Hazlewood Exemption for Texas Veterans

The Hazlewood Exemption is for qualified veterans, dependents of veterans, and dependents of certain disabled or deceased veterans that provides exemption from paying tuition and required fees (excluding the Student Services Fee or any deposits) up to 150 credit hours.

Please note that the application submission deadline to receive the Hazlewood Exemption for the same semester of the application year is the census date for each semester.

Eligibility requirements include:

Texas resident at military entrance with:

• Texas home of record
• Texas point of entry
• Texas residency
• Honorable discharge
• More than 180 days of active duty (net active service)
• Have no federal veteran’s education benefits or have federal veterans education benefits dedicated to the payment of tuition and fees only that do not exceed the value of Hazlewood benefits
• Are not in default on a student loan made or guaranteed by the state of Texas

The Hazlewood exemption may be used in conjunction with financial aid (grants, loans, scholarships and work-study). Please note that this exemption must fit within the cost of attendance (COA) and your financial need. If financial aid is already disbursed or awarded at the time your Hazlewood exemption is approved, there may be adjustments to your financial aid to accommodate the exemption.

Application Process:

Complete the appropriate application form(s)

• Hazlewood Exemption Application
• Provide veteran’s DD-214
• Provide proof of dependency relationship (acceptable documentation: birth certificate, adoption certificate, marriage certificate, tax returns, court order, VA Benefits letter, valid Military Identification Card.
• Provide Benefits Eligibility letter from VA for service after 9/11/01
• Provide a print out from the Hazlewood Student History from the Hazlewood Database (even if hours show zero, please submit)

ALL documentation must be submitted in order for the request for the exemption to be processed.

Processing times and Disbursement:

Applications are reviewed and certified for Hazlewood a minimum of 4 weeks prior to the start of the academic term. We strongly recommend that eligible students submit their documentation as soon as you have enrolled for the upcoming term. It is strongly recommended that students who submit their Hazlewood documentation within 2 weeks of the start of the term or after the start of the term prior to the census date, make alternative payment arrangements for the tuition and fee drop date. Applications submitted after the recommended time frame are subject to a processing time of 7 -10 business days.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Recently, the rules regarding the Hazlewood Exemption have changed. Students will now have to submit the Hazlewood Exemption Application each academic term they wish to receive the benefit.

Veterans or children of veterans who are granted their first Hazlewood 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 those who received the exemption prior to the 2011-2012 academic year.

Eligible children who received the Hazlewood Exemption for the first time beginning Fall 2011 must be 25 years of age or younger on the first day of the semester or term for which the exemption is claimed (unless granted an extension due to the qualifying illness or debilitating condition). This requirement does not apply to children who received the exemption prior to 2011- 2012.

Effective with tuition and fee charges Fall 2011 a veterans spouse or child’s guardian, conservator, custodian, or other legally designated caretaker may re-assign unused hours to an eligible child (through Legacy) on behalf of the veteran if the veteran dies prior to requesting the transfer of hours.

Students utilizing the Hazlewood Exemption benefit under the Legacy Act provision MUST meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements as defined by the Student Financial Aid SAP policy. SAP is checked at the completion of each semester for all students. Hazlewood Exemption benefits will not be posted for Legacy Act students until the previous semester’s SAP is verified. For more information please refer to: Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

For more information about the Hazlewood Exemption please refer to the Hazlewood Act

Verify your used Hazlewood Benefits – Online Resources