California Veteran Education ObservatoryAn independent project of The Veteran Benefit Desk
County pathway map
One state benefit, 58 county front doors.
How each County Veterans Service Office publishes College Fee Waiver application intake. All 58 county pages independently verified (2026-08-26), each loaded and content-checked with a retrieval date.
What this map codes
- For each county: the published veterans services or fee waiver page (loaded and content-checked on the retrieval date), whether the audited page mentions the College Fee Waiver, and any intake channels the page itself states (online, email, fax, mail, in person, walk in).
- A county without a verified entry is not being scored or criticized; it means the Observatory has not yet independently verified its page. Counties can submit their current page through the issue form.
- Every county office can be located through CalVet's CVSO directory regardless of verification status here. CalVet CVSO directory
What the completed map shows
46 of 58
county pages mention the College Fee Waiver
17
publish specific intake channels for it
5
publish online submission (Riverside, Solano, Stanislaus, Fresno, Marin)
12
verified pages never name the benefit at all
The completed map was shared with the California Association of County Veterans Service Officers through its Communicator newsletter contact; that note, and the income limit corrections it references, are logged in full on the income limit watch.
| County | Audited page | Fee waiver on page | Intake channels the page states |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlamedaPathway profile | socialservices.alamedacountyca.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Not on the audited page | Not stated on the audited page County veterans services page verified; the audited page does not mention the fee waiver. |
| AlpinePathway profile | alpinecountyca.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Not on the audited page | Not stated on the audited page Alpine County publishes no dedicated veterans services page; the county's general resources page was audited and does not mention the fee waiver. CalVet's CVSO directory lists the county's veterans contact in Markleeville. |
| AmadorPathway profile | www.amadorcounty.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes | Not stated on the audited page The services list includes the College Tuition Fee Waiver for dependents and links the DVS-40 application directly. |
| ButtePathway profile | www.buttecounty.net Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes | Not stated on the audited page County Veterans Services page verified; the California College Tuition Fee Waiver appears in the services list. |
| CalaverasPathway profile | veteranservices.calaverasgov.us Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes | Not stated on the audited page Dedicated county Veteran Services site; a College Fee Waiver entry (dated November 2020) appears among its resources. |
| ColusaPathway profile | www.countyofcolusaca.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes | Not stated on the audited page A California College Tuition Fee Waivers link appears on the audited page. |
| Contra CostaPathway profile | www.contracosta.ca.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes | Not stated on the audited page County Veterans Service Office page verified; a CalVet Tuition Fee Waiver link is present on the audited page. |
| Del NortePathway profile | www.co.del-norte.ca.us Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes | Not stated on the audited page The services list includes the College Tuition Fee Waiver for dependents. |
| El DoradoPathway profile | www.eldoradocounty.ca.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes |
Dedicated county fee waiver page. It lists the required document set and cites the California poverty threshold for the previous tax year ($22,941, labeled as 2025 on the page). |
| FresnoPathway profile | www.fresnocountyca.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes |
The audited page hosts the DVS-40 College Fee Waiver application PDF directly and links CalVet's program page. |
| GlennPathway profile | www.countyofglenn.net Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes | Not stated on the audited page The veterans services section carries a dedicated College Fee Waiver page linked from the audited page. |
| HumboldtPathway profile | humboldtgov.org Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes | Not stated on the audited page County Veterans Service Office page verified; the college tuition fee waiver appears in the assistance list. |
| ImperialPathway profile | vso.imperialcounty.org Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Not on the audited page | Not stated on the audited page Dedicated county VSO site verified; none of its published pages (home, about, services, contact) mention the fee waiver. |
| InyoPathway profile | www.inyocounty.us Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes | Not stated on the audited page The services list includes the State College Fee Waiver Program for eligible dependents, and the page carries a CalVet fee waiver FAQ blurb. |
| KernPathway profile | www.kerncounty.com Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes | Not stated on the audited page County veterans benefits page verified; it carries a dedicated College Fee Waiver section under dependent benefits. |
| KingsPathway profile | www.countyofkingsca.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes | Not stated on the audited page The College fee-waiver program appears under California Veterans Benefits on the audited page. |
| LakePathway profile | www.lakecountyca.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes | Not stated on the audited page The page describes the benefit without naming it: an FAQ answer states the child may have tuition-free college in California available, depending on income. |
| LassenPathway profile | www.lassencounty.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes | Not stated on the audited page The California Fee Waiver Program appears under educational programs on the audited page. |
| Los AngelesPathway profile | mva.lacounty.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Not on the audited page | Not stated on the audited page Department of Military and Veterans Affairs site verified; the audited landing page does not mention the fee waiver. |
| MaderaPathway profile | www.maderacounty.com Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes |
Monday through Thursday the office is appointment only; Friday walk-ins cover fee waiver assistance and document drop off. |
| MarinPathway profile | www.marinhhs.org Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes |
The audited page states the office is not doing in-person or walk-in appointments and lists hours Monday through Thursday. |
| MariposaPathway profile | www.mariposacounty.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes | Not stated on the audited page The services list names the College Fee Waiver Program 2025-2026 under educational benefits. |
| MendocinoPathway profile | www.mendocinocounty.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes | Not stated on the audited page The assistance list includes educational benefits including the California College Fee Waiver Program. Two offices are published: Ukiah (open Monday through Thursday) and Fort Bragg (appointment required). |
| MercedPathway profile | www.countyofmerced.com Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes | Not stated on the audited page County veterans page verified; educational benefits including college-fee waivers appear in the services list. |
| ModocPathway profile | www.countyofmodoc.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Not on the audited page | Not stated on the audited page County veterans services page verified; the audited page does not mention the fee waiver. |
| MonoPathway profile | www.inyocounty.us Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes | Not stated on the audited page Mono County's website publishes no veterans services page of its own; the county site's Veterans Services entry (under Residents, County Resources) links directly to Inyo County's veteran services page, whose services list includes the State College Fee Waiver Program. Verified with a browser-rendered audit of the county site. |
| MontereyPathway profile | www.countyofmonterey.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes |
The audited page publishes a 2025 review counting 256 college tuition fee waivers processed, with offices in Salinas, Monterey, Marina, and Hollister. |
| NapaPathway profile | www.napacounty.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes | Not stated on the audited page The county describes the dependent tuition waiver in its own words, noting a 0 percent service-connected rating can still qualify and that spouses may qualify at 100 percent, and links CalVet's form. |
| NevadaPathway profile | www.nevadacountyca.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes | Not stated on the audited page County Veterans Services page verified; a dedicated College Fee Waiver section link is present on the audited page. |
| OrangePathway profile | veterans.oc.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes | Not stated on the audited page County Veterans Service Office site verified; fee waiver content present on the audited page. |
| PlacerPathway profile | www.placer.ca.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes | Not stated on the audited page County veterans services page verified; a College Fee Waivers link is present on the audited page. |
| PlumasPathway profile | www.plumascounty.us Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Not on the audited page | Not stated on the audited page County veterans services page verified; the audited page does not mention the fee waiver. |
| RiversidePathway profile | rivcoveterans.org Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes |
Dedicated submission portal page. It states the office no longer mails approval letters: the student must provide a valid email to receive the Award Code Letter and take it to the school. The page asks applicants to allow up to 14 business days for processing. |
| SacramentoPathway profile | ha.saccounty.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes |
|
| San BenitoPathway profile | www.sanbenitocountyca.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Not on the audited page | Not stated on the audited page The audited page states veterans services are provided through Monterey County's Military and Veterans Affairs office and publishes walk in hours (Monday through Wednesday 8am to 3pm); it does not mention the fee waiver. |
| San BernardinoPathway profile | va.sbcounty.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes | Not stated on the audited page County Department of Veterans Affairs site verified; fee waiver content present on the audited page. |
| San DiegoPathway profile | www.sandiegocounty.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes |
Dedicated College Fee Waiver instructions page publishing all four intake channels. The page also cites the current AY 2026-27 Plan B limit ($22,941), matching CalVet's Notes section. |
| San FranciscoPathway profile | www.sfhsa.org Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes |
The audited page hosts the county's full fee waiver form set: Plan A and Plan B checklists for AY 2025-2026, the program fact sheet, the VSD-020 election form, the VSD-021 signature certification, and the DVS-40 application. |
| San JoaquinPathway profile | www.sjgov.org Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes |
The audited page states Fridays are appointment only, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. |
| San Luis ObispoPathway profile | www.slocounty.ca.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes |
Dedicated county fee waiver page mirroring CalVet's full plan language. As of the retrieval date it still lists the AY 2025-26 limit of $22,273 and has not posted the 2026-27 figure of $22,941. It also publishes the appeal route: a written appeal within 90 days to the Deputy Secretary, Veterans Services Division, Sacramento. |
| San MateoPathway profile | www.smcgov.org Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes |
The audited page links a dedicated CalVet College Fee Waiver resource page. |
| Santa BarbaraPathway profile | www.countyofsb.org Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Not on the audited page | Not stated on the audited page Verified with a browser-rendered audit because the page loads content client side. The Veterans' Services Program page (published under the Treasurer-Tax Collector) lists school benefits among assistance areas but does not name the fee waiver. Three offices are published (Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Lompoc) with staff email links, phone, and fax. |
| Santa ClaraPathway profile | vets.santaclaracounty.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes | Not stated on the audited page County Office of Veterans Services CalVet services page verified; it lists College Fee Waiver dependent education benefits and links to CalVet's program page. |
| Santa CruzPathway profile | santacruzhumanservices.org Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes |
The page carries a Calvet College Tuition Waivers section quoting the program definition and flagging that children of disabled vets may qualify. |
| ShastaPathway profile | www.shastacounty.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes | Not stated on the audited page County services page verified; it states the office processes all CalVet College Fee Waivers. |
| SierraPathway profile | sierracounty.ca.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes | Not stated on the audited page The benefits list includes the College Fee Waiver for dependents and the dependent college tuition fee waiver under education benefits. |
| SiskiyouPathway profile | www.siskiyoucounty.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Not on the audited page | Not stated on the audited page County veterans services page verified (published under the Sheriff's office); the audited page does not mention the fee waiver. |
| SolanoPathway profile | www.solanocounty.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes |
Dedicated county fee waiver page. It asks applicants to allow 7 to 14 business days for processing, lists required documents including prior year income verification and the VSD-020 election form for Plan A, and states most students are eligible under either Plan A or Plan B. |
| SonomaPathway profile | www.schsd.org Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes |
County Veterans Service Office FAQ page on the county Human Services Department site; the fee waiver appears as an FAQ answer directing families to call the office. |
| StanislausPathway profile | www.stancounty.com Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes |
The services page lists educational benefits including the California College Waiver Program. |
| SutterPathway profile | www.sutter.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes | Not stated on the audited page The page states the office evaluates and approves tuition fee waivers at state colleges and universities for low-income children of disabled veterans. It is a bi-county office with Yuba County as the lead agency. |
| TehamaPathway profile | www.tehama.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes | Not stated on the audited page The audited page hosts College Fee Waiver Instructions and a College Fee Waiver Application as downloadable documents. |
| TrinityPathway profile | www.trinitycounty.org Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes | Not stated on the audited page Dedicated College Fee Waiver page under the county's Veteran Services section. |
| TularePathway profile | tchhsa.org Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes | Not stated on the audited page Dedicated California Fee Waiver Program page hosting the county's form set: the checklist, the application for veteran dependents, the VSD-020 election form, the VSD-021 signature certification, and the VSD-023 non-filing letter. |
| TuolumnePathway profile | www.tuolumnecounty.ca.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Not on the audited page |
The live page sits behind an anti-bot verification wall, so the audit used the Internet Archive snapshot of July 12, 2025. That capture describes eligibility help for federal and state benefits and publishes appointment-only hours; it does not mention the fee waiver. |
| VenturaPathway profile | venturacounty.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Yes | Not stated on the audited page Dedicated county College Fee Waiver program page verified. |
| YoloPathway profile | www.yolocounty.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Not on the audited page | Not stated on the audited page County Veterans Service Office page verified; it lists education benefits but does not name the fee waiver. |
| YubaPathway profile | www.yuba.gov Retrieved 2026-08-26 | Not on the audited page | Not stated on the audited page Veterans assistance is published as a services entry on the county Health and Human Services page, covering both Yuba and Sutter counties; the entry does not mention the fee waiver. |
Why this page exists: the same state benefit reaches families through 58 different county intake points, and no statewide source documents how each one takes applications. Differences found here feed the source discrepancy tracker and the fee waiver implementation audit. New to the program? Start with the fee waiver explainer. County staff: corrections are welcome through the issue form.
The California Veteran Education Observatory is an independent research and public-information project of The Veteran Benefit Desk. It is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the California Department of Veterans Affairs, the California Student Aid Commission, or any college or university. It does not provide individualized legal, financial-aid, education, or benefits advice.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at va.gov/education.
Found an error or a source that changed? Submit an issue. Corrections publish under the corrections policy.