Military Tuition Assistance

As part of ACU’s dedication to providing exceptional service to military students, we have a team of professionals ready to support you in navigating your Tuition Assistance funding. Tuition Assistance (TA) is a government benefit available to active-duty service members across all branches of the Armed Forces, aimed at helping with the cost of tuition. In some cases, Department of Defense employees and military spouses may also qualify for certain forms of Tuition Assistance.

Home/ Admissions/ Military Students/ Military Tuition Assistance

As part of ACU’s dedication to providing exceptional service to military students, we have a team of professionals ready to support you in navigating your Tuition Assistance funding. Tuition Assistance (TA) is a government benefit available to active-duty service members across all branches of the Armed Forces, aimed at helping with the cost of tuition. In some cases, Department of Defense employees and military spouses may also qualify for certain forms of Tuition Assistance.

Main Content

On this page, you will find comprehensive information about the process of requesting TA and the policies associated with utilizing Military Tuition Assistance. To access specific information about the type of Tuition Assistance you will use, please view your military branch below.

Military friendly school


 

Tuition Assistance

Air Force

To determine your eligibility for this benefit, you may review the information on the Air Force Virtual Education Center (AFVEC) portal, or contact your Education Office directly.

  • May cover up to $250 per credit hour
  • Fiscal year cap of $4,500
  • Maximum of 18 credit hours may be covered per fiscal year
  • Airmen are limited to 124 credit hours to complete one undergraduate program and 42 credit hours to complete one graduate program (Some restrictions may apply)

Army

To determine your eligibility, please check out the full eligibility requirements posted on the ArmyIgnitED website or contact your Education Services Officer (ESO) directly.

  • May cover up to $250 per credit hour
  • Fiscal year cap of $4,000
  • Maximum of 16 credit hours may be covered per fiscal year
  • Soldiers are limited to 130 credit hours to complete one bachelor’s degree and 39 credit hours to complete one master’s degree
    • Post-graduate degrees typically do not qualify for Army Tuition Assistance
    • One certificate program may be approved for Army Tuition Assistance

Coast Guard

To determine your eligibility for this benefit, you may review the information on the Coast Guard’s TA Policies webpage, or contact your Education Office directly.

  • Active Duty or Reservists on long-term orders (180 days+) are eligible
  • Covers up to $250.00 per credit hour
  • Fiscal year cap of $4,000

Department of Defense

The number of credit hours and amount covered may vary from agency to agency. This makes it hard for ACU to list out the various amounts provided. To determine your eligibility, please contact your DoD Agency and confirm your DoD TA benefits with your Education Officer.

Marine Corps

To determine your eligibility for this benefit, you may review the information on the U.S. Marine Corps Tuition Assistance webpage or contact your Education Office directly.

  • Must be on Active Duty, “Activated Reservist,” or Marines in an awaiting training (MAT) status to be eligible
  • May cover up to $250 per credit hour
  • Fiscal year cap of $4,500
  • Maximum of 18 credit hours may be covered per fiscal year
  • TA cannot be approved for more than 2 TA-funded classes simultaneously

Navy

To determine your eligibility for this benefit, you may review the information on the U.S. Navy College website, or contact your Education Office directly.

  • Must be on Active Duty or “Activated Reserve” status 
  • May cover up to $250 per credit hour
  • Fiscal year cap of $4,500, or 18 credit hours (effective Oct. 1, 2021)
  • Must have 3 years minimum service to be eligible (effective Oct. 1, 2021)

National Guard

Military students serving in the Texas Army National Guard, Texas Air National Guard, or Texas State Guard may be eligible to receive State Tuition Assistance. Please visit the Texas National Guard website to determine your eligibility.

  • State TA awards are based on: 1. available funding, 2. number of eligible applicants and 3. successful course completion. Since any one of these factors can change from one semester to the next, an award amount received one semester may not be the same as one received another semester even for the same person.
  • Students must be part of the Texas Army or Air National Guard to be eligible.

How to Request Tuition Assistance

The process for requesting Tuition Assistance is generally the same for all military branches and is outlined in the basic steps below. However, please also see the additional links in the next section for more information regarding the specific type of military Tuition Assistance you are using.

  1. Speak with your local Education Office to ensure your eligibility for Tuition Assistance.
  2. Connect with an advisor from the ACU Online Military Team.
  3. Follow their instructions on how to request Tuition Assistance for your course(s). Take note of the timeframe you can request your TA indicated in the chart below.
  4. The military approves your TA request.
  5. Ensure your admissions advisor has received your approved TA request for processing. 
  6. ACU posts the TA credit to your account, and you then speak to your Financial Intake Specialist regarding further payment information.

TA Request Timeframes

Army
Start: 60 days before term starts
End: 7 days before term starts

Air Force
Start: 45 days before term starts
End: 7 days before term starts

Coast Guard
Start: 90 days before term starts
End: 16 days before term starts

Marines
Start: 60 days before term starts
End: 1 day before term starts

MyCAA
Start: 60 days before term starts
End: 1 day before term starts

Navy
Start: 120 days before term starts
End: 7 days before term starts

Featured Online Bachelor's Programs

criminal justice

Criminal Justice

In our Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program, you will study professionalism and ethics in criminal justice, law enforcement leadership, and much more. You will also develop strong writing, research, and analytical skills – attractive traits to employers in all industries.

cybersecurity

Cybersecurity

Designed to bolster your high-tech expertise, the online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity program enables you to think critically about the vulnerabilities faced in data science frameworks as well as obtain the strategies to strengthen businesses to further limit the spread of confidential information for a safer and protected future.

management

Management

With ACU’s online Bachelor of Science in Management program, you will master the four functions of a manager, gain a deep understanding of human motivation and behavior, and apply management models in real-world situations. Three tracks of study available: Human Resource Management, Operations, and Leadership.