The four plans
| Plan | Who qualifies | Key rules |
|---|---|---|
| A | Children of veterans rated 100% service-connected (or who died of a service-connected cause); spouses of totally disabled wartime veterans; some surviving spouses | No income limit. Children over 14 and under 27. Veteran needs wartime service or a campaign medal. Can't be used with VA Chapter 35 at the same time. |
| B | Children of veterans with any service-connected rating, including 0% | Income limit $22,941 (2026–27): the student's income plus parental support. No age limit. Can combine with Chapter 35. |
| C | Dependents of California National Guard members killed or disabled on active state service | Ask your CVSO |
| D | Medal of Honor recipients and their children under 27 | Undergraduate only; income and age limits |
Plan details from California university veterans offices and county veterans service offices; confirm your plan with CalVet or your CVSO.
What it covers (and doesn't)
- Covers: mandatory system-wide tuition and fees at California community colleges, CSU and UC.
- Doesn't cover: books, parking, housing, meal plans, campus-based fees or extension/summer-only programs.
How to apply
- Contact your County Veterans Service Office (CVSO), or use the online application on CalVet's site.
- Bring: proof of relationship (birth or marriage certificate), the veteran's DD-214, the VA rating letter, and last year's tax return (pages 1–2) for Plan B. Plan A also needs a form electing out of Chapter 35.
- Apply early: CVSOs generally start taking applications after tax season (mid-April to June) for the fall.
- Give the award letter to your school's veterans certifying official.
- Reapply every year.
Why this matters for your family's budget
Free tuition for the kids frees up money for everything else, including a home. If you're rated, you also skip the VA funding fee, and at 100% the new property tax exemption can cut your property taxes in half or more.
Sources: CalVet: College Fee Waiver · CSU San Marcos · CSU Channel Islands · UCLA Veterans. Rules and amounts change; always confirm on the official site. Veteran Mortgage Guys is not a government agency or a VSO.
Common questions
Does the CalVet fee waiver have an age limit?
Plan B has no age limit. Plan A covers children over 14 and under 27.
What's the Plan B income limit for 2026-27?
$22,941, counting the student's income plus the value of parental support.
Does my child qualify if I'm rated 0%?
Possibly. Plan B covers children of veterans with any service-connected rating, including 0%, if they meet the income limit.
Where do I apply for the CalVet College Fee Waiver?
Through your County Veterans Service Office, or online through CalVet. You reapply every year.
See your real numbers
Our free calculator uses 2026 pay tables, BAH by ZIP and VA residual income standards. About 2 minutes, no credit pull.
Educational information only, not a commitment to lend or a loan approval. VA guidelines and lender requirements change; your eligibility and terms depend on your full application, credit, income and VA entitlement.