Hazlewood Act
All students who want to receive the Hazlewood Exemption (Veterans, Dependents, or Legacy), are required to complete an initial application with supporting documentation the first time they apply, for subsequent years of continued enrollment, only the renewal application is needed.
The student is always responsible for paying the ‘Student Service Fee’, and any other fees not covered by Hazlewood, by the applicable term payment deadline.
NOTICE: 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 would contact the student via email.
Students receiving Hazlewood during Fall and/or Spring semesters, who would like to receive the exemption during the Summer sessions, will need to submit the Financial Aid Summer Notification, at least 10 business days before the payment deadline for the applicable Summer session to ensure timely processing of the Exemption
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.
At UTRGV you can receive assistance by contacting the Financial Aid Office at: Hazlewood@utrgv.edu or visiting U-Central (Brownsville or Edinburg)
Qualifications:
Veteran Qualifications
A Veteran must:
- At the time of entry into active duty 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 (DD Form 214);
- Served at least 181 days of active duty service (excluding training);
- 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.
Hazlewood Act application process
A Veteran must:
- Apply and be accepted to a Texas public college or university of his/her choice. Go to www.applytexas.org to apply or use your institution's application for admission;
- Provide proof (DD214) from the Department of Defense regarding military service and the nature of discharge;
- Provide proof of eligibility or ineligibility for GI Bill ® benefits (Chapter 31, 33/Post-9/11) by requesting a certificate of eligibility for federal education benefits from eBenefits (if Veteran has active duty service after 9/11/2001). You will need to create a username and password to request your certificate of eligibility;
- Fill out the Hazlewood Exemption application form; and
- Turn in the Hazlewood Exemption application form, a copy of your letter of eligibility/ineligibility, and a copy of your DD214 to the Financial Aid Office of the institution you will be attending.
Applications and all supporting documentation must be received by the institution no later than the last day of class in order to be evaluated for the semester or term.
Legacy Act Application Process
Qualifications
A child (legacy recipient) of a Veteran must:
- Apply and be accepted to a Texas public college or university. Go to www.applytexas.org to apply or use your institution's application for admission;
- Fill out the Hazlewood Exemption Application;
- Provide proof of eligibility or ineligibility for GI Bill ® benefits (Chapter 31, 33/Post-9/11) by requesting a certificate of eligibility for federal education benefits from eBenefits. You will need to create a username and password to request your certificate of eligibility;
- Take both applications, letter of eligibility/ineligibility (if needed), along with a copy of the Veteran’s DD214, to the Financial Aid Office of the institution you will be attending.
Applications and all supporting documentation must be received by the institution no later than the last day of class of a term in order to be evaluated for that semester or term.
Hazlewood Act for Spouse/Child
Spouses and dependent children of eligible Active Duty, Reserve, and Texas National Guard who died in the line of duty or as a result of injury or illness directly related to military service, are missing in action, or who became totally disabled for purposes of employability as a result of a service-related injury or illness are entitled to each receive a 150 credit hours exemption.
Qualifications
A spouse must:
- Be a spouse of a Veteran who, at the time of entry into the U.S. Armed Forces, be classified by the institution as a Texas resident, designated Texas as Home of Record, or entered the service in Texas;
- Be a spouse of a Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces or the Texas National Guard who died as a result of service-related injuries or illness, is missing in action, or became totally disabled (100%) as a result of service-related injury or illness or is entitled to receive compensation at the 100% rate due to individual employability (IU) due to a service-connected injury or illness;
- 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; 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 of a MIA, KIA, or service-connected deceased Veteran.
A child must:
- Be a child of a Veteran who, at the time of entry into the U.S. Armed Forces, be classified by the institution as a Texas resident, designated Texas as Home of Record, or entered the service in Texas;
- Be a child of a Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, Texas National Guard, or Texas Air National Guard who died as a result of service-related injuries or illness, is missing in action, or became totally disabled (100%) as a result of a service-related injury or illness or is entitled to receive compensation at the 100% rate due to individual employability (IU) due to a service-connected injury or illness;
- 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; 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 child of a MIA, KIA, or service-connected deceased Veteran.
Application process for Spouse/Child
A spouse or child of a Veteran whose death was service-connected is MIA, or is/was 100% permanently disabled must:
- Apply and be accepted to a Texas public college or university. Go to www.applytexas.org or use your institution's application for admission;
- Provide a DD214 and a disability rating letter or a DD1300 Report of Casualty regarding the Veteran's death;
- Provide proof of eligibility or ineligibility for GI Bill ® benefits (Chapter 31, 33/Post/9-11) by requesting an education benefits letter from the VA at eBenefits. You will need to create a username and password to request your certificate of eligibility;
- Fill out the Hazlewood Exemption application form.
Applications and all supporting documentation must be received by the institution no later than the last day of class of a term in order to be evaluated for that semester or term.
Hazlewood Online Database for veterans and students: https://hazlewood.tvc.texas.gov/students/
Important Eligibility Information:
What charges are covered?
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.
How does the exemption work? Will I get a check in the mail for tuition?
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.
Can I transfer my unused hours to multiple legacy children?
Yes. However, you may not exceed 150 hours total, regardless of how you distribute the hours among multiple children.
Can I have my legacy children use the transferred benefits simultaneously, even if they are at different colleges?
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.
Does the Hazlewood Act cover teacher certification fees?
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.
Can Hazlewood Act benefits be used for graduate school?
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 Veteran has not accumulated 150 credit hours using Hazlewood Act benefits since the fall of 1995.
Excessive Amount of Credit Hours Provision
*Excessive amount of credit hours: UTRGV for Hazlewood purposes consider a student who has attempted an excessive amount of credit hours, someone who meets one of the following conditions (whichever occurs first):
- A student that exceeds by 30 credit hours, the number of hours required while enrolled in a degree requiring a minimum of 120 credit hours.
- For an Undergraduate (UG) student, someone who goes into Financial Aid Suspension due to reaching the Maximum Timeframe (180 attempted credit hours)
For any questions regarding Hazlewood benefits, please contact the Financial Aid Office atHazlewood@utrgv.edu or stop by U-Central (Brownsville or Edinburg).
All Hazlewood-related inquiries are handled by the Financial Aid Office and not the Veteran Resource Center.