Military Tuition Assistance | Student Business Services | SFA (2024)

FAQs

Is military tuition assistance going away? ›

Army officials are considering cuts to the Army Credentialing Assistance program and the tuition assistance program. Army officials are considering cutting two education programs, a move that could impact the service's recruiting and retention efforts and soldiers' ability to transition to civilian life.

Payments you receive for education, training, or subsistence under any law administered by the VA are tax free. Don't include these payments as income on your federal tax return.

The Military Tuition Assistance Program supports service members pursuing their voluntary, off-duty education goals. MilTA will fund up to $4,500 per year for courses leading to an undergraduate or graduate degree. Consult DAFI 36-2670, Total Force Development for more details.

The Department of Defense (DoD) Tuition Assistance (TA) program provides financial assistance to Service members for voluntary off-duty education programs in support of professional and personal self-development goals. TA is available for courses that are part of an approved academic degree or certificate program.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill is a benefit program that is administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. As such, servicemembers using TA can continue their education under the Post-9/11 GI Bill upon separation from the military.

TA is available for a Master's degree or up to 39 SHs of graduate credit, whichever comes first; which, includes any classes taken at the undergraduate level that are part of a graduate degree.

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.

TA is not a loan; it should be viewed as money you have earned just like your base pay. TA can be used in addition to other Federal Student Aid programs such as: Pell Grant, Federal Direct Student Loans, and Title IV Funding.

GI Bill and military tuition assistance (TA) are tax-free. You do not need to report them on your return, but you also cannot deduct any qualified education expenses that you paid with them. Only expenses above and beyond the benefits provided through these programs may be deducted. Still have questions?

Tuition assistance does not cover the following expenses: Books and course materials. Flight training fees. Taking the same course twice.

Will the military pay for 4 years of college? ›

Military.com highlights, “Not only does the military pay up to 100 percent of college tuition while you serve on active duty,” but it “also offers the GI Bill (about $36,000) to use for college up to 10 years after leaving the service.” The Post 9/11 GI Bill provides financial support for education and housing, up to ...

Use of Financial Aid with TA

Bill benefit in conjunction with TA funds from their service to cover the cost of courses to the service member that exceed the amount of TA paid by his or her service.

It would be under Veterans' Benefits category, if your payments were for education, training, or subsistence under any law administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). If not, then it would be under Employer-Provided Assistance.

Soldiers and EIs will receive notification through ArmyIgnitED after a course has been approved for TA. 4. Your EI can invoice the Army for payment after your TA is approved. It may take several months for all invoices to be paid, depending on where your EI is in the queue for processing.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill is the most frequently used VA education benefit program. It provides aid for college or an advanced degree, technical training, on-the-job training or a certification, or licensing and certification for those who served on active duty after September 10, 2001.

Last week, Military.com reported the Army was eyeing cuts to its Credentialing Assistance program. But the potential upcoming cuts also include its tuition assistance program, the service confirmed to the publication. This is the first time tuition assistance being on the chopping block has been publicly acknowledged.

The US Army is contemplating reducing financial aid programs that encourage education. Budget cuts to two major financial aid programs could affect over 100,000 soldiers.

Effective 8 September 2023, Soldiers will no longer be able to request TA for future dated FY23 courses in ArmyIgnitED due to the Army's fiscal year closeout.

Tuition Assistance, the larger of the two, provides any active duty service member with a reimbursem*nt of $250 per credit hour. Except for a ceiling of 16 credits per year and 130 (or the equivalent of a bachelor's degree) in total, there's no limit to what or where a service member may study.