Ivy Tech Freezes Tuition For Veterans, Guard Members

Ivy Tech Community College (ITCC) officials announced this month they will freeze tuition for Hoosier veterans eligible for the GI Bill and Indiana National Guard members.

Tuition will remain at its current per credit hour rate of $104.55 for these military groups for two years, rather than increasing to $107.80 per credit hour in 2011-2012 and $111.15 per credit hour in 2012-13. Although these yearly tuition increases are the lowest amongst the state's public colleges and universities, ITCC is committed to keeping its tuition even lower for eligible veterans and armed forces.

"We appreciate and admire Ivy Tech's commitment to education for veterans. Many of those veterans are serving in the National Guard today," said Maj. Gen R. Martin Umbarger, the adjutant general of the Indiana National Guard. "Civilian education makes us a stronger military force, while providing our community with a stronger work force."

Ivy Tech serves more veterans than any other college in the state. Currently, the college enrolls 4,381 veterans, with 2,791 receiving educational benefits. Of the total number of veterans, 72 percent are males and 28 percent are females. A majority of the veterans are between 30-39 years of age.

"As a state college, we are committed to making higher education accessible to our service men and women," said Ivy Tech President Thomas J. Snyder. "These Hoosier heroes have sacrificed for our nation and we want to show our appreciation for their commitment by removing financial barriers."

Ivy Tech is committed to seeing veterans succeed with a special support staff and a statewide director, specifically tasked with expanding opportunities for former and current service members. Ivy Tech's Veterans Affairs Office serves as a liaison between students who are veterans, their dependents and the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. The Ivy Tech office assists students with veteran status and dependents of service members who are disabled or deceased. With 14 offices available to assist statewide, the team also oversees educational benefits and financial aid for veterans.

For more information, please visit www.ivytech.edu/veterans-affairs.

ITCC is the state's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system serving nearly 200,000 students annually. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.

Ivy Tech officials added that the tuition freezes will apply to state employees as well.