Marines Tuition Assistance

• $250 per semester credit hour

• $166 per quarter credit hour.

One of the basic tenets of the Tuition Assistance program is a $4,500 annual funding cap per servicemember. For tuition exceeding the semester, quarter or yearly cap, marines with either Chapter 30 (Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty) or Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) benefits, may use the Tuition Top-Up program to cover costs exceeding what TA pays.

Funding from Marines TA can only be used for courses at schools that are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting agency. The list of eligible education programs includes:

• Earning a high school diploma
• Training leading to either a license or certification
• Trade or technical programs
• Bachelors' degrees
• Graduate degrees

TA may cover only one graduate or professional degree per servicemember as these degrees are viewed as equal degrees. There is a stipulation that TA funds may only be applied to degrees that are at a level higher than any the servicemember already holds. Classes may be taken in a traditional classroom setting or through an approved distance learning program.

Marines TA Program Eligibility Requirements

Tuition assistance is available to all active duty enlisted, officers, and enlisted reservists on continuous active duty title 10 orders. However, it is not authorized for marines who are:

• Awarded a Punitive Discharge for disciplinary reasons
• In confinement
• On appellate leave pending a court martial
• Awaiting either a General Discharge or Administrative Separation with a character of service of Other Than Honorable Conditions

Tuition Assistance Benefit Application Rules

Marines Corps TA program rules require first-time Tuition Assistance users to complete an orientation class before requesting funding. Once the orientation class is complete, marines can apply for funding in several ways, depending on their location or type of duty:

• For marines stationed east of the Mississippi, at remote sites or non-Marine Corps installations, applications are processed at Camp LeJeune
• Marines west of the Mississippi, at remote sites or non-Marine Corps installations, use Camp Pendleton for application processing
• Marines on Instructor/Inspector (I&I) duty apply through MARFORRES in New Orleans
• Recruiters apply to their respective district or region headquarters
• For all others stationed on Marine Bases, apply through their Base Education Office

Ancillary Marines TA Information

Once enrolled in TA, a marine must submit a degree plan by the end of the 12^th semester hour of classes. TA funds 100 percent of institution charges (up to the credit hour limit) for tuition and eligible fees including:

• laboratory
• computer-use
• mandatory enrollment

Marine officers must agree to serve at least two years beyond the completion of a TA-funded course. Tuition Assistance does not pay for credentials that are equal to or lower than the one currently held. Additionally, it does not pay for books not already built into the cost of the course.

Using tuition assistance is a great way for marines to accomplish two missions at once--complete an education goal and serve their country.