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Death - Spouse's Education

Alabama
The education benefit covers tuition, fees, books, and supplies. There is no limit on the amount awarded for undergraduate study at any state college, state community college, or state technical college, except that it may not exceed the cost of attendance. Spouse must not have remarried and must begin enrollment within five years of firefighter's death.

Contact: Alabama Police and Firefighters Survivors Educational Assistance Program, Alabama Commission on Higher Education. 100 North Union St., PO Box 302000, Montgomery, AL 36130-2000. Phone: (334) 242-2274 or (334) 242-2274.
Alaska Benefit provides tuition and fees in the University of Alaska system.

Contact: Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education. 3030 Vintage Boulevard, Juneau, AK 99801-7109. Phone: (907) 465-2962 or (800) 441-2962, Customer Service.
Arizona The benefit is a full tuition waiver at state universities or community colleges. This benefit covers deaths of firefighters traveling to or from work. It is limited to 64 credit hours at community colleges and a total of credits, including transfer credits, needed for a baccalaureate degree. For graduate study, 80% of tuition is covered. Benefits terminate upon remarriage.

Contact: Public Safety Personnel Retirement System or Arizona Peace Officers Memorial Board, Attorney General's Office. 1275 West Washington, Phoenix, AZ 85007. Phone: (602) 542-5025.
Arkansas The benefit consists of an eight-semester scholarship at any state-supported college or university. Additionally, up to four semesters may be at a technical institute. This benefit does not cover cost of books, food, school supplies, materials and fees for extracurricular activities. If the spouse remarries, benefits cease at the end of the semester in which remarriage occurs.

Contact: Arkansas Department of Higher Education. 114 E. Capitol Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72201. Phone: (501) 371-2000. www.arkansashighered.com
California No mandatory fees or tuition are required by the Regents of the University of California, the Board of Directors of the Hastings College of the Law, or the Trustees of the California State University System. This benefit applies to the spouse or children of a public safety officer killed in the performance of active fire suppression and prevention. The law was expanded in 2002 to include fee waivers at the California community college level. These educational benefits available to survivors if the firefighter died in the performance of fire suppression and prevention duties, was an employee of a public agency, and was a resident of California. This would include Federal firefighters if they met the criteria listed above. Eligibility must be consistent with the findings of the Worker's Compensation Appeals Board.

The Trustees of the California State University may enter into reciprocal agreements with other universities or colleges within the state. This would allow qualified students to attend other universities or colleges without payment of some or all fees or tuition or both. The Trustees may enter into similar reciprocal agreements with public colleges and universities in other states.

Contact: Students must tell the college or university they plan to attend that they are the survivor of a firefighter killed in the line of duty and that they qualify under Sections 68120-68124 of the California Education Code.

Contact: California Student Aid Commission, Student Services Division. PO Box 419027, Rancho Cordova, CA 95741-9027. Phone: (888) 224-7268. www.csac.ca.gov/pubs/forms/grnt_frm/g-187.pdf.
Colorado None.
Connecticut Tuition is waived in the Connecticut University System, regional community-technical college, or the University of Connecticut if parent is killed in line-of-duty.

Contact: Registrar's Office, The University of Connecticut, Wilbur Cross Building, 233 Glenbrook Road, Storrs, CT 06269-4077. Phone: (860) 486-3331.
Delaware None.
Florida Under State Statute-Title X, Chapter 112, education fees are waived for dependent children of firefighters killed in emergency response or in arson fire. Children seeking an undergraduate education, vocational-technical certificate, or a post-graduate degree will have the cost of tuition, matriculation, and other statutorily authorized fees waived. Surviving children may attend a state community college, state university, or a vocational-technical school, full- or part-time for up to 120 credit hours. However, spouse must start education benefits within five years after the firefighter's death.

Contact: Registrar at each institution. May need to provide citation, which is State Statute-Title X, Chapter 112.
Georgia None.
Hawaii None.
Idaho None.
Illinois Benefit consists of a waiver of tuition and mandatory fees at any approved public post-secondary institution. Students at private Illinois institutions receive equivalent of tuition and mandatory fees at most expensive comparable program at a public post-secondary institution. Limited to full-time equivalent of eight semesters or 12 quarters for undergraduate and graduate programs. Remarriage ends eligibility.

Contact: Illinois Student Assistance Commission. 1755 Lake Cook Rd., Deerfield, IL 60015. Phone: (800) 899-4722. www.collegezone.com.
Indiana Tuition and other fees waived for children at state-supported colleges, technical schools or universities.

Contact: Indiana Commission for Higher Education. 101 West Ohio Street, Suite 550, Indianapolis, IN 46204-1971. Phone: (317) 464-4400. www.che.state.in.us.
Iowa None.
Kansas None.
Kentucky No matriculation or tuition fees at state-supported university, community college, or vocational training institution. Benefit covers only spouses who do not remarry. Also includes spouses of disabled firefighters.

Contact: Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority. 1050 U.S. 127 South, PO Box 798, Frankfort, KY 40602-0798. Phone: (800) 928-8926.
Louisiana None
Maine Tuition waivers are available for spouses of firefighters killed in the line of duty or as a result of injuries received during the performance of their duties. Tuition waivers are valid within the University of Maine system, the Maine Technical College system or at Maine Maritime Academy.

Contact: Finance Authority of Maine. 5 Community Drive, PO Box 949, Augusta, ME 04332-0949. Phone: (207) 623-3263 or (800) 228-3734. www.famemaine.com
Maryland The Edward T. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program may be used for tuition and mandatory fees not to exceed that of a resident undergraduate at the University of Maryland, College Park. Good for five years of full-time or eight years of part-time study. Covers undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies. Spouse cannot have remarried. This scholarship program is only for the spouse of an individual killed in the line of duty.

Contact: Maryland Higher Education Commission, State Scholarship Administration. 839 Bestgate Road, Suite 400, Annapolis, MD 21401. Phone: (410) 260-4500 or (800) 974-0203.
Massachusetts None.
Michigan Death must have been result of traumatic injury. The benefit provides tuition waiver at public community and junior colleges and state universities for classes leading to a certificate or undergraduate degree. Family income, excluding income from death benefits, must be below 400% of the federal poverty level. Dependent must be a legal resident of Michigan for at least twelve months preceding application. Available for a maximum of 9 semesters.

Contact: Survivor Tuition Program, Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards. 7426 North Canal Road, Lansing, MI 48913. Phone: (517) 322-6627.
Minnesota Waiver of tuition and fees for undergraduate or certificate programs at state-supported colleges and universities. If the student attends an approved Minnesota private college or university, the state will pay no more than the highest tuition and fees charged by a Minnesota public institution. The benefit is renewable for a maximum of ten semesters or 15 quarters, whichever occurs first.

Contact: Department of Public Safety. 211 Transportation Building, St. Paul, MN 55101. Phone: (651) 201-7000. www.mheso.state.mn.us
Mississippi Benefit includes tuition, some fees, and average cost of on-campus housing for full-time undergraduate students for eight semesters at state-supported colleges and universities. Also applies when line-of-duty injury causes permanent and total disability. Benefits end with remarriage.

Contact: Mississippi Board of Trustees, State Institutions of Higher Learning. 3825 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, MS 39211. Phone: (601) 432-6647 or (800) 327-2980.
Missouri Public Service Survivor Grant Program provides assistance for a spouse enrolled in a program leading to a certificate or an associate or baccalaureate degree at participating Missouri postsecondary schools. The maximum grant amount is the amount of tuition charged to a Missouri undergraduate enrolled full-time in the equivalent program at the University of Missouri, Columbia.

Contact: MOSTARS. 3515 Amazonas Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109. Phone: (573) 751-3940 or (800) 473-6757. www.cbhe.state.mo.us
Montana Benefit waives registration and incidental fees for the surviving spouse of any Montana firefighter killed in the course and scope of employment. Regents may waive tuition.

Contact: Enrollment Services, Lommasson Center, University of Montana. Admissions, 32 Campus Drive, PO Box 172180, Missoula, MT 59812. Phone: (406) 242-6266.
Nebraska None.
Nevada None.
New Hampshire None.
New Jersey Survivor Tuition Benefits Program grants pay the actual cost of tuition up to the highest tuition charged at a New Jersey public institution. If enrolled in a New Jersey private school, survivors receive the same amount as in New Jersey public institutions. The spouse must enroll at least half time in an undergraduate degree or certificate program at a college or university in New Jersey. Benefit is limited to eight years following the death of the firefighter.

Contact: New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. 4 Quaker Bridge Plaza, PO Box 540, Trenton, NJ 08625. Phone: (800) 792-8670. www.njhesaa.org.
New Mexico Firefighter and Peace Officer Survivors' Scholarships provide free tuition at a New Mexico state institution of higher education, for no more than five years. Individual public institutions provide funding.

Contact: New Mexico Commission on Higher Education. 1068 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, NM 87501. Phone: (505) 827-7383. www.nmche.org or financial aid office at public institutions.
New York Memorial Scholarships for families of deceased volunteer firefighters are awarded to full-time undergraduates at approved NY colleges/post-secondary institutions. To qualify for the award, the firefighter must have died as the result of an injury sustained in the line-of-duty. Memorial Scholarships are available for four years of full time undergraduate study or for five years in an approved five-year bachelor's degree program. Covers actual tuition or the State University of New York (SUNY) undergraduate tuition, whichever is less. Assistance is also available for non-tuition costs such as room and board with allowances for books, supplies, and transportation. If you are a financial dependent, you are eligible under this program.
Memorial Scholarship students attending institutions with tuition charges higher than SUNY charges may receive additional assistance through New York State's Tuition Assistance Program.

Contact: New York State Higher Education Services Corporation. 99 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12255. Phone: (888) 697-4372. www.hesc.com.
North Carolina A tuition waiver is provided, not including any other fees and charges, or costs of textbooks to state-supported institutions of higher education, community colleges, industrial centers, and technical institutes only if the firefighter's death was the direct result of a traumatic injury sustained in the line of duty. Benefit cannot exceed 48 months if the spouse is seeking a baccalaureate degree, or if the spouse is not seeking a baccalaureate degree, the number of months required to complete the educational program. Spouse becomes ineligible upon remarriage.

Contact: North Carolina Community College System. 200 West Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27603. Phone: (919) 733-7051. www.ncccs.cc.nc.us or contact any state college or university.
North Dakota Tuition and fees are waived for in-state undergraduate colleges and universities. Assistance is available for up to four years, eight semesters, or equivalent..

Contact: North Dakota Board of Higher Education. 600 East Boulevard Avenue, Department 215, Bismarck, ND 58505-0230. Phone: (701) 328-2960.
Ohio Ohio Safety Officers College Memorial Fund pays tuition and fees for up to four years of undergraduate study at a state university or college, community college, university branch or technical college. Amount paid to private institution varies depending on the standard tuition of the public institutions.

Contact: Ohio Board of Regents, State Grants and Scholarships Department. 30 East Broad Street, 36th Floor, PO Box 182452, Columbus, OH 43215-3414. Phone: (614) 466-6000 or (888) 833-1133. www.regents.state.oh.us.
Oklahoma None.
Oregon The Public Safety Memorial Fund may award scholarships for an undergraduate education, provided the spouse has not remarried. Eligibility based partly on the financial need of the applicant.

Contact: Department of Public Safety Standards and Training. 550 N. Monmouth Avenue, Monmouth, OR 97361. Phone: (503) 378-2100. www.orednet.org/~bpsst.
Pennsylvania None.
Rhode Island None.
South Carolina None.
South Dakota None.
Tennessee None.
Texas For deaths occurring before September 1, 2001, there are no benefits. For deaths occurring on or after September 1, 2001, the same benefits as for children apply to spouses. The student is exempt from tuition and fees at institutions of higher education until the student receives a bachelor's degree or 200 hours of college credit, whichever occurs first. If the student elects to reside in housing provided by the institution and qualifies to reside there, the institution shall pay the cost of the students contract for housing and food, as well as the cost of the student's textbooks, until the student receives a bachelor's degree or 200 hours or course credit, whichever occurs first.

Contact: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Capitol Station, PO Box 12788, Austin, TX 78711. Phone: (512) 427-6101.
Utah Police Officer's and Firefighter's Survivor Tuition Act, also referred to as the "Golden Shield" policy. Tuition waivers can be used for undergraduate education for not more than nine semesters. Students must be in a program of study leading to a degree or certificate. They must attend a state institution of higher education. Some private institutions also provide this benefit but are not required to do so. Financial need is a consideration for the waiver.

Contact: Utah State Board of Regents, Utah System of Higher Education. Board of Regents Building, The Gateway, 60 South 400 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84101-1284. Phone: (801) 321-7100. www.utahsbr.edu/html/board.html.
Vermont None.
Virginia Undergraduate tuition and required educational and auxiliary fees waived for spouses at any public institution of higher learning in Virginia.

Contact: State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. James Monroe Building, 101 N. Fourteenth Street, Richmond, VA 23219. Phone: (804) 225-2600. www.schev.edu.
Washington None.
West Virginia Tuition waived and some fees covered at state institutions of higher learning. Covers full-time undergraduate education for no more than four years.

Contact: West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. 1018 Kanawha Boulevard East, Suite 700, Charleston, WV 25301. Phone: (304) 558-2101.
Wisconsin Program and material fees waived to any resident undergraduate student who is enrolled in a bachelor's degree, associate degree, or technical diploma program at a state institution. Student may not receive a remission for more than five consecutive years in the University of Wisconsin System or for more than three consecutive years in the Wisconsin Technical College System.

Contact: University of Wisconsin System, Academic Affairs Division. 1620 Van Hise Hall, 1220 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706. Phone: (608) 262-8778.
Wisconsin Technical College System Board. 310 Price Place, PO Box 7874, Madison, WI 53707-7874. Phone: (608) 266-1207.
Wyoming None.