Department of Defense Education Benefits Programs
For a full outline of education benefits available to active duty service members via the Department of Defense, please contact the appropriate Education Services Office. For further details, see below:
Please Note: You must contact Deborah Fleming in addition to Student Accounts. If you do not contact Ms. Fleming this will hold up your paperwork.
Navy TA Eligibility
Navy Tuition Assistance (TA) is available to both Naval Officer and Enlisted active duty personnel and Naval Reservists on continuous active duty. It is also available to enlisted Naval Reservists ordered to active duty 120 days and to Naval Reservist Officers ordered to active duty for 2 years or more. To qualify, service members must:
- Be on active duty for the whole length of the course;
- Attend an institution accredited by a regional, national, or professional accrediting agency recognized by the Department of Education;
- (Optional) Determine if a CLEP/DSST exam could take the place of the course to be funded (either ask your school or your Navy College Office). If a CLEP/DSST exam credit could apply, consult with your Navy College Office for instructions on taking the practice test and scheduling an appointment for the test;
- Provide all grades from previously funded TA courses and reimburse all W and F grades. Withdrawals for involuntary reasons may be granted with command verification.;
- Agree, if an officer, to remain on active duty for at least two years upon completion of courses funded by TA. This obligation runs concurrently with remaining obligated service time. Those who fail to serve the obligation must repay the TA funds expended on their behalf during the last two years of active duty on a pro rated basis.
Payment
The maximum amount paid for tuition assistance:
Not to exceed:
- $250 @ Semester Credit Hour, or;
- $166 @ Quarter Credit Hour, and;
- 16 Semester Hours (24 Quarter Hours or 240 Clock Hours) @ Fiscal Year
To apply, contact your Navy College Office.
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Please Note: You must contact Monique Coleman in addition to Student Accounts. If you do not contact our office this will hold up your paperwork.
Marine Corps TA Eligibility
Marine Corps Tuition Assistance (TA) offers financial assistance to service members who elect to pursue Off-Duty or Voluntary Education.
Payment
The Marine Corps maximum amount paid for tuition assistance:
Not to exceed:
- $250 @ Semester Credit Hour, or;
- $166 @ Quarter Credit Hour, and;
- $4,500 @ Fiscal Year
Application Process
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Please Note: You must contact Monique Coleman in addition to Student Accounts. If you do not contact our office this will hold up your paperwork.
Army TA Eligibility
Army Tuition Assistance (TA) provides financial assistance for voluntary off-duty education programs in support of a soldier’s professional and personal self-development goals. The program is open to nearly all soldiers (officers, warrant officers, enlisted) on active duty, and Army National Guard and Army Reserve on active duty.
There are some restrictions to who may use Army Tuition Assistance and what courses it can be used for. Download AR 621-5 (Army Continuing Education System Regulations) to get further details.
Payment
The maximum amount paid for tuition assistance:
Not to exceed:
- $250 @ Semester Credit Hour, or;
- $166 @ Quarter Credit Hour, and;
- $4,500 @ Fiscal Year
The Army Continuing Education System has launched a new automated tuition assistance project. The TA automation will allow active duty soldiers to request TA and enroll in courses online. This will speed up the enrollment process and minimize wait times at Army Education Centers. Active Duty soldiers are now able to request TA online through GoArmyEd.
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Please Note: You must contact Monique Coleman in addition to Student Accounts. If you do not contact our office this will hold up your paperwork.
Air Force TA Eligibility
Air Force Tuition Assistance (TA) is an important quality of life program that provides 100% tuition and fees for courses taken by active duty personnel. The program is one of the most frequent reasons given for enlisting and re-enlisting in the Air Force.
Payment
The maximum amount paid for Tuition Assistance:
Not to exceed:
- $250 @ Semester Credit Hour, or;
- $166 @ Quarter Credit Hour, and;
- $4,500 @ Fiscal Year
Application Process
You must apply for Tuition Assistance online using the Air Force Virtual Education Center. This must be done through the Air Force Portal.
Note: This site may generate a security error in your browser unless you have installed their own security keys. To fix this, you will have to follow the directions to install their keys at the bottom of the page. You will have to accept their certificate in order to get to this web page.
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Please Note: You must contact Monique Coleman in addition to Student Accounts. If you do not contact our office this will hold up your paperwork.
Coast Guard TA Eligibility
Coast Guard Tuition Assistance (TA) assists eligible personnel – active duty, reserve and civilian employees – in their professional development by providing funding for off-duty voluntary education courses to broaden their academic or Coast Guard technical background.
Payment
The maximum amount paid for tuition assistance:
Not to exceed:
- $250 @ Semester Credit Hour, or;
- $166 @ Quarter Credit Hour, and;
- $4,500 @ Fiscal Year
Application Process
The management of TA is centralized at the USCG Institute through a consolidated tuition assistance processing system managed by the U.S. Naval Education and Training Professional Development and Technology Center (NETPDTC) in Pensacola, Florida.
The Coast Guard Institute approves the TA Application (CG-4147) , inputs data into the Navy’s computer database, and issues the TA Authorization form (CGI-1560).
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Please Note: You must contact Monique Coleman in addition to Student Accounts. If you do not contact our office this will hold up your paperwork.
National Guard TA Eligibility
Members of the National Guard are eligible for tuition assistance (TA). However each of the Armed Forces determines how to administer their own TA. In addition each state may offer its National Guard service members state funded education incentives based on state guidelines and eligibility (i.e. TA, waivers, exemptions, student loan repayment, etc.).
Before you take your first college course, be sure to take the CLEP exams. This can save you time and money. Go to DANTES Credit-by-Exam programs.
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Please Note: You must contact Monique Coleman in addition to Student Accounts. If you do not contact our office this will hold up your paperwork.
Army National Guard (ARNG)
The ARNG Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) provides financial assistance to part-time ARNG soldiers in support of their professional and personal self-development goals. A masters degree may be supported provided funding is available. Their vision is to provide quality programs, services and support that will enable soldiers to achieve their education objectives and further enhance the strength and relevance of the Army National Guard. Members of the Army National Guard may qualify for one or more of the following TA program:
Federal Tuition Assistance (Part-time Citizen Soldiers)
The ARNG maximum amount paid for Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) for Part Time Soldiers is:
- 100% Tuition up to $250 @ Semester Credit Hour, or $167 @ Quarter Credit Hour
- Fees up to $500
- Not to exceed $4500 @ Fiscal Year
- High School or equivalency level may be funded at 100% of tuition and fees, but are still limited to the $4,500 annual cap.
May be used with the MGIB-Selected Reserve (SR) or MGIB-Active Duty (AD) for the same course based on the following;
- MGIB-SR participants must be enrolled at least ½ time or more to combine benefits
- MGIB-AD participants who are drawing GI Bill-Kicker (Army College Fund, etc.) benefits are NOT eligible for ARNG FTA
- ARNG recommends that schools apply FTA prior to Pell Grants, to allow for maximizing benefit for student financial needs
- Note: ARNG FTA operates on a limited budget and is NOT a guaranteed benefit. It is offered on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Visit the National Guard Virtual Armory website to access the National Guard Federal Tuition Assistance online application.
Eligibility
- Must have a valid expense from an accredited school
- Be a traditional (part-time) ARNG soldier in an active drilling status
- Eligible beginning the day member joins ARNG, even prior to boot camp or AIT or while yet in high school
- Officers must serve 4 years after course completion
- Enlisted must simply remain in the ARNG during term of courses
- Members receiving an ROTC scholarship are not eligible
State Tuition Assistance
Although not all states offer payment of TA, Many states have additional tuition incentives, which are offered at varying amounts. You can visit the Army National Guard State Benefits website to determine which benefits your state offers.
Go Army Ed (CTAM) TA (Activated Guard and Reserve)
If activated you will become eligible for the Army’s Tuition Assistance for Active Duty and Activated Reserve/Guard.
The ACE TA program offers:
- 100% Tuition and Fees up to $250 @ Semester Credit Hour, or;
- $167 @ Quarter Credit Hour
- Not to exceed $4,500 @ Fiscal Year.
Visit the National Guard Virtual Armory website where you can get the latest information on Education Benefits for Citizen Soldiers.
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Please Note: You must contact Monique Coleman in addition to Student Accounts. If you do not contact our office this will hold up your paperwork.
Air National Guard (ANG)
The Air National Guard provides access to all DANTES Credit-by-Exam programs, Community College of the Air Force Associate Degree programs, federal tuition assistance for AGR members for distance learning courses, and state education benefits for all members.
State Tuition Assistance
Although not all states offer payment of TA, many states have additional tuition incentives, which are offered at varying amounts. Visit the ANG Benefits website to determine your state benefits.
Air Force Tuition Assistance (Activated Guard and Reserve)
If activated you will become eligible for the Air Force Tuition Assistance for Active Duty and Activated Reserve/Guard. This Tuition Assistance Program offers:
- 100% Tuition and Fees up to $250 @ Semester Credit Hour, or;
- $166 @ Quarter Credit Hour
- Not to exceed $4,500 @ Fiscal Year.Top
Please Note: You must contact Monique Coleman in addition to Student Accounts. If you do not contact our office this will hold up your paperwork.
Army Reserve (USAR)
Army Reservists may go to https://rcms.ocar.army.pentagon.mil/education/ and sign in using their AKO login and password to submit TA requests online.
Note: This site may generate a security error in your browser unless you have installed their own security keys. To fix this, you will have to follow the directions to install their keys at the bottom of the page. You will have to accept their certificate in order to get to this web page.
The USAR offers:
- 100% tuition assistance up to $250 per semester hour, or;
- $166 per quarter hour, not to exceed $4,500 annually per service member
- 75% up to $250 per SH, $166 per quarter hour, and;
- $4500 per FY for officers pursuing a bachelors degree.
Eligibility
- The soldier must be a drilling reservist in good standing.
- The soldier must declare an educational goal leading to a credential higher than current degree level.
- Enlisted soldiers and warrant officers must have sufficient time remaining on their term of service to complete the course before separation.
- Commissioned officers must have at least four years of Selected Reserve service remaining from the date of completion of the course for which tuition assistance is provided.
- The soldier must enroll for the independent study course following Army Reserve procedures.
Contact your local Army Reserve Education Office for assistance with TA or any other voluntary education assistance.
Navy Reserve (USNR)
There are currently no Tuition Assistance programs for the Navy Reserve. However, if you are activated under Title 10 then you qualify for the active duty Navy Tuition Assistance.
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Please Note: You must contact Monique Coleman in addition to Student Accounts. If you do not contact our office this will hold up your paperwork.
Marine Corps Reserve (USMCR)
There are currently no Tuition Assistance programs for the Marine Corps Reserve. However, if you are activated under Title 10 then you qualify for the active duty Marine Corps Tuition Assistance.
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Please Note: You must contact Monique Coleman in addition to Student Accounts. If you do not contact our office this will hold up your paperwork.
Air Force Reserve (USAFR)
USAFR offers:
- Undergraduate (Associates and Bachelors Degrees):
- 100% tuition assistance for undergraduate degree programs
- Not to exceed $250 per semester hour, or $166.67 per quarter hour
- Up to $4,500 annually per Service member.
- Graduate Studies (Masters Degree)
- 75% tuition assistance for graduate degree programs
- Not to exceed $250 per semester hour, or $166 per quarter hour
- Up to $4,500 annually.
Note: The Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) manages payment of the USAFR tuition assistance program.
For additional information on the Air Force Reserve voluntary education programs, please contact: Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Training Support Branch, Robins AFB, Georgia, at Commercial phone number: (478) 327-1276, DSN 497-1276
Visit the Air Force Reserve Website or the Air Force Education Services Programs website for more information.
Contact your education service officer for information on how to apply for tuition assistance and other programs.
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Please Note: You must contact Monique Coleman in addition to Student Accounts. If you do not contact our office this will hold up your paperwork.
Coast Guard Reserve (USCGR)
Coast Guard Reserve units have integrated with active duty sites, so in the spirit of “Team Coast Guard,” USCG reservists have access to all of the educational programs available to active duty members. The Coast Guard Institute website has a complete synopsis of available programs and applications.
The Coast Guard offers selected reservists:
- 100% tuition assistance up to $250 per semester hour, or $166.67 per quarter hour
- Not to exceed $4,500 annually per service member.
Contact your Coast Guard ESO for information on how to apply for tuition assistance and other programs.
