Coast Guard Tuition Assistance

Coast Guard Tuition Assistance Basics

The Coast Guard Tuition Assistance Program pays 100 percent of tuition and eligible fees up to $250 per semester credit hour or $166.67 per quarter credit hour.

Each fiscal year (spanning 1 October to 30 September), individual TA users are subject to a funding cap established by the Coast Guard Commandant and are not to exceed $4,500 annually. To pay for tuition exceeding program limits, Coast Guard GI-Bill-eligible students may use the Tuition Top-Up program to pay for tuition costs not covered by Tuition Assistance for the Coast Guard. Qualifying GI Bills include the:

• Post-9/11 GI Bill
• Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty
• Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)

Courses must be taken though a school that has been accredited by a nationally or regionally-recognized accrediting agency. Students are limited to education programs that result in a high school diploma or equivalency, or earn college credit, including:

• Developmental courses
• Undergraduate programs
• Graduate programs

Tuition Assistance for the Coast Guard fully funds high school completion courses, while other courses are subject to program limits. Undergraduate programs require a minimum grade of "D" and graduate courses require at least a "B".

Coast Guard TA does not pay for:

• Licenses, including a Captain's or Pilot's license
• Certifications
• Certification preparatory courses

Coast Guard TA Program Eligibility Requirements

Tuition Assistance is available to all active duty and drilling Coast Guard Reserve members, along with funded civilian employees and Public Health Service members working for the Coast Guard. Enlisted members must complete their TA-funded course before discharge, retirement or RELAD. Active duty officers incur a 24-month obligation when using TA.

Tuition Assistance for the Coast Guard: Application Procedures and Rules

Courses may be taken either in a traditional classroom setting or via a distance learning venue. Coast Guard servicemembers at sea are authorized to use the Navy's WebTA program. Before using WebTA, users must create a Navy Knowledge Online (NKO) account.

To apply for the Tuition Assistance Program, Coast Guard members must go through their Education Services Officer (ESO). The application process follows these general steps:

1. Consult with an ESO to locate qualifying courses or programs
2. Verify institution's accreditation
3. Verify that service obligations are met
4. Complete CG Form 4187 TA application
5. Read and sign the Statement of Understanding
6. Take completed form to the ESO for verification and signature
7. Retain a copy of CG Form 4187 for personal records
8. Submit a grade report upon course or program completion

If a servicemember is receiving other federal education financial aid funding, TA funding is calculated against the amount left after the other financial sources have paid.

TA Termination Rules

Undergraduate students, who have less than a 2.0 GPA for the previous 12 semester hours for courses completed using TA, or graduate students with less than a 3.0 GPA, may not not be authorized for further TA funding until their respective GPAs are up to the minimum requirements.