Tuition Assistance
Tuition Assistance (TA) is a higher education benefit available to you as an active duty service member if you are pursuing or want to pursue college-level coursework. You can receive up to $4,500 per fiscal year to cover up to 100% of tuition and eligible fees toward a college-level diploma, credential, certificate, or degree program.
First time applicants should do the following:
- Personal Readiness Seminar (PRS)
Completed either in person or online. Online training availalbe at JKO. The online course is J3OP- US1395-Personal Readiness Seminar (PRS) Survival Skills (2 hrs).
- Complete the USMC TA Brief
Visit your local education center for dates, location, and registration information.
- Upload Your Career Path Decide Results
Complete the Skills and Interests Surveys at Career Path Decide and upload a screenshot to your TA portal.
- Visit the Education Center
Education Center advisors can assist with selecting the best academic program for your educational and career goals.
- Enroll in a School
Request a degree plan, select your first class, send transcripts, and send your Joint Service Transcript obtained from JST. An official degree plan must be uploaded to your TA portal after completing four courses or before taking two classes at a time.
- Identify Your TA Command Approver
Be sure to get command approver’s email and phone number to add to your TA portal later.
- Log-in to Your Tuition Assistance (TA) Portal
You can log into your TA portal by visiting Navy Education and Training Commmand. Complete your “Update Your Profile” tab with your contact and command approver information.
- Submit Your TA Request
On your TA portal, you can submit your request for your class. You must include specific course information and term dates.
- Forward to your Command Approver
When you submit your request to your command approver, they will be able to review your course information and approve or deny your request. Once your command approver has approved your request, the Education Center will review your request for eligibility and authorize a TA voucher. Be sure to allow time for the approval process as TA cannot be authorized after the start date of the class.
- Pay For Your Class - After your TA request has been authorized, print the voucher from your TA portal, sign the voucher, and deliver it to the school to make tuition payment.
Tuition Assistance Approval
Tuition Assistance (TA) can only be approved for courses starting within 60 days and needs to be applied for each term. To apply for TA for another term, applicants should repeat steps 8-10. Only 2 classes are funded at a time. Only 1 class is funded for first time users, applicants with a GPA below 2.5 or those who failed their last class.
Payment:
You can receive up to $4,500 per fiscal year (Oct 1 - Sep 30). TA covers up to $250 per semester hour, $166.67 per quarter hour, and $16.67 per clock hour. Classes you fail (grade D, F, W, or I) will require repayment. For full details, check the NAVMAC or contact your Education Center.
Reimbursements
Marines who fail to complete a course successfully must reimburse received TA funds. TA funds are recouped from Marines for “D” and “F”/fail grades, unresolved “I”/Incomplete, or courses from which the Marine voluntarily withdrew, resulting in a “W” grade.
Waivers
Waivers for repayment are available for students who withdraw due to duty, medical, or emergency circumstances. The waiver request should contain supporting documentation including, where appropriate, temporary assignment of duty (TAD) or permanent change of station (PCS) orders. Include a descriptive narrative explaining the change beyond individual control and unknown at the time of the TA request. The Education Services Officer determines if justification for a waiver is warranted, and if so, forwards the waiver onto Naval Education and Training Professional Development Center (NETPDC) with additional support statements. Contact your local Education Center for more information.
Tuition Assistance Restrictions
- TA cannot be used for flight training.
- TA is not available if you’re in duty-under-instruction status or an officer accession program with full-time civilian institution instruction.
- You cannot use TA for the same course that was previously funded.
- TA will not be approved after the drop/add period or late registration deadline
For more information, reach out to your Education Center.