Senate endorses tuition break for military veterans

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Military veterans returning from combat would get a tuition break at Missouri's public colleges and universities under legislation endorsed Wednesday by the Senate.

The legislation would cap tuition at $50 per credit hour for veterans who served in armed combat after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Based on the tuition at Missouri's largest universities, that would mean military veterans could go to school for around 25 cents of each $1 they otherwise would pay.

Senate Minority Leader Maida Coleman said many military veterans struggle to pay for college even after getting financial aid from the federal and state governments. Coleman, D-St. Louis, said her bill would make education affordable.

"This bill would give our military heroes the ability to attend public colleges and universities in the state of Missouri," Coleman said.

Senators gave the bill first-round approval on a voice vote. It needs a second vote to go to the House.

The tuition tax break would apply only to undergraduate courses and only for veterans who were Missouri residents when they entered the military. Students would have to maintain at least a 2.5 grade-point average, but could take advantage of the tuition break for up to 10 years after they were honorably discharged from the military.

Missouri National Guard spokeswoman Capt. Tamara Spicer said the educational incentives could help in its recruitment efforts.

"That would be very good for our young members," Spicer said.

But the University of Missouri expressed reservations about the potential cost of the program. The university told legislative researchers the tuition break could cost its four campus system $2.4 million.

Basic tuition for undergraduate Missouri residents at the University of Missouri system is nearly $236 per credit hour, according to the campuses' Web sites.

The state's second-largest university, Missouri State University in Springfield, charges $179 per credit hour, according to its Web site.

Under the bill, schools could first apply federal grants and state scholarships toward military veterans' tuition costs. The remaining amount of tuition then would be reduced to $50 per credit hour. Students would still have to pay for such things as books and board.

"It's a laudable goal. The issue comes down to who pays for it," said Jim Snider, a lobbyist for the University of Missouri, adding: "Our concern really boils down to whether there's a cost-shift."

Senate Majority Leader Charlie Shields argued unsuccessfully to colleagues that higher education institutions would make up for the reduced military veterans' tuition by raising tuition for other students.

Shields, R-St. Joseph, proposed to make the military tuition break subject to state funding. But he withdrew his amendment after being criticized by some colleagues who argued that the University of Missouri should simply absorb the cost.

"We give enough money to that university that they could put another chair in that classroom and educate these veterans," said Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau.