Tuition Assistance Programs

Tuition Assistance (TA) Programs allow enlisted service members to advance their military and civilian education.

A person in camo pants sitting at a table with a pen and paper application and a calculator.
Tuition Assistance (TA) Programs

Tuition Assistance (TA) Programs allow enlisted service members to advance their military and civilian education. Through these programs, service members can enroll in academic or technical courses and degree programs at two-year or four-year institutions. These courses can be taken on-installation, off-installation, or through distance learning.

The institution must be accredited by a body recognized by the Department of Education. Your service branch will pay your tuition directly to the school.

To learn more about the specifics of TA, service members should consult with an education counselor by visiting their local installation education office or by accessing a virtual education center online.

Tuition assistance may be used for the following programs:

  • Vocational/technical programs
  • Undergraduate programs
  • Graduate programs
  • Independent study
  • Distance-learning programs

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Eligibility

All four service branches and the US Coast Guard offer financial assistance for voluntary, off-duty education programs to support service members’ personal and professional goals. This program is available to officers, warrant officers, and enlisted active-duty service personnel. Additionally, members of the National Guard and Reserve Components may be eligible for Tuition Assistance based on their service eligibility.

To qualify for Tuition Assistance, an enlisted service member must have enough time remaining in service to complete the course for which they have applied.

To be eligible for Tuition Assistance, an enlisted service member must have enough time remaining in service to complete the course for which they have applied. Upon completing a course, an officer using Tuition Assistance must fulfill a service obligation that runs parallel with — not in addition to — any existing service obligation.

 

Coverage, Benefits & Restrictions

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  • Coverage Amounts & Monetary Limits


    The Tuition Assistance Program may fund up to 100% of your college tuition and certain fees with the following limits:

    ➜ Not to exceed $250 per semester credit hour or $166 per quarter credit hour

    ➜ Not to exceed $4,500 per fiscal year, October 1 through September 30

  • Tuition Assistance Benefits

    Tuition Assistance will cover the following expenses:


      ➜     Tuition

      ➜     Course-specific fees such as laboratory fee or online course fee

    NOTE: All fees must directly relate to the specific course enrollment of the service member.

  • Soldier in uniform putting money into a white piggy bank
  • Soldier in uniform holding cash stack
  • Tuition Assistance Restrictions
    Tuition assistance will not cover the following expenses:

      ➜ Books and course materials
      ➜ Flight training fees
      ➜ Taking the same course twice
      ➜ Continuing education units, or CEUs

    Keep in mind that TA will NOT fund your college courses — and you will have to reimburse any funds already paid — if any of the following situations occur:

      ➜ Leaving the service before the course ends
      ➜ Quitting the course for reasons other than personal illness, military transfer, or mission requirements
      ➜ Failing the course

 

‘Tuition Assistance’ vs. ‘The Department Of Veterans Affairs Education Benefits’

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While the Tuition Assistance (TA) program is offered by the services, the Department of Veterans Affairs administers a variety of education benefit programs. Some of the Veterans Affairs programs, such as the Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2008, also known as the Post-9/11 GI Bill, can work well with the Tuition Assistance program, as it can supplement fees not covered by Tuition Assistance.

In addition, the Post-9/11 GI Bill® funds are available to you after you leave the military. If your service ended before January 1, 2013, you have 15 years to use this benefit. If your service ended on or after January 1, 2013, the benefit won’t expire. The Tuition Assistance program is a benefit that is available only while you’re in the service.

 

 

 

Application Process

 

 

Each military branch has its own Tuition Assistance (TA) application form and procedures. To get started, you can visit your local installation education center, access a virtual education center online, or use the following resources for each service branch:

United States Airforce Seal
     
Airforce Tuition Assistance 
United States Army Seal
     
Army Tuition Assistance 
United States Marine Corps Seal
     
Marine Corps Voluntary Education Program
United States Navy Seal
     
Navy College Program
United States Coast Guard Seal
     
 CSPI Scholarship Program

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Application Process (Cont.)

Prior to your course enrollment, you may be required to develop an education plan or complete Tuition Assistance (TA) orientation.

Be sure to keep the following important information in mind when you apply:

➜ Military tuition assistance may only be used to pursue degree programs at colleges and universities in the United States that are regionally or nationally accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S Department of Education.

A quick way to check the accreditation of a school is by visiting the Department of Education.

➜ Your service’s education center must approve your military tuition assistance before you enroll in a course.