US Code

Public Law 119-87 (04/30/2026)

20 U.S.C. § 1015d

In-State tuition rates for members of qualifying Federal service

(a)

Requirement

In the case of a member of a qualifying Federal service whose domicile or permanent duty station is in a State that receives assistance under this chapter, such State shall not charge such member (or the spouse or dependent child of such member) tuition for attendance at a public institution of higher education in the State at a rate that is greater than the rate charged for residents of the State.

(b)

Continuation

If a member of a qualifying Federal service (or the spouse or dependent child of a member) pays tuition at a public institution of higher education in a State at a rate determined by subsection (a), the provisions of subsection (a) shall continue to apply to such member, spouse, or dependent while continuously enrolled at that institution, notwithstanding a subsequent change in the permanent duty station of the member to a location outside the State.

(c)

Effective date

This section shall take effect at each public institution of higher education in a State that receives assistance under this chapter for the first period of enrollment at such institution that begins after .

(d)

Definitions

In this section, the term “member of a qualifying Federal service” means—
(1)
section 101 of title 10section 101 of title 10 a member of the armed forces (as defined in ) who is on active duty for a period of more than 30 days (as defined in );
(2)
section 3903 of title 22 a member of the Foreign Service (as defined in ) who is on active duty for a period of more than 30 days; or
(3)
section 3003 of title 50 an officer or employee of an element of the intelligence community (as such term is defined in ) who serves in a position of employment in such element for a period of more than 30 days.

Pub. L. 89–329, title I, § 135Pub. L. 110–315, title I, § 114122 Stat. 3111 Pub. L. 117–81, div. F, title LXII, § 6206(a)135 Stat. 2392 Pub. L. 118–31, div. G, title III, § 7316(a)137 Stat. 1032 (, as added , , ; amended , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Pub. L. 89–329, title I, § 135Pub. L. 102–325, title I, § 101106 Stat. 466 Pub. L. 105–244A prior section 1015d, , as added , , , required grant recipients to submit reports, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by .

Amendments

Pub. L. 118–312023—Subsec. (d)(3). added par. (3).

Pub. L. 117–81, § 6206(a)(1)2021—, substituted “qualifying Federal service” for “the armed forces on active duty, spouses, and dependent children” in section catchline.

Pub. L. 117–81, § 6206(a)(2)Subsec. (a). , substituted “member of a qualifying Federal service” for “member of the armed forces who is on active duty for a period of more than 30 days and”.

Pub. L. 117–81, § 6206(a)(3)Subsec. (b). , substituted “member of a qualifying Federal service” for “member of the armed forces”.

Pub. L. 117–81, § 6206(a)(4)section 101 of title 10Subsec. (d). , added subsec. (d) and struck out former subsec. (d). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “In this section, the terms ‘armed forces’ and ‘active duty for a period of more than 30 days’ have the meanings given those terms in .”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2023 Amendment

Pub. L. 118–31, div. G, title III, § 7316(b)137 Stat. 1033

20 U.S.C. 1001“The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect at each public institution of higher education in a State that receives assistance under the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( et seq.) for the first period of enrollment at such institution that begins after .”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date of 2021 Amendment

Pub. L. 117–81, div. F, title LXII, § 6206(b)135 Stat. 2392

20 U.S.C. 1001“The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect at each public institution of higher education in a State that receives assistance under the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( et seq.) for the first period of enrollment at such institution that begins after .”
, , , provided that: