Military Tuition Assistance: Caps, Rules and Calculator

Formulas used in the calculator, in this order:

1. TA per credit hour = the smaller of your tuition per credit hour and the per-hour cap. DoDI 1322.25 says “the responsible Service will pay no more than the established cap per semester-unit (or equivalent) for tuition.”
2. Remaining FY cap before the course = annual ceiling − TA already used this fiscal year (never below $0). DoDI 1322.25: “Each Service member participating in off-duty, voluntary education will be allowed no more than the established annual ceiling, in aggregate, for each fiscal year.”
3. TA paid = the smaller of (credit hours × TA per credit hour) and the remaining FY cap.
4. Out-of-pocket cost = (credit hours × tuition per credit hour) − TA paid.
5. Remaining FY cap = remaining FY cap before the course − TA paid.

Per-hour cap: $250 per semester hour and $166.67 per quarter hour (DoD cap; the quarter figure is $250 × 2/3, computed, from “1 quarter-hour credit = 2/3 semester-hour credit” and rounded to the cent). Worked example: 3 semester hours at $500 under the $250 cap and nothing used yet. TA per hour = $250; TA paid = 3 × $250 = $750; out-of-pocket = $1,500 − $750 = $750; remaining FY cap = $4,500 − $750 = $3,750.

When a branch page we read does not print a cap, the calculator uses the DoD cap and labels it “DoD cap (no verified branch cap).” When a branch page prints the same figure as the DoD cap, the label says so. Hours already used this year are not tracked, only dollars. Tuition only: fees and books are not covered, so enter tuition only.

The Defense Department's TA page (the department is styled Department of War on its own pages) says: “In general, eligible active duty Service members can receive TA at a rate of $250 per semester hour cap with an annual ceiling of $4,500.” Military OneSource says the program “pays up to 100% of tuition expenses for semester credit hours costing $250 or less per credit hour, or $166 per quarter hour.” That makes the DoD cap $250 per semester hour and $4,500 per fiscal year. For quarter hours, Military OneSource prints $166, while the DoDI conversion (1 quarter hour = 2/3 semester hour) gives $166.67 ($250 × 2/3, computed), which is what the calculator uses for the DoD cap.

DoDI 1322.25 itself does not print a dollar amount for the caps. It says the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness reviews them each year and, if the caps change, a memorandum is released and a notice is published in the Federal Register: “If there are any changes in the uniform semester-hour (or equivalent) caps and annual TA ceilings, a memorandum will be released from the USD(P&R), in coordination with the Military Departments, and a corresponding notice will be published in the Federal Register.” This page uses the dollar figures from the DoD pages above and the rules from the instruction (Change 4, effective April 2, 2020, read from an Internet Archive capture dated October 13, 2026).

What the instruction says about coverage

• Covered charges include those that are submitted to the Service by the educational institution for tuition only.
• TA funds are not to be used for the purchase of books to include textbooks, ebooks, CDs/DVDs, or reference or instructional materials.
• DoDI 1322.25 says “the responsible Service will pay no more than the established cap per semester-unit (or equivalent) for tuition.”
• The DoD TA page adds: “TA is available for courses that are part of an approved academic degree or certificate program.” DoDI 1322.25 requires that “TA funding will only be paid to educational institutions accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by ED” and that the school be certified for federal student aid.

Who is eligible

• To be eligible to receive TA, a Service member must meet the minimum requirement of successfully completing basic training.
• RC members are exempt from the requirement to first attend basic training before being authorized to receive TA.
• Service-specific eligibility criteria and management controls are determined by each Military Service. The Services are authorized to establish Service specific eligibility criteria to manage TA funds.
• Schools are signatories to the current DoD Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (DOD MOU), according to the DoD TA page.
• Students using TA must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher after completing 15 semester hours, or equivalent, in undergraduate studies, or a GPA of 3.0 or higher after completing 6 semester hours, or equivalent, in graduate studies.
• Service-specific criteria may apply TA to certificates, “For graduate studies through the master’s degree level.” and same-level degrees, though “TA is primarily intended to raise the academic degree level of the Service member.”

Officer service obligations

DoDI 1322.25 says: “TA is available to a commissioned officer on active duty, other than an officer serving in the Ready Reserves (addressed in subparagraphs 1.e.(1) and 1.f.(1) of this Enclosure), only if the officer agrees to remain on active duty for a period of at least 2 years after the completion of the education or training for which TA was paid.” For a Selected Reserve officer, “the officer must agree to remain a member of the SELRES for at least 4 years after completion of the education or training for which TA is paid.” Under the instruction, “If a commissioned officer or member of the Ready Reserve does not fulfill a specified Service obligation as required by section 2007 of Reference (f), they are subject to the repayment provisions of section 303a(e) of title 37, U.S.C.”

Repayment for failing or withdrawn courses

DoDI 1322.25 says “Reimbursement will be required from the Service member if a successful course completion is not obtained.” It defines it this way: “a successful course completion is defined as a grade of “C” or higher for undergraduate courses, a “B” or higher for graduate courses, and a “Pass” for “Pass/Fail” grades.” The Military Department sets the recoupment process, so the branch rules in the next section decide the details.

Each branch runs its own program. The table shows only what each page we could read prints, and the pages differ in age and type. A dash means the page does not print it, and the calculator then uses the DoD cap.

The Army's limit of 27 quarter hours (derived: 18 × 3/2) comes from the semester-hour limit and AR 621-5's two-thirds conversion; no Army page we read prints it.

Army (ArmyIgnitED)

• The Army's benefits page says it announced the change in ALARACT 102/2025, released November 14, 2025 (page read from a capture of April 21, 2026): “Annual cap increased from $4,000 to $4,500” and “Semester hours increased from 16 to 18.” It prints no per-hour dollar cap, so the calculator uses the DoD per-hour cap for the Army.
• Shared pool: AR 621-5 paragraph 4-4a says that “If Soldiers use TA and CA in combination, the total fiscal year (FY) annual limit will not be exceeded,” so include CA you already used. CA is Credentialing Assistance, and the calculator asks the Army for “TA and Credentialing Assistance” used this fiscal year. AR 621-5 also says “The Army will annually publish an ALARACT message with funding limits for lifetime and annual TA and CA use.”
• Quarter hours: AR 621-5 says “1 quarter-hour credit is equivalent to two-thirds SH.” The Army pages we read print no quarter-hour dollar cap, so the calculator uses the DoD-computed $166.67 for the Army. Confirm the quarter-hour figure with your education counselor.
• AR 621-5: “TA will not be applied towards any fees charged by an AI.”
• Degree level: AR 621-5 says “Soldiers may use TA to pursue no more than one degree at each of the following postsecondary levels” (associate's, baccalaureate and master's).
• Officer obligation. Under AR 621-5, active duty and AGR commissioned officers in ranks CW2/2LT and above who receive TA incur a 2-year ADSO starting on the end date of the last class. The regulation reads: “All active duty and AGR commissioned officers (covered under 10 USC or 32 USC) in ranks CW2, 2LT, and above, receiving TA incur a 2-year ADSO commencing on the end date of the last class for which TA was received.” It also says: “Officers may not eliminate an ADSO or RDSO by applying other funds or reimbursing the school or Army without HQDA approval.” For Select Reserve officers it says they “incur a 4-year RDSO commencing on the ending date of the last class for which TA was received.”
• Repayment: you reimburse the Army when “The Soldier withdraws from, or does not complete, a class for personal reasons.” and for an unsuccessful grade as DoDI 1322.25 defines it. A recoupment waiver (DA Form 7793) must be submitted “no later than 30 days from the date that the AI posts the “W” grade in ArmyIgnitED,” and the first commander must verify “the reasons for withdrawing were clearly beyond the Soldier’s control such as emergency leave, reassignment, natural or man-made disaster, illness, hospitalization,” or unanticipated military missions. “A waiver is not allowed for any grade other than a “W”.”

Navy (Navy College Program)

The Navy College page blocks automated readers. The newest copy we could read is an Internet Archive capture of August 2, 2023, so check the live page for changes.

• Caps: $250.00 per semester hour, $166.67 per quarter hour. “TA and NCPACE will be limited to a fiscal year cap of 18 semester hours, 27 quarter hours, or 270 clock hours (or combination).” The page prints no dollar ceiling, so the calculator uses the DoD ceiling for the Navy.
• Limits: “lifetime cap of 120 semester hours, 180 quarter hours, 1800 clock hours (or combination).” The page says TA does not cover “lateral or lower level degrees (earned on or off active duty).”
• Officers: “Officers must agree to remain on active duty for at least two years from the completion date of their last TA/NCPACE funded course.” “Officers who do not complete the required service obligation must repay the TA/NCPACE funds expended on their behalf during the last two years of active duty on a pro-rated basis.”
• Repayment: the page says TA will not fund your courses “if you withdraw from the course for reasons other than personal illness, military transfer or mission requirements, or if you fail the course” and that you must reimburse funds already paid.

Air Force and Space Force (AFVEC)

• The Department of the Air Force page (capture of September 15, 2026) covers TA “in support of an Airman and Guardian's professional and personal self-development goals.” “The DAF will pay up to $250 per semester hour and $166 per quarter hour not to exceed the annual cap of $4500 per fiscal year.”
• Current DAF policy limits MilTA to 124 semester hours/186 quarter hours for an undergraduate degree, and 42 semester hours/63 quarter hours for a graduate degree.
• Active Duty officers incur an Active Duty Service Commitment of two years, and Reserve Component officers must agree to remain on active duty for a two year period or a Reserve Service Commitment of four years.

Marine Corps

• The Marine Corps Community Services page we could read (MCCS Okinawa, capture of July 3, 2026) says: “$4,500 is available for active duty Marines every fiscal year (1 October - 30 September) to help pay for the cost of tuition. Current rates are $250 per semester hour or $166.67 per quarter hour.”
• That page says it has “Important updates to the Military Tuition Assistance policy in the NAVMC 1560.25” but we did not read that order, so this page lists no Marine Corps officer obligation, repayment rule or degree limit. Ask your Education Center.

Coast Guard

• The Coast Guard ETQC FAQ (capture of May 21, 2025) says: “Individual funding caps remain at $250 per Semester hour, $166.67 per Quarter-hour, and $16.67 per Clock hour.” and “TA is limited to $4500 per FY.” The FAQ says its answers “do not establish policy themselves,” and its cap answers sit under a heading reading “FY22 Funding Changes,” so confirm with your Education Services Officer.
• Degrees: “In total, you may use TA to fund 2 Associate Degrees, 2 Bachelor's Degrees, and 2 Academic Certificates.”
• Obligation: “Active Duty Officers agree to serve two years upon course completion, and Reserve Officers agree to serve four years.” “Enlisted AD & SELRES members have no service obligation for using TA, but members must complete all courses before their final day on AD.”
• Repayment: the Coast Guard ETQC FAQ says a member discharged before a course ends must repay the total amount invoiced. It says repayment may be waived for members “involuntarily separated by Reason of Convenience of the Government OR are separated/retired by reason of physical disability, illness, injury, or other impairment incurred in the line of duty. Exceptions: Misconduct & Hardship discharge.”

VA: “If your course costs more than what’s covered by the Defense Department (DOD) Tuition Assistance (TA) program, you can get money through Tuition Assistance Top-Up to help cover the difference.” VA says you may be eligible if you are approved for TA through DOD and both of these are true: “You qualify for Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD),” and “The cost of the course and fees is more than Tuition Assistance will cover.” VA counts both the course cost and fees in that comparison, even though TA itself covers tuition only.

• VA says you can get the difference for up to 36 months.
• We’ll charge your MGIB-AD benefits 1 month of entitlement for each payment you receive that’s equal to the full-time monthly MGIB-AD rate.
• The combined amount paid by DOD and Tuition Assistance Top-Up can never be more than the total cost of the course.
• To ask about it, VA says to “talk to the certifying official at your school.”

DoDI 1322.25 describes Top-Up more widely: active duty members “may use this Montgomery or Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefit in conjunction with TA funds from their Service to cover those course costs to the Service member that exceed the amount of TA paid by his or her Service.” It adds that “the combination of VA education benefits and TA will not exceed 100 percent of the actual costs of tuition.” VA's Post-9/11 GI Bill page lists “Tuition Assistance Top-Up” among the ways to use those benefits, but VA's Top-Up page we read gives requirements only for the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty route, so ask your school certifying official which applies to you.

Related VA pages on this site: the GI Bill housing allowance calculator estimates the monthly housing payment for Post-9/11 GI Bill students, and Chapter 35 rates covers the separate VA education payments for eligible family members. TA itself is a service-member benefit.