Army & National Guard Tuition Assistance
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) including Army Reserve, and Army National Guard.
The maximum amount paid for tuition assistance: 100% Tuition and Fees
Not to exceed:
• $250 per Semester Credit Hour
• $166 per Quarter Credit Hour
• $4500 per Fiscal Year
For more information and to receive tuition assistance visit https://www.goarmyed.com/public/public_tuition_assistance_policies.aspx
Air Force Tuition Assistance
Air Force Tuition Assistance (TA) is an important quality of life program that provides 100% tuition and fees for courses taken by active duty and reserve personnel. The program is one of the most frequent reasons given for enlisting and re-enlisting in the Air Force.
The maximum amount paid for Tuition Assistance: 100% Tuition and Fees
Not to exceed:
• $250 per Semester Credit Hour
• $166 per Quarter Credit Hour
• $4500 per Fiscal Year
For more information and to receive tuition assistance visit https://www.my.af.mil/faf/FAF/fafHome.jsp
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.
The maximum amount paid for tuition assistance: 100% Tuition and Fees
Not to exceed:
• $250 per Semester Credit Hour
• $166 per Quarter Credit Hour
• 16 Semester Hours (24 Quarter Hours or 240 Clock Hours) per Fiscal Year
For more information and to receive tuition assistance visit https://www.navycollege.navy.mil/nta.cfm
Marines Tuition Assistance
Marine Corps Tuition Assistance (TA) offers financial assistance to service members who elect to pursue Off-Duty or Voluntary Education.
The Marine Corps maximum amount paid for tuition assistance: 100% Tuition and Fees
Not to exceed:
• $250 per Semester Credit Hour
• $166 per Quarter Credit Hour
• $4500 per Fiscal Year
For more information and to receive tuition assistance visit http://www.usmc-mccs.org/education/mta.cfm?sid=ml&smid=2&ssmid=7
Coast Guard Tuition Assistance
Coast Guard Tuition Assistance 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.
The maximum amount paid for tuition assistance: 100% Tuition
Not to exceed:
• $250 per Semester Credit Hour
• $166 per Quarter Credit Hour
• $4500 per Fiscal Year
For more information and to receive tuition assistance visit http://ww.uscg.mil/hq/cgi/active_duty/pay_for_college/ta/default.asp
Military Tuition Assistance
Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire term for which the assistance is awarded. When a student drops a course(s) or withdraws from all courses, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of TA funds originally awarded.
In accordance with Department of Defense regulations, Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) will return any unearned TA funds directly to the military service through the 60% portion of the term for which the funds were provided. TA funds are earned proportionally during an enrollment period, with unearned funds returned based upon when a student stops attending. Funds returned to the military may result in a balance on the student's account for which the student will then be responsible for paying.
If a service member stops attending due to a military service obligation, SFA will work with the affected service member to identify solutions that will not result in a student debt for the returned TA portion.
Calculation of Amount of TA Funds to Return to the Military
Determining eligibility for TA is course specific. SFA's official start and end date will be used for each course to determine eligibility. Using the formula below, SFA will return some or all of the TA awarded to service members that did not complete at least 60% of each course. If a student using TA drops a course(s) or withdraws from all course(s) for a term, SFA will manage return of TA funds as follows:
- Up to the start date for the term, return all TA funds for the applicable course(s) to the military when the service member does not:
- Begin attendance at SFA, or
- start a course, regardless of whether the student starts other courses.
- If the drop occurs prior to the term census date, return all TA funds for the dropped course(s).
- If a course is cancelled by SFA, return all TA funds for the cancelled course.
- When a student officially drops a course(s) after the census date or withdraws from all courses by following SFA's written procedures, the date of the drop or withdrawal will be used as the last date of attendance.
- Once the last date of attendance has been determined, SFA will recalculate the TA eligibility using the following method:
For complete withdrawal from a term and for drops after the census date, the amount of TA that is earned is determined on a pro-rated basis. For example, if the student completed 30% of the period of enrollment, 30% is the earned portion of the approved TA amount and 70% is the unearned portion. In this example, SFA must return the 70% unearned portion to the military. Once the student has completed 60% or more of the term, all TA is earned and no funds will be returned to the military.
The SFA Business Office will divide the number of calendar days completed (numerator) by the total number of calendar days in the term (denominator). These calendar days pertain to SFA's official class day number, not to the number of days that the specific class actually meets. Scheduled breaks of 5 days or more will be deducted out of the equation. If the resulting quotient is less than .6 (i.e., 60%), the quotient will be multiplied by the total amount of TA funds applicable to that course. The result of this calculation determines the amount of TA earned by the student. Any amount exceeding the earned calculation amount will be returned to the military:
- Number of days completed / Total days of the course (start to end date) = quotient
- If quotient > .6: all TA funds for the applicable course are earned and no funds will be returned
- If quotient < .6: Quotient X amount of TA funds for applicable course = amount of earned portion. Total amount of TA funds for applicable course minus amount of earned portion = amount of TA funds to return to military.
- The SFA Business Office will notify and instruct students who owe a balance because SFA returned TA funds to the military.