Military Tuition Assistance

Tuition Assistance (TA) is a government benefit offered to service members of all branches of the Armed Forces to assist with the cost of tuition. Department of Defense employees and military spouses may also be eligible to receive a form of Tuition Assistance.

Here you will find information on the general processes to request TA as well as policies for utilizing Military Tuition Assistance. Click your branch of the military below for more specific information relevant to the type of Tuition Assistance you will be using.

How to Request Tuition Assistance

All active-duty service members (including Guard and Reserve) must contact their Education Service Officer (ESO) or Education Counselor within their branch of service prior to enrolling in any courses at Methodist University.

The general process for requesting Tuition Assistance is the same for all branches of the military. Please also see the branch sections below for specific information regarding the type of military Tuition Assistance you are using.

1. Speak with your local Education Office to ensure your eligibility for Tuition Assistance.
2. Follow their instructions for how to request Tuition Assistance for your course(s).
3. The military approves your Tuition Assistance Request (TAR).
4. The Fort Liberty Office / Student Financial Services will review approved TARs in the Academic Institution Portal daily. If you submitted your TAR but it is not visible to the Fort Liberty Office, you must submit the approved TAR (pdf) to the Fort Liberty Office for processing.
5. Student Financial Services posts the TAR credit to your account within 3-5 business days of receiving your Bill Clearance Form through the myMU Portal. You must complete a Bill Clearance Form each semester after registration. The Bill Clearance Form is in the myMU Portal under the Student Accounts Tab.

Each branch of the military handles Tuition Assistance a little differently:

• If you are in the Army, you will use ArmyIgnitED to request Tuition Assistance.
• If you are in the Air Force or Space Force, you will apply for Tuition Assistance through the Air Force Virtual Education Center.
• If you are in the Coast Guard, Navy, or Marine Corps, you must contact your Education Center to request a Tuition Assistance form; once you have the tuition assistance form signed by your education coordinator, submit it at the time of registration to the Fort Liberty Office.
• Tuition Assistance forms not received within the allotted semester (fall, spring, or summer) will not be posted to student accounts.
• If you are using Tuition Assistance and withdraw from a course prior to completing 60 percent of the course, you must pay a portion of the tuition, in accordance with Department of Defense regulations.

Branch-Specific Policies & Procedures

Air Force/Space Force

Below is a snapshot of what Air Force and Space Force Tuition Assistance will cover. To determine your eligibility for this benefit, you may review the information on the Air Force Virtual Education Center portal or contact your Education Office directly.

• May cover up to $250 per credit hour.
• Fiscal year cap of $4,500.
• A maximum of 18 credit hours may be covered per fiscal year.
• Airmen and Guardians are limited to 124 credit hours to complete one undergraduate program and 42 credit hours to complete one graduate program (Some restrictions may apply).
• TA request timeframe: Any TA not “supervisor” approved by prescribed start dates will be deleted and a notification sent to the prospective student.
  • Start: 45 days before term starts
  • End: 7 days before term starts

Army

Below is a snapshot of what Army Tuition Assistance (ArmyIgnitED) will cover. 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.
• A 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. One Certificate program at the Undergraduate or Graduate level may be approved for Army Tuition Assistance through the Army’s Credentialing Program.
• Important note about registration: Army students should make all enrollment changes with their advisors.
• TA request timeframe:
  • Start: 60 days before term starts.
  • End: 7 days before term starts.

How to Request Army Tuition Assistance in ArmyIgnitED

If you have not yet set up an account with ArmyIgnitED, please take the following steps. For further assistance, please contact your Army Education Office. Note: The Fort Liberty Education Center offers an ArmyIgnitED Lab to assist Soldiers with their accounts on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Liberty education and Training Center (LTEC).

1. Create your ArmyIgnitED Account. You can visit the ArmyIgnitED website, and click “Login.” This will register your CAC to the upgraded ArmyIgnitED. You will only need the URL and your CAC.
2. Career Path. You should review the “Explore My Options” section on the dashboard to search degree programs, academic institutions, and explore careers using the Career Path Decide tool.
3. Submit an Education Goal. After exploring your options, create your Education Goal and get it approved by your education counselor. Once approved, you can submit TAR.

1. Click on “Education Goals” on the left side menu or “Create New Goal” near the bottom of the homepage.
2. Select your education goal type. If you see N/A by the goal, you are trying to create that means you are ineligible for that degree level. Soldiers can hover over the goal, and they will see the reason they are ineligible. If this is in error, please contact your unit S1 to get your civilian education level updated in your record. In the meantime, Soldiers can contact their Education Center, provide correct documentation (transcript), and request that an Education Counselor do a one-day update of the civilian education level.
3. Select Methodist University as your Academic Institution. Enter Methodist University’s name and select it from the drop-down list.
4. Select a Degree Program. Methodist University has uploaded all degree programs we offer. There is a keyword search to help find your degree program. If you do not see the degree program you are pursuing, please email liberty@methodist.edu to have the degree program loaded to the portal. Select the Degree Program from the drop-down list, click “Next.”
5. Upload your Evaluated Degree Plan. The Fort Liberty Office will prepare your Evaluated Degree Plan prior to you completing six semester hours at the university.
6. Enter total required credits for your degree level if not already loaded. Methodist University has already loaded the number of credits required for the degree. If you are uploading an Evaluated Degree Plan, you can update the transferred credits in the “Previous Credits” field. Check the “Yes” box. Click “Submit Goal.”
7. Review & Approval/Disapproval. Once you submit your education goal, it goal is sent to your Education Center for review. Once approved or disapproved, you will receive a message in your student message section. Once your education goal is approved, you may apply for Tuition Assistance.

Navy

If you have not used Navy Tuition Assistance (TA) before, your first step is to contact your Education Office for assistance with getting started. You must ensure your TA account through the Navy College is updated with the degree you will be pursuing at Methodist University, and you are aware of all the Navy’s requirements and regulations for using military TA.

Below is a snapshot of what Navy Tuition Assistance will cover. 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.
• Must have 3 years minimum service to be eligible.
• TA request timeframe:
  • Start: 120 days before term starts
  • End: 7 days before term starts

Marine Corps

If you have not used Marine Corps Tuition Assistance before, your first step is to contact your Education Office for assistance with getting started. You must ensure your TA account through your Education Office is updated with the degree you will be pursuing at Methodist University, and you are aware of all the Marine Corps’ requirements and regulations for using military TA.

Below is a snapshot of what Marine Corps Tuition Assistance will cover. To determine your eligibility for this benefit, you may review the information at U.S. Marine Corps Tuition Assistance or contact your Education Office directly.

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

Coast Guard

Below is a snapshot of what Coast Guard Tuition Assistance will cover. To determine your eligibility for this benefit, you may review the information on the Coast Guard’s TA Policies web page 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 $4,500
• TA request timeframe:
  • Start: 90 days before term starts
  • End: 16 days before term starts

NC National Guard Tuition Assistance Program (NCTAP)

• A reimbursement program for actively drilling Army & Air Guard members of North Carolina.
• Available for use before attending Initial Active Duty for Training (IADT), new soldiers who will work for the U.S. Army part-time, in the National Guard or the Army Reserve.
• Applicable at community college or technical, trade, or vocational training, proprietary, State educational institutions; two-year associate, four-year baccalaureate, graduate degree, or graduate certificate
• Members must have a minimum obligation of two years remaining as a member of the North Carolina National Guard from the time of the application; or extend membership for an additional two years or more from the time of the application.
• Payable at the in-state tuition rate only. Any member of the NCARNG that is a nonresident is eligible to be charged an in-state tuition rate. See your military affairs office for more information.

Contact

Phone: 984.664.6488
Email: ng.nc.ncarng.mbx.education-service-office@army.mil

Tuition Assistance Submission Cut-Off Dates

Spring 2024

The cut-off dates for active duty military students to request Tuition Assistance for Spring 2024 sessions are listed below. If students do not request TA by the cut-off date, they will not see the course in their portal and the military will not pay for their class(es).

Also, TA Request submissions are based on where (Time Zone) the service members are physically located at the time of the request, not the location of the education center to which they are assigned.

Main Campus

Methodist University Online