Your Guide to DoD Tuition Assistance

Last updated 2 months ago. Our resources are updated regularly but please keep in mind that links, programs, policies, and contact information do change.

The Department of Defense Voluntary Education program can be a career game-changer. For many service members, the chance to earn a degree while serving becomes the deciding factor in their commitment to military life.

At the program’s heart sits Tuition Assistance (TA), which pays educational institutions directly to cover most tuition costs for voluntary, off-duty courses. The Army puts it bluntly: TA “directly contributes to retaining quality Soldiers, enhancing their career progression, improving Army readiness, and preparing Soldiers for meaningful employment” after service.

This dual focus makes TA unique. You’re building skills for your current military role while preparing for whatever comes next.

What TA Covers and How Much You Get

The DoD sets uniform financial policies across all service branches. TA can cover up to 100% of tuition and certain mandatory fees, but caps limit how much you can receive.

Current limits are:

• Maximum $250 per semester hour of credit
• Maximum $166.67 per quarter hour for quarter-system schools
• Maximum $16.67 per clock hour for vocational and technical programs
• Total annual ceiling of $4,500 per service member per fiscal year (October 1 to September 30)

Individual services sometimes set lower caps based on budget constraints. The Army recently raised its annual cap from $4,000 to match the DoD standard of $4,500, letting Soldiers take more classes each year.

These caps create a powerful market force. Schools wanting military students often set tuition at or below $250 per credit hour, allowing them to advertise programs as “fully covered by TA.” You can find these military-friendly institutions using the DoD’s TA DECIDE tool.

What’s Covered vs. What You Pay

TA funds go directly from your service branch to the school for specific educational costs.

Covered by TA:

• Tuition
• Mandatory, course-specific fees (lab fees, online course fees)

Not Covered by TA:

• Books and course materials
• Room and board
• Transportation and parking fees
• General institutional fees (application, graduation, student activity fees)
• Flight training fees
• Cost of retaking a course
• Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

Read your school’s billing statement carefully. Only fees that are mandatory, directly tied to specific course enrollment, and refundable qualify for TA funding.

Basic Eligibility Requirements

The TA program is discretionary, not an entitlement. You must meet specific criteria and get command approval.

The program generally covers officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel on active duty across all branches. National Guard and Reserve members may qualify if they’re on continuous active duty orders for a specified duration. Retired service members cannot use TA.

Service Obligations

Using TA creates different service commitments for officers and enlisted personnel.

Officers: Commissioned officers who use TA face an Active Duty Service Obligation (ADSO) or Reserve Duty Service Obligation (RDSO). Active-duty officers typically commit to two additional years. Reserve Component officers commit to four years. This obligation starts when you complete your last TA-funded course and runs concurrently with other service commitments.

Enlisted: No overarching statutory service obligation exists for enlisted personnel. However, individual services can establish their own policies. Federal law allows Service Secretaries to impose up to four years of service obligation for Selected Reserve or Individual Ready Reserve enlisted members. Most commonly, enlisted members just need enough time remaining on their current contract to complete the course.

Academic Standards

You must maintain satisfactory academic progress to keep using TA.

Undergraduate GPA: Maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale. Falling below this standard after completing 15 semester hours of TA-funded undergraduate coursework can lead to denial of future TA requests.

Graduate GPA: Maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale, typically evaluated after completing six semester hours of TA-funded graduate coursework.

Program Restrictions

TA supports progressive educational attainment but has limits.

Degree Levels: TA funds can cover high school completion, vocational or technical certificates, and degrees at associate, bachelor’s, and master’s levels. TA generally isn’t authorized beyond a master’s degree.

No Lateral or Lower Degrees: You can’t use TA for a degree at the same level or lower than one you already hold. If you have a bachelor’s degree, you can’t use TA for a second bachelor’s or an associate degree. Some exceptions exist, like the Air Force allowing civilian associate degrees even after earning one from the Community College of the Air Force.

Branch-Specific Programs

Each military service manages its own TA program with unique eligibility criteria, credit hour limits, and application procedures. The process isn’t portable across branches—advice from a friend in a different service may not apply.

Army Tuition Assistance

The Army’s TA program covers officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel on active duty. Army National Guard and Army Reserve members on active duty orders under Title 10 or Title 32 can also participate. Retired Soldiers aren’t eligible.

The annual cap is $4,500 per fiscal year, with an annual credit limit of 18 semester hours. The Army imposes lifetime credit hour limits: 130 semester hours for undergraduate studies and 39 semester hours for graduate studies.

All Army TA requests go through ArmyIgnitED. Before requesting funds, Soldiers must engage with an Army Education Services Specialist to declare an educational goal and establish a formal education plan. First-time TA users must complete a specific ArmyIgnitED training module and use a decision support tool before submitting their first request.

Commissioned officers using Army TA incur significant service obligations. Active Duty officers get a two-year Active Duty Service Obligation (ADSO), while Reserve Component officers get a four-year Reserve Duty Service Obligation (RDSO), both starting after completing the last TA-funded course.

Navy Tuition Assistance

The Navy’s TA program has some of the strictest initial eligibility requirements.

Sailors need at least three years of active service. Enlisted Reservists qualify if ordered to active duty for 120 days or more. Reserve Officers need orders extending at least two years beyond the course end date. Commissioned officers generally must reach Lieutenant (O-3) rank to use TA, though prior-enlisted officers with at least eight years of prior service may be eligible immediately upon commissioning.

The Navy’s annual TA cap is $4,500 with a fiscal year credit hour limit of 18 semester hours. The lifetime cap for TA usage is 120 semester hours. TA will only pay for one degree at each academic level.

The Navy manages TA through the MyNavy Education portal, which hosts the WebTA application system. Before applying, Sailors must complete mandatory online training like “Virtual Counseling 101.” The TA application must be command-approved no later than 14 days before the term starts.

Navy officers using TA must remain on active duty for at least two years following completion of their last funded course.

Air Force & Space Force Tuition Assistance

The Department of the Air Force runs a unified TA program for both Airmen and Guardians.

The program covers all active duty Airmen and Guardians. Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve members on active duty orders qualify. TA may be denied for personnel with negative administrative actions like an Unfavorable Information File, failed Physical Fitness test, or referral performance report.

The annual TA cap is $4,500 per fiscal year. The Department of the Air Force imposes lifetime caps of 124 semester hours for undergraduate degrees and 42 semester hours for graduate degrees.

All TA requests go through the Air Force Virtual Education Center (AFVEC). You must create an “Education Goal” and upload an official degree plan within AFVEC. Applications must be submitted between 45 days and 7 days before the course start date. All TA requests need electronic approval from your supervisor via AFVEC before processing.

Active Duty officers using TA get a two-year Active Duty Service Commitment (ADSC). Reserve Component officers get a four-year Reserve Service Commitment (RSC), calculated from the completion date of the last TA-funded course.

Marine Corps Tuition Assistance

The Marine Corps emphasizes education as part of continuous self-improvement. Interestingly, Marines use the Navy’s online system for administrative backbone.

Active duty Marines need at least 24 months of service. Marine Corps Reservists qualify if they’re on continuous active duty, enlisted and ordered to active duty for 120 days or more, or reserve officers ordered to active duty for two years or more. Marines must have a minimum General Technical (GT) score of 100 or Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) score of 10.2, and complete the Marine Corps Institute Personal Financial Management course. Marines pending disciplinary action can’t use TA.

The annual TA cap is $4,500 per fiscal year at $250 per semester hour. The Marine Corps limits concurrent enrollment: first-time TA users may only take one course, and all other Marines are limited to two TA-funded courses at a time.

Marines apply through the Navy’s MyNavy Education portal using the integrated WebTA system. Applications should be submitted up to 60 days in advance and must be command-approved before the course start date.

Marine Corps officers using TA must remain on active duty for two years after completing their last TA-funded course. Enlisted Marines must have an End of Active Service (EAS) date at least 60 days beyond the completion date of the requested class.

Coast Guard Tuition Assistance

The Coast Guard, while part of the Department of Homeland Security, offers a TA program aligned with DoD policies that extends eligibility to its civilian workforce.

The program covers Active Duty members, Selected Reserve (SELRES) members, and permanent civilian employees. Reservists must be on long-term active duty orders of more than 180 days to qualify.

The Coast Guard’s annual TA cap is $4,500 per fiscal year. Lifetime credit hour limits of 130 for undergraduate and 40 for graduate degrees were eliminated as of fiscal year 2024, representing a significant positive change.

Coast Guard members apply through the MyCG Ed portal, with the application hosted on Navy infrastructure at MyNavy Education. A degree plan becomes mandatory after using TA for two courses or six semester hours. Applications must be submitted and approved no later than 14 days prior to the course start date.

Coast Guard Active Duty officers get a two-year service obligation, while Reserve officers get a four-year obligation after using TA. Enlisted members must complete their TA-funded courses prior to discharge or retirement.

How to Apply Step-by-Step

Successfully applying for TA requires more than filling out a form. It’s a multi-stage process where failure at any single step can halt the entire process and jeopardize funding.

Start with Your Education Services Officer

Regardless of your branch, the journey begins with your local Education Services Officer (ESO) or education counselor. This initial counseling session is mandatory and serves several vital functions.

The ESO helps clarify your academic goals, select an appropriate degree program, and create an official degree plan. This degree plan, outlining all courses required for your chosen credential, must be uploaded to your branch’s TA portal. Engaging with your ESO early ensures you start on solid footing and meet foundational requirements for TA approval.

Applying Through ArmyIgnitED

The Army centralizes all TA and Credentialing Assistance requests through ArmyIgnitED. The process is sequential and requires attention to detail.

Step 1: Create an Account Navigate to the ArmyIgnitED portal. You’ll need a Common Access Card (CAC) to create a secure account.

Step 2: Complete Required Training Before requesting TA for the first time, complete two mandatory training modules: “ArmyIgnitED 101” and “Virtual Benefits Training.”

Step 3: Create and Submit an Education Path Declare your “Education Path” by selecting your academic institution and degree program and uploading your official, evaluated degree plan from the school. This path gets electronically routed to an Army education counselor for review and approval. You can’t request TA until this path is approved.

Step 4: Request Tuition Assistance Once your Education Path is approved, enroll in a class at your school. Return to ArmyIgnitED and submit a TA request for that specific course. Submit and get approval no later than 7 days prior to the official class start date. Requests submitted inside this window won’t be funded.

Applying Through AFVEC

The Department of the Air Force uses the Air Force Virtual Education Center (AFVEC) for all TA requests for both Airmen and Guardians. The process heavily involves supervisor oversight.

Step 1: Get Started in AFVEC Access the AFVEC portal, create an account, update your contact information, verify your supervisor’s information is correct, and complete any required initial or follow-up MilTA briefings and trainings. First-time users may need to complete an interest inventory assessment.

Step 2: Create an Education Goal Similar to the Army’s “Path,” create an “Education Goal” in AFVEC. Select your school and degree program and upload your degree plan. For your first two classes, an unofficial degree plan works. Beyond that, you need an official, evaluated degree plan from your institution.

Step 3: Apply for Funding After consulting with your academic advisor and registering for a course, submit a TA request in AFVEC. Do this within a strict window: no earlier than 45 days and no later than 7 days before the course start date.

Step 4: Secure Supervisor Approval Your TA request automatically routes to your supervisor for electronic approval within AFVEC. Ensure your supervisor approves the request before the course start date. Without this approval, the request won’t be forwarded for funding.

Step 5: Submit Your Voucher After your supervisor and education office approve the request, AFVEC generates a TA authorization voucher. Print this document and provide it to your school’s business or veterans affairs office for payment processing.

Applying Through MyNavy Education

The Navy and Marine Corps share the same TA application portal, MyNavy Education, streamlining the process for the Department of the Navy.

Step 1: Complete Prerequisite Counseling and Training Before accessing the portal, receive counseling from your local Navy College Office (for Sailors) or Marine Corps Education Center (for Marines). Complete required online training modules like “Virtual Learning 101,” available within the MyNavy Education portal.

Step 2: Upload Your Degree Plan Log into the MyNavy Education portal. Navigate to “Upload Files” and upload your official degree plan. This is mandatory before your first TA application can be authorized.

Step 3: Create the TA Application Select “Create New Application.” Enter all course details (number, title, dates, cost) and the contact information for your designated command approver (typically your Commanding Officer or someone with “By Direction” authority).

Step 4: Track Command Approval and Authorization After submitting the application, it routes to your command approver. Once approved, it forwards to the Voluntary Education Center for final authorization. You’ll receive email notifications at each stage. The application must be command-approved no later than 14 days prior to the term start date.

Step 5: Print and Submit the Voucher Once your application is fully authorized, a TA voucher becomes available in the portal. Print this voucher, sign it, and deliver it to your school’s student accounts or registrar’s office to secure funding.

Applying Through MyCG Ed

The Coast Guard uses the MyCG Ed portal for its TA program, which leverages the Navy’s underlying technical infrastructure.

Step 1: Initial Steps and Portal Access Consult with your Education Service Officer (ESO). Using a CAC reader, log into the MyCG Ed portal, accessed via the MyNavy Education link.

Step 2: Upload Required Documents After using TA for two courses (or 6 semester hours), upload an official degree plan. Reservists must also upload a current point statement from Direct Access to verify satisfactory participation.

Step 3: Create and Submit the Application Create a new TA application within the portal. Enter your command approver’s (ESO) information and all relevant course details. For schools not pre-loaded in the system, you may need to upload a cost verification document, like a screenshot from the school’s website showing the tuition rate per credit hour.

Step 4: Follow the Approval Chain Your application first routes to your ESO for command approval. Once approved, it goes to the Coast Guard’s Education and Training Quota Management Command (ETQC) for final authorization and funding. The fully routed application must reach ETQC at least 7 days prior to the course start date.

Step 5: Deliver the Authorization Voucher Once ETQC authorizes the request, you’ll be notified via email. Log back into the portal, download the authorized voucher, and submit it to your school to process payment.

When You Have to Pay Back: Recoupment Rules

TA isn’t an entitlement—it’s a conditional investment by the U.S. government in your education. This investment comes with firm expectations of successful course completion. When that doesn’t happen, the DoD requires you to repay the funds through recoupment.

The fundamental principle: if the government pays for a course, you must successfully complete it. Failure to do so, for reasons within your control, triggers a requirement to reimburse the government for the full amount of TA paid for that course.

What Triggers Recoupment

“Unsuccessful completion” includes these circumstances:

Failing Grades: Receiving a final grade below the minimum DoD standard. For undergraduate courses, this is typically a ‘D’ or lower. For graduate-level courses, usually a ‘C’ or lower.

Voluntary Withdrawals: Officially withdrawing from a course for personal reasons after the academic institution’s census date or add/drop period has passed. This typically results in a ‘W’ grade on the transcript, considered unsuccessful completion for TA purposes.

Unresolved Incomplete Grades: Receiving a grade of ‘I’ (Incomplete) and failing to complete required coursework to earn a passing grade within the timeframe specified by the institution or service branch (often six months to a year). If the ‘I’ grade isn’t resolved, it’s treated as a failure.

Separation from Service: Leaving the military, for any reason, before the official end date of the TA-funded course.

When Waivers Apply

The DoD recognizes that military life’s unique demands can sometimes interfere with your ability to complete studies. The recoupment requirement may be waived if withdrawal was for military necessity or circumstances clearly beyond your control.

Qualifying reasons for a waiver typically include:

• Unanticipated military duties, deployment, or permanent change of station (PCS)
• Documented personal illness, injury, or hospitalization
• Approved emergency leave

The waiver process is formal and requires substantial documentation. You must submit a waiver request through your education office, usually including a signed statement explaining circumstances, supporting documents (deployment orders, medical records, approved leave forms), and commander endorsement. For example, Army soldiers must submit a DA Form 7793, Request for Recoupment Waiver.

Waivers generally aren’t granted for failing grades—they’re reserved for withdrawals necessitated by unavoidable circumstances.

Maximizing Your Benefits

TA is often just one piece of a larger puzzle for funding a complete education. Annual and per-credit-hour caps mean that for more expensive schools or heavy course loads, TA alone may not cover all costs. Several strategies let service members stack benefits, creating comprehensive funding that can significantly reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket expenses.

The most effective strategy often involves using the “use it or lose it” TA benefit first, preserving the more flexible and valuable GI Bill for future needs.

The TA Top-Up Program

The Tuition Assistance Top-Up Program is specifically designed to cover the difference when a course’s tuition and fees exceed standard TA coverage. This program lets service members use their GI Bill benefits to pay remaining costs without exhausting a large portion of their entitlement on a single course.

What it is: A GI Bill feature that allows the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to pay for tuition and fee costs not covered by DoD TA.

Who is eligible: To use Top-Up, you must be approved for federal TA by your branch and be eligible for either the Montgomery GI Bill–Active Duty (MGIB-AD, Chapter 30) or the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33). The program isn’t available for those eligible only for the Montgomery GI Bill–Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR).

How it works: The VA pays the Top-Up benefit directly to you, not to the school. Using this benefit reduces your remaining GI Bill entitlement. The amount of entitlement charged is calculated based on the dollar amount of the benefit used. Top-Up is limited to a total of 36 months of payments.

How to Apply: Submit VA Form 22-1990, Application for VA Education Benefits online through the VA’s website. When filling out the form, specifically indicate that you’re applying for “Top-Up.” Provide copies of your approved TA authorization forms to the VA.

Using TA first and saving the bulk of the GI Bill is smart financial strategy. The GI Bill is more comprehensive, often including a monthly housing allowance and stipend for books and supplies, which TA doesn’t cover. The Post-9/11 GI Bill can be used for up to 15 years after leaving service (or indefinitely for those who separated after January 1, 2013) and can be transferred to a spouse or dependent children—a valuable option unavailable with TA.

By using the more restrictive, in-service TA benefit for the bulk of coursework, service members can preserve their more powerful GI Bill entitlement for a more expensive degree program later in life, graduate school, or their family’s educational future.

Using Federal Student Aid

Every service member using TA should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This single application, available at no cost, is the gateway to federal financial aid that can be used alongside TA.

A key advantage for service members is that TA is considered a “first payer” by educational institutions. Your TA funds are applied to your tuition balance first. If you also qualify for a federal Pell Grant—need-based aid that doesn’t have to be repaid—those funds can then cover any remaining tuition or other allowable charges, such as books, fees, or living expenses. This “first payer” rule ensures you can maximize both benefits without one canceling out the other.

The FAFSA is also the application for low-interest federal student loans, such as Direct Stafford Loans, which can provide another funding source if needed.

Other Key Educational Resources

Beyond TA and federal student aid, the DoD and VA offer several other programs and resources to help service members accelerate degree progress and reduce costs.

Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES): DANTES provides opportunities to earn college credit through examination, saving both time and money. By passing College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) or DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) exams, service members can receive credit for a course without having to attend it. DANTES often covers the cost of these exams.

Joint Services Transcript (JST): The JST is an official academic transcript that translates a service member’s military training, experience, and occupations into recommended college credits, as evaluated by the American Council on Education (ACE). Submitting your JST to your chosen college can significantly reduce the number of courses you need to take to complete your degree.

State-Level Veterans Benefits: Many states offer their own unique education benefits to resident veterans, which can sometimes be used by currently serving members. These programs vary widely but can be extremely valuable. For example, the Hazlewood Act in Texas provides qualified veterans and, in some cases, their dependents with up to 150 hours of tuition exemption at public colleges and universities in the state.

Service-Specific Aid Societies: Organizations like the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) offer education assistance programs, including scholarships and interest-free loans, to eligible service members and their families to help cover costs that TA doesn’t, such as books, fees, and room and board.

Choosing the Right School

The DoD has transitioned from being a simple payer of tuition to an active consumer protection agency for its personnel. This happens through a robust framework of policies and tools designed to ensure that TA funds are used at reputable, high-quality institutions that have service members’ best interests at heart.

The DoD Voluntary Education Partnership MOU

The cornerstone of the DoD’s consumer protection efforts is the Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). For any college, university, or vocational school to be eligible to receive DoD TA funds, the institution must sign this agreement. The MOU is a binding contract that holds schools to a higher standard when dealing with military students.

Key requirements include:

Accreditation: The institution must be accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. This is a fundamental quality assurance check.

Principles of Excellence: Schools must adhere to “Principles of Excellence,” established by Executive Order 13607. These principles explicitly prohibit unfair, deceptive, and abusive recruiting practices and require institutions to provide clear, accurate, and meaningful information to students about total program cost, student outcomes, and financial aid options.

Compliance and Accountability: The DoD actively monitors compliance with the MOU. Institutions that violate the agreement’s terms can face penalties ranging from formal assessment to complete revocation of their MOU, making them ineligible to receive any further TA funds.

By choosing a school that has signed the DoD MOU, service members get a significant layer of protection and quality control that isn’t available to the general student population. It creates a curated, vetted marketplace designed to minimize risk.

Finding an Approved School

To help service members navigate this vetted marketplace, the DoD created an official online comparison tool called TA DECIDE.

TA DECIDE is a powerful search engine fueled by data from the Departments of Defense, Education, and Veterans Affairs. It allows service members to:

• Search for and verify that a school has a signed DoD MOU
• Compare participating institutions based on degree programs offered, modality (online vs. in-person), location, and cost
• View other critical consumer information, such as graduation rates and student loan default rates, to make a fully informed decision

Using TA DECIDE should be the first step in any service member’s school search process. A complete list of all institutions with a current DoD MOU is also available at the DoD MOU Institution List.

Your Right to Complain

To enforce the standards set by the MOU, the DoD has established a centralized Postsecondary Education Complaint System. This system empowers service members, their spouses, and adult family members to formally register complaints against educational institutions regarding a wide range of issues.

Valid reasons for filing a complaint include:

• False or deceptive advertising and recruiting practices
• Misleading information about program costs or financial aid
• Problems with credit transfer
• Issues with the quality of education or student support services
• Failure to provide an evaluated degree plan in a timely manner

The complaint system isn’t just a suggestion box—it’s an active enforcement mechanism. All verified complaints are tracked, and the DoD or assigned Military Service works directly with the educational institution to resolve the issue. Schools that demonstrate a pattern of substantive complaints or unwillingness to resolve them can face serious penalties, including potential loss of their MOU and removal from the TA program entirely.

The complaint system provides a direct line of recourse and ensures that military students’ voices are heard, holding institutions accountable and safeguarding the Voluntary Education program’s integrity.

Our articles make government information more accessible. Please consult a qualified professional for financial, legal, or health advice specific to your circumstances.