all Cost of Attendance components.
- Initial Hazlewood Application
- Sections A, B, C, and D must be complete
- Must have handwritten signatures (not typed) on Part D
- Veterans DD- 214 Form (Member-4 copy
- Character of Service must be included
- Letter from VA (if deceased)
- Indicating that Veterans death was service related.
- DD Form 1300 – Report of Casualty (if deceased)
- Veterans Summary of Benefits Letter from VA
- became totally and permanently disabled or meets the eligibility requirements for individual unemployability according to the disability ratings of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as a result of a service-related injury
- Student’s Certificate of Eligibility for GI Bill® Benefits
- Required if the Veteran served on or after 9/11/2001
- Eligibility or ineligibility letter must be submitted
- How To Apply For The GI Bill And Related Benefits | Veterans Affairs
- Proof Relationship to Vetera
- Spouse – Marriage Certificate
- Biological Child – Birth Certificate
- Step Child – Birth Certificate & Marriage Certificate to Veteran
- Adopted Child – Adoption documents
- IRS Dependent – Current IRS Tax Transcript (Required each academic year)
- Registration with the Texas Veterans Commission
- Provide a printout of the Student’s logged hours
- Login for Veterans and Students - TVC Hazlewood
Note: Applications and all supporting documentation must be received by the institution no later than the last day of class to be considered for the current semester or term. General Academic Calendar | UTRGV
NOTICE: Students should submit documents to Hazlewood@utrgv.edu, via document central or in person at U Central in Edinburg or Brownsville. All Hazlewood applications and/or documents submitted to our office for review, will be processed within 7-10 business days, if further clarification is required, we will contact the student via email.
Contact us! If you need assistance, please contact the Financial Aid Office at: Hazlewood@utrgv.edu, by phone at 956-882-4026 or visiting U-Central (Brownsville or Edinburg). In addition, information is available by visiting the Texas Veterans Commission website at Hazlewood Act ⋆ Texas Education Benefit ⋆ Texas Veterans Commission.
- Revocation of Previously Assigned Texas Hazlewood Act Exemption Hours
- Texas Hazlewood Act Exemption Application for Contiuned Enrollment
- Texas Hazlewood Act Exemption Application
NOTICE: Students should submit documents to Hazlewood@utrgv.edu, via document central or in person at U Central in Edinburg or Brownsville. All Hazlewood applications and/or documents submitted to our office for review, will be processed within 7-10 business days, if further clarification is required, we will contact the student via email.
Contact us! If you need assistance, please contact the Financial Aid Office at: Hazlewood@utrgv.edu, by phone at 956-882-4026 or visiting U-Central (Brownsville or Edinburg). In addition, information is available by visiting the Texas Veterans Commission website at Hazlewood Act ⋆ Texas Education Benefit ⋆ Texas Veterans Commission.
The Hazlewood Act exempts qualified students from paying tuition, and most fees, while enrolled in classes at public institutions of higher education in Texas, up to 150 semester hours. The exemption does not include property deposits or student services fees.
Yes, you can receive Hazlewood benefits along with other forms of financial aid, such as grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study. However, the Hazlewood exemption must fit within your Cost of Attendance (COA) and your financial need.
Some scholarships and grants (like the Employee Tuition Assistance Program or UTRGV Tuition Advantage) are only for tuition and fees. These types of funds cannot be used in addition to the Hazlewood exemption.
If your financial aid has already been awarded or disbursed when your Hazlewood exemption is approved, your financial aid may be adjusted to accommodate the exemption.
No. The Hazlewood Act is an exemption from the payment of tuition and most fees. There is no money changing hands with this benefit. The institution the student attends exempts the cost of tuition and most fees for the student.
No. The Hazlewood Act cannot be applied retroactively to prior terms. Applications and all supporting documentation may be submitted no later than 5 p.m. of the last class day for any given term.
Yes. However, you may not exceed 150 hours total, regardless of how you distribute the hours among multiple children. Please note only one child at a time may use Hazlewood Benefits per term.
No. You may not use legacy child benefits simultaneously; only one child at a time may use the transferred benefits. If it is determined that simultaneous enrollment of legacy children has occurred, all Hazlewood Act Exemption Applications may be rendered void, and the college/universities may charge for the semester hours taken during the time period multiple legacy children have used the benefit.
Yes. A veteran must prove that they were a Texas resident at the time of entry into military service, entered the service in the State of Texas, or declared Texas as their home of record. The burden of proof is on the veteran to prove their Texas residency through supporting documents.
No. The veteran must have entered the service in the state of Texas; or declared Texas as their home of record at the time of entry into the service, or prove they were a Texas state resident at that time. Additionally, military orders, separating military service from Texas, having a Texas driver's license, retiring in Texas, owning property in Texas, reenlisting in Texas, current or last duty station assignments in Texas, a disability rating, or having recently established Texas residency are not relevant factors used to determine a veteran’s eligibility for Hazlewood.
No. The Teacher Certification Fee is not an institutional fee. It is a fee required by the State Board for Educator Certification and is paid directly to that board.
Yes. If the student is receiving federal VA education benefits other than the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33 or any other benefits designated only for payment of tuition and fees), the student may receive both benefits concurrently.
- If the student is receiving federal VA education benefits for payment of tuition and fees, they may receive both benefits concurrently only if the federal VA tuition and fees benefit amount does not equal or exceed the Hazlewood exemption value.
Yes. Hazlewood Act benefits may be used for graduate studies, including law school or any other program of study at public institutions (other than continuing education) if the eligible Hazlewood applicant has not accumulated 150 credit hours using Hazlewood Act benefits.
There is no minimum course load required to receive the Hazlewood Exemption.
Texas Education Code § 54.014 establishes a maximum number of semester credit hours an undergraduate student may attempt while paying Texas resident tuition. A student who exceeds the maximum hours are no longer eligible for Hazlewood benefits as an undergraduate students. Note: Students with remaining eligibility may reapply if pursuing a graduate level degree.
No. Under Hazlewood Act guidelines, benefits are only applicable to courses for which the college receives tax support. Repeated courses that incur a repeat fee do not meet this requirement and are excluded from receiving benefits for those courses.
Hazlewood benefits can only be applied to state-funded courses. The following course types are not considered eligible:
- ROTC Courses
- Repeat Courses that have incurred a repeat fee
- This includes tuition and fees associated with the repeated course.
- Undergraduate students with Excessive Hours Fee
- Students who have incurred the fee are no longer eligible for Hazlewood Benefits
- Note: This applies even if the fee is waived. If hours are available, a student can reapply for Hazlewood Benefits as a Graduate student.
Students must comply with the institution’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy related to GPA. Failure to meet the minimum SAP requirement will result in Suspension and the loss of Hazlewood eligibility until the requirement is met. Students can submit a SAP appeal and if approved may regain eligibility. For more information, visit: https://www.utrgv.edu/ucentral/paying-for-college/financial-aid/satisfactory-academic-progress/index.htm
Students currently receiving Hazlewood benefits from another institution and planning to transfer to UTRGV must complete an initial application, along with the necessary supporting documents, to determine eligibility at UTRGV. Please note that submitting only the Continued Enrollment Application will not be sufficient for consideration.
This form is used to revoke Legacy benefits from one child and transfer benefits to another. The veteran must submit a revocation to begin transferring Hazlewood benefits to another child.
The Hazlewood hours are limited to 150 hours per student. However, your unique situation may impact the available hours. Legacy recipients are restricted to the number of hours in their selected program or to the remaining hours the veteran has before reaching the maximum limit. Please note that transfer hours reduce the total amount of eligible hours a student can use. For example, if your degree requires 120 hours and you have 50 transfer hours, you would be eligible for 70 Hazlewood Legacy hours.
NOTICE: Students should submit documents to Hazlewood@utrgv.edu, via document central or in person at U Central in Edinburg or Brownsville. All Hazlewood applications and/or documents submitted to our office for review, will be processed within 7-10 business days, if further clarification is required, we will contact the student via email.
Contact us! If you need assistance, please contact the Financial Aid Office at: Hazlewood@utrgv.edu, by phone at 956-882-4026 or visiting U-Central (Brownsville or Edinburg). In addition, information is available by visiting the Texas Veterans Commission website at Hazlewood Act ⋆ Texas Education Benefit ⋆ Texas Veterans Commission.