Female soldier and man walking and talking on campus.

TUITION ASSISTANCE (TA) PROGRAM

The Military Tuition Assistance (TA) program is available to active-duty, National Guard and Reserve Component servicemembers. TA can ease your financial concerns considerably, covering up to 100 percent of tuition expenses for semester hours costing $250 or less.

How to Use Tuition Assistance (TA)

Courses and degree programs may be academic or technical and can be taken from two- or four-year institutions on-installation, off-installation or by distance learning. Your service branch pays your tuition directly to the school. Servicemembers need to first check with an Educational Services Officer (ESO) or counselor for the specifics of TA by visiting their local installation education office or a virtual education center online. Tuition assistance may be used for the following programs:

Vocational/Technical
Undergraduate
Graduate
Independent Study
Distance Learning

General Program Information

DoD MOU Compliance

Georgia State University is pleased to participate in a Voluntary Education Partnership with the United States Department of Defense (DoD). As part of this partnership, the university has an active Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the DoD. This MOU allows military-connected students to know that Georgia State University is a great choice for them to pursue higher education. Specifically, in the MOU Georgia State University commits to the following practices:

Recruiting, Marketing, and Advertising

All service members (active-duty, reservists, and Georgia National Guard members) using military Tuition Assistance are directed to speak with their Educational Services Officer (ESO) or counselor within their Military Service prior to enrolling. Georgia State University follows Department of Education regulations and is in compliance with C.F.R. 668.71-668.75 and 668.14.

The Georgia State University Office of Admissions staff follows the NACAC Guide to Ethical Practice in College Admissions as well as the principles of professional ethics set forth by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO).

Georgia State University and its staff members will not:

Provide any bonus, commission, or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on securing enrollments or federal financial aid (including TA funds) to any persons or entities engaged in any student recruiting, admission activities, or making decisions regarding the award of student financial assistance
Engage in high-pressure recruitment tactics such as making multiple unsolicited contacts (3 or more), including contacts by phone, email, video conference, or in person, or engaging in same-day recruitment and registration or the purpose of securing Service members enrollments.

Academic Counseling and Post-Graduation Job Opportunities

Georgia State University has a Military Outreach Center (MOC) on all six campuses. Each MOC is staffed by a Military Student Advocate. Military Student Advocates support servicemembers seeking information on the Tuition Assistance (TA) program, Title IV funding and VA educational benefits. They are familiar with institutional services for Service Members who are seeking information about academic counseling, financial aid counseling and job search support. They can also provide information about other services regarding campus and community resources.

The job description of the Georgia State University Military Student Advocate includes the following:

Assist in the transition process of veterans, military, and family members to an academic setting
Connect students with appropriate departments and resources
Assist in the overall development and enhancement of college military/veteran-friendly policies and procedures for veterans, servicemembers, dependents and survivors
Assist prospective and current students in the application, registration and enrollment process for admission and progression toward degrees

Return Policy for Tuition Assistance (TA) Funds

Georgia State University’s TA return policy aligns with the Department of Education rules for unearned aid. A refund of 100% will be given until the end of the drop/add period for each semester. Students who formally withdraw or who are formally withdrawn from all classes will be subject to the refund policy for tuition and other fees. This policy decreases the amount of refund available at regular intervals during the term. Please visit the withdrawal schedule located on the Student Financial Services website. Students must withdraw from all classes to be eligible for a refund. After a certain percentage of the term, generally 60%, no refund will be available.

For more information on Military Withdrawal, please visit the online University Catalog, Section 1332.45 Military Withdrawal.

Eligibility, Coverage & Monetary Limits

TA Eligibility Requirements

All five service branches offer financial assistance for voluntary, off-duty education programs in support of servicemembers’ personal and professional goals. The program is open to officers, warrant officers and enlisted active-duty service personnel. In addition, members of the National Guard and Reserve Components may be able to take advantage of TA, depending on their service eligibility. To be eligible for TA, an enlisted servicemember must have enough time remaining in service to complete the course for which he or she has applied. After the completion of a course, an officer using TA must fulfill a service obligation that runs parallel with — not in addition to — any existing service obligation.

Coverage Amounts& Monetary Limits

The Tuition Assistance Program will fund up to 100 percent of your college tuition, within these limits:

Not exceeding $250 per semester credit hour or $166 per quarter credit hour
Not exceeding $4,500 per fiscal year — October 1 through September 30

Benefits & Restrictions

Tuition Assistance (TA) Versus Department of Veterans Affairs Education Benefits

The Tuition Assistance Program will fund up to 100 percent of your college tuition, within the following limits, and certain fees:

Not exceeding $250 per semester credit hour or $166 per quarter credit hour
Not exceeding $4,500 per fiscal year — October 1 through September 30

Benefits & Restrictions

TA will pay your tuition but will not cover the following expenses:

School fees
Books and course materials
Flight training fees
Fees for repeated courses
Continuing education units (CEUs)

TA will not fund your college courses, and you will have to reimburse any funds already paid in any of the following situations:

Leaving the service before the course ends
Quitting the course for reasons other than personal illness, military transfer or mission requirements
Failing the course or otherwise not achieving a minimum course grade as determined by the individual military branches

Application Process & Top-Up Program

Application Process

Each military branch operates with its own TA application form and procedures. All service members MUST speak with their Educational Services Officer (ESO) or counselor within their Military Service prior to enrolling. To find out how to get started, call or visit the Educational Services Officer (ESO) or counselor at your local installation’s education center, go online to a virtual education center or click on the following links for each service branch:

Prior to course enrollment, you may be required to develop an education plan or complete TA orientation. Keep the following important information in mind when you apply:

Military TA may only be used to pursue degree programs at U.S. colleges and universities that are regionally or nationally accredited (by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education). A quick way to check the accreditation of a school is by visiting the Department of Education.
Your service’s education center must approve your military tuition assistance before you enroll in a course.

Top-Up Program

The Top-Up program allows funds from the Montgomery GI Bill® — Active Duty or the Post-9/11 GI Bill® — to be used for tuition and fees for high-cost courses that are not fully covered by TA funds.

Eligibility: To use Top-Up, your service branch must approve you for TA. You must also be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® or the Montgomery GI Bill® – Active Duty.

Application: Apply for TA in accordance with the procedures outlined by your service branch. After you have applied for TA, you will need to complete VA Form 22-1990 to apply for Department of Veterans Affairs education benefits. The form is available online via the VA. Be sure to specify “Top-Up” on the application and mail it to one of the education processing offices listed on the form.

See the Top-Up Fact Sheet for more information.

Excerpts are taken from militaryonesource.mil/-/how-to-use-the-military-tuition-assistance-program.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Connect with a Military Advocate

Alpharetta Campus
AA-1490 | 770-274-5742 | [email protected]

Atlanta Campus
217 Dahlberg Hall | 404-413-2331 | [email protected]

Clarkston Campus
CH-1300 | 678-891-3025 | [email protected]

Decatur Campus
SA-1300 | 678-891-2315 | [email protected]

Dunwoody Campus
NA-2021 | 770-274-5038 | [email protected]

Newton Campus
1N-1400 | 678-891-2496 | [email protected]

Current Service Members and Their Families