Military Tuition Assistance

Military Tuition Assistance (TA)

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) administers the Military Tuition Assistance (TA) Program. TA is available to eligible active-duty service members from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, including the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and U.S. Coast Guard. Members of the National Guard and Reserve Components may also be eligible based on their individual service status and branch-specific criteria.

The TA Program may cover up to 100% of a service member’s tuition and authorized fees, subject to DoD and service-specific funding limits. Military Tuition Assistance is a DoD benefit and is separate from education benefits administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). However, certain VA education benefits—such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill®—may be used in conjunction with TA to help cover education-related expenses not funded by TA.

Applying for Tuition Assistance

It is the service member’s responsibility to apply for Tuition Assistance and to obtain approval from their designated Educational Services Officer (ESO) or military counselor prior to enrolling in courses. Approval must be received before the start of each term. Failure to obtain prior authorization may result in the service member being personally responsible for all tuition and fees.

Once approved, the TA Authorization documentation must be submitted to the Cashier’s Office (located in the Hays Student Center) before the beginning of each semester. Each branch of service has its own eligibility requirements, application procedures, and deadlines. Service members should consult their ESO or military counselor for guidance or select the appropriate branch link below to get started:

• Army
• Marine Corps
• Navy
• Air Force

Financial Aid and Coordination with Other Benefits

Military Tuition Assistance recipients may also be considered for other forms of financial aid available to all students. Service members are encouraged to apply for federal Title IV aid, state assistance, and institutional or external scholarships. Additional information is available on the Financial Aid webpage.

For students eligible for the federal Pell Grant, TA funds will be applied to the student’s account prior to the disbursement of Pell Grant funds. TA benefits may be applied only to tuition and course-specific fees, while Pell Grant funds may be used for other allowable educational expenses.

Tuition Assistance Return Policy

If a service member drops or withdraws from a course prior to the census date (the last date to drop a class), the institution is required to return 100% of the TA funds to the appropriate military branch. This policy aligns with the federal return of funds regulations.

Unearned TA funds are returned on a proportional basis through at least 60% of the period for which the funds were provided. If a service member is required to stop attending due to a military service obligation, the institution will work with the student to help minimize or prevent any resulting student debt associated with the returned TA funds.

For unofficial withdrawals, the institution will attempt to determine the student’s last date of class attendance or academic participation. That date will be used to calculate the amount of Tuition Assistance funds to be returned.