California College Fee Waiver for Veteran Dependents

The California College Fee Waiver (CCFW) is a state education benefit administered by the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) and processed locally by the Marin County Veterans Service Office (VSO).

This program waives mandatory system-wide tuition and fees for eligible dependents attending California public colleges and universities.

The Marin County VSO reviews applications, verifies eligibility, and issues an Award Letter for the student to submit to their school.

Important:

• This is not a federal VA benefit
• The waiver must be renewed every academic year
• Schools make final decisions on how the waiver is applied

This service is for eligible dependents of California veterans.

Eligibility may depend on:

• Veteran’s service-connected disability rating
• Dependent relationship to the veteran
• Student income (for certain plans)
• There are four plans under which dependents of Veterans may be eligible.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What does the College Fee Waiver cover?

The waiver covers:

• Mandatory system-wide tuition and fees at:
  • California Community Colleges (CCC)
  • California State University (CSU)
  • University of California (UC)

It does not cover:

• Books, housing or room and board, parking or optional campus fees.

How do I apply?

See Action Page - Apply for California College Waiver for Veteran Dependents

Do I have to renew the waiver each year?

Yes. The waiver must be renewed each academic cycle the student plans to attend school

What documents are needed?

Veteran:

• DD-214 (discharge papers)
• VA Benefits Summary Letter showing disability rating
  Download VA letters

Dependent:

• Birth certificate
• Adoption or legal dependency documents (if applicable)
• Marriage certificate (if applicable, for stepchild or spouse as student)
• Student income documents — required for Plan B
  • If the student filed taxes
    • Copy of last year’s student-SIGNED federal/state tax return.
  • If the student did not file taxes:
    • California FTB Non-Filing Letter (Obtaining an Individual Status Letter) or
    • IRS Non-Filing Letter (Get Transcript)

What is Plan B and why does student income matter?

Plan B is an income-based eligibility category.

• Eligibility is based on the combined total of:
  • Student income, and
  • Annual value of any support received
• The combined amount for both must be below the current limit (example: $22,273 for 2025–2026)
• Parent income is not counted, but support provided is counted

If both reported values are $0:

Example:

• Student income: $0
• Annual value of any support received: $0

The student must submit a signed statement explaining how they are supported

What happens after I’m approved?

• You receive an Award Letter from the VSO
• You submit the letter to your school
• Your school applies the waiver to eligible fees

What happens if I’m denied?

• If denied by the VSO:
  • You will receive a Letter of Denial explaining the reason and options
• If denied by the school:
  • Contact your school directly
  • Schools make the final determination on applying the waiver

Can I use the College Fee Waiver at more than one school?

Yes, but you must complete a separate application for each school.

• If you plan to attend more than one college in the same academic year, you must complete a separate DVS-40 application for each school
• The Marin County VSO will issue a separate Award Letter for each school
• You must submit the correct Award Letter to each school’s financial aid office

Can I use the state College Fee Waiver with federal VA education benefits (Chapter 35)?

• Sometimes.
  • You may use Plan B with Chapter 35 (income rules apply)
  • You cannot use Plan A at the same time as Chapter 35
    • To use Plan A, the student must sign an Election to Receive College Waiver Benefits acknowledging this restriction.

What is the Certificate of Eligibility (COE)?

• The Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is issued by the VA Education Department, not the Marin County VSO.
• It is required by schools to verify federal VA education benefits

• This is part of federal VA education benefits and is separate from the California College Fee Waiver.

  For questions about your COE or federal education benefits:

  888-442-4551 or learn more online: Education and Careers Benefits

Contacts and resources

• Marin County Veterans Service Office (VSO): Veterans Service Office, 415-473-6193
• CalVet — College Fee Waiver information: College Fee Waiver and College Fee Waiver
• Federal VA Education benefits: VA Education Benefits
• VA Benefits Summary Letters: Download VA letters
• IRS Non-Filing Letter information: Get Transcript
• California FTB Non-Filing Letter information: Obtaining an Individual Status Letter