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Military Tuition Assistance: Everything You Need to Know

As you are calculating the costs of going to college as a service member, it’s important to consider using Military Tuition Assistance. This is another way for service members to pay for college, and a good way to save GI Bill benefits for use after military service.

Military Tuition Assistance: Everything You Need to Know

The military tuition assistance program provides education benefits for active-duty military personnel.  This program may cover up to 100% of the cost-per-credit hour for your education. However, there are limits to what the program covers.  Each branch of the military operates its own Tuition Assistance (TA) program, with its own rules and regulations.

Which Military Branches Have TA?

• Army Tuition Assistance
• Marine Corps Tuition Assistance
• Navy Tuition Assistance
• Air Force Tuition Assistance
• Coast Guard Tuition Assistance
• Space Force (Guardians use the Air Force Virtual Education Center – AFVEC)

You can also receive TA if you are in the National Guard or the Reserve. Note that many states now offer State Tuition Assistance (STA), which may have different caps or requirements than the federal program.

Who Qualifies For Military Tuition Assistance?

According to DoD literature, “To be eligible for TA, an enlisted service member must have enough time remaining in service to complete the course for which he or she has applied.” Officers who use TA “must fulfill a service obligation that runs parallel with – not in addition to – any existing service obligation.”

The standard service obligations are:

• Active Duty Officers: Two years from the completion date of the last TA-funded course.
• Reserve/Guard Officers: Four years from the completion date.

Related: Military Education Benefits for Veterans

How Much Will TA Pay For?

Tuition Assistance pays up to 100% of tuition expenses up to a maximum of $250 per credit hour. ($166.67 per quarter hour).

An annual cap on the benefit applies: $4,500 per fiscal year, from October 1st through September 30th. In addition, there is a 18-semester hour cap. Books and supplies are not funded with Tuition Assistance. – Per current policies in the Army and Coast Guard, school fees are no longer eligible for TA funding; most other branches have followed suit to prioritize tuition costs.

Related: Colleges Fully Covered by Military Tuition Assistance

There are important considerations to make when weighing your TA options. One is how you pay for fees. Some choose to pay these fees out of pocket, but others may consider using the GI Bill to offset them. Others prefer to save GI Bill benefits for school after military service.

What Military Tuition Assistance Does Not Cover

Tuition assistance will not cover books or supplies, flight training fees, do-overs or repeated courses, and continuing education units. You may have TA funds withdrawn, and you may be required to repay the full amount of your tuition in the following circumstances:

• Leaving the military before the course ends
• Quitting the course for reasons not related to illness, permanent change of station move, or mission requirements
• Failing a course: An “unsatisfactory grade” that triggers repayment is a D+ or lower for undergraduate courses and a C+ or lower for graduate courses.
• Failing to maintain the proper GPA: You must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 (undergraduate) or 3.0 (graduate). If your GPA falls below these levels, a “hold” is placed on your account, and no further TA will be approved until the GPA is raised.
• Non-accredited or non-approved classes

Related: Other Options: Colleges Offering Tuition Assistance for Military

In-State Versus Out-of-State Tuition

Some want to know whether they are liable for out-of-state tuition when using military benefits such as the GI Bill or Military Tuition Assistance.

Those using the GI Bill should know that public institutions must offer in-state tuition rates to “covered individuals” under the Isakson and Roe Act, or risk disqualification from accepting VA education funds.

• Military Tuition Assistance is not administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, so the in-state tuition requirement does not apply. However, the Higher Education Opportunity Act requires public institutions to offer in-state rates to active-duty members, spouses, and dependents stationed or residing in the state.
• Many students using TA are doing so to attend classes on base or via distance learning, and the same considerations (in-state versus out-of-state) may not apply unless the student is physically located in the same state as the public university.
• Individual states may also have passed laws requiring military members to be charged in-state tuition regardless of their residency status, which in some states now includes online learners and private institutions.
• You’ll need to check with your state and branch of military service to see what is possible for that service’s TA option.

Related: Best Online Schools for Military Tuition Assistance

What Types of Schools Can You Attend?

You can go to an academic college, a vocational or technical college, a two or 4-year school.  Distance learning may also be covered. Make sure your school is accredited and approved to receive tuition assistance funds. Every institution must have a current, signed DoD Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on file to accept TA funds.

Related: Top Schools For Military Tuition Assistance

Schools Approved for Military Tuition Assistance: Campus Learning

Remember to note that the program you are enrolling in must be approved to be covered, not the school.  Some partner schools are listed below and have paid for promotional consideration.

• University of Nevada
• Arkansas State University
• Upper Iowa University
• Pomona College
• Biola University
• Golden Gate University
• University of North Georgia
• Georgia Tech
• Hawaii Pacific University

For a longer list of schools approved for Tuition Assistance, you can use the CollegeRecon School Finder.  Please go here.

Online Schools Approved for Military Tuition Assistance

Remember to note that the specific school program you are enrolling in must be approved. Some partner schools are listed and have paid for promotional consideration.

• Norwich University
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide
• University of Cincinnati Online
• American Military University
• Fort Hays State University
• Southern New Hampshire University Online

For a longer list of online schools approved for Tuition Assistance, you can use the CollegeRecon School Finder here.

Is TA Open to Every Paygrade?

TA is available for officers, warrant officers, and enlisted service members. However, you must have enough time remaining in service to complete the schooling for which the TA pays.

While most branches allow access to these funds immediately after initial training, the Navy still requires a minimum of three years of service before initial TA eligibility. Additionally, officers who use TA usually incur a two-year service obligation that runs concurrently with any existing shift in their contract.

What Is the Difference Between a GI Bill and Tuition Assistance?

Military tuition assistance is only available to service members when currently serving.  The GI Bill can be used while serving or after you retire or separate from military service. Tuition Assistance is offered by individual military branches, while the Department of Veterans Affairs offers the GI Bill.

VA Tuition Assistance Top-Up Program

The VA Top-Up program allows the VA to pay the tuition difference when TA does not cover the full cost. To qualify, you must be eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty or the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

The Top-Up program uses your GI Bill benefit to pay the difference between what TA covers and what’s left to pay. It does not cover the full course cost, but your benefits will be reduced by the amount you pay. The Top-Up program may be a good option if you plan to:

• Use TA to complete a degree program when you are serving on active duty and don’t plan to continue using your education after you leave the service.
• Take a small number of classes with TA while on active duty.  This will help you save most of your GI Bill benefits after military service to complete your educational program.

VA Top-Up Program Limits and Charges

Top-up options are limited to 36 months of payments. The amount equals the difference between the total cost of a college course and the amount that TA will be paid through your service branch.

Those using the Post-9/11 GI Bill should note that the entitlement is charged based on the training time you are enrolled in.

With the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty, your entitlement may be charged based on the dollar amount of benefits the VA pays you. That is one month of entitlement for each payment you receive, which is equal to the full-time monthly rate for the GI Bill.

Learn more: GI Bill Benefits

How Do I Receive Tuition Assistance?

Visit your local installation education center to get started with TA. You can also search for colleges and universities that accept Military Tuition Assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Military Tuition Assistance (TA) and who qualifies for it?

Military Tuition Assistance is an education program for active-duty military personnel, offering up to 100% tuition coverage, with a maximum of $250 per credit hour and an annual cap of $4,500. Service members must have enough time remaining in service to complete their courses, and officers may need to fulfill a service obligation.

Does Military Tuition Assistance cover all education-related costs?

No, Military Tuition Assistance does not cover books, supplies, flight training fees, repeated courses, or continuing education units. It covers tuition costs only up to specified limits, and service members may need to use their GI Bill or pay out-of-pocket for additional expenses.

What is the difference between Military Tuition Assistance and the GI Bill?

Military Tuition Assistance is available only to active-duty members and is managed by individual service branches, while the GI Bill is offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs and can be used during or after military service. The VA Top-Up program can supplement TA by using GI Bill benefits to cover additional tuition costs.