The Army Tuition Assistance only covers the mandatory fees associated with individual course enrollment in colleges that are accredited by accrediting agencies that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.  To check if the college that you are planning to attend is accredited, visit the U.S. Department of Education's search for accredited institutions and enter the full name of the college in the search box..  http://www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.asp

Army Tuition Assistance is not only offered for those Soldiers looking to get a degree, but also for those that wish to complete their High School Diploma and also certificate programs.

Per Army Regulation 621-5 (11 July, 2006) TA funds will not be authorized for:

• Courses or programs leading to a credential that is validated in the Soldier’s official military personnel record. TA may not be used simultaneously to work toward more than one credential, certificate, or license.
• Courses leading to a lower or lateral postsecondary credential (except as noted for certification or licensure in para 5–6c and for state education credential as described in para 5–6e) as described in the current Directory of Postsecondary Institutions, volumes I and II, published by the Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. First professional degrees or certificates and graduate degrees or certificates will be considered equivalent.
• Courses (at any level) when the Soldier has not satisfied the prerequisite course requirements. For example, TA will not be authorized for an upper-level economics course if the Soldier has not satisfied the lower-level prerequisites. TA can be authorized if the Soldier receives an official school waiver of the prerequisite course.
• Credit by examination (CBE) to remove a grade of "incomplete."
• All courses or labs involving flight training and air time unless required as part of a degree program.
• Institutions in the GSA “Excluded Parties List System.”
• Classroom and DL courses not approved on DA Form 2171 before the end of the institution’s late registration period.
• Audited or repeated courses.
• Additional courses when the Soldier has an unresolved "incomplete" grade except when approved by the ESO.
• Additional courses when the Soldier has unresolved “W” or “F” grades.
• Additional courses when the Soldier’s educational record reflects course work for which grades are not posted within 45 days of the course end date.
• Courses for which the Soldier is being reimbursed (in whole or in part) under another provision of law if payments duplicate TA benefits. Exceptions:
  • In cases where the Soldier is eligible for the ED Pell Grant, TA may be used concurrently and will be applied first. The Federal financial aid will be applied to the remaining balance of financial need as determined by the academic institution. (OCONUS will follow contractual guidance).
  • When combining TA with Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) education benefits under MGIB 38 USC Chapter 30 or 10 USC Chapter 1606, in no case will the combined (TA and MGIB) amount exceed the total costs of the course. This limitation applies only to active duty Soldiers (both active and reserve components).
• Fees levied by institutions not required for enrollment in a given course including:
  • Parking privileges (can be paid only if charged as a condition of registration).
  • Nonrefundable charges.
  • Matriculation fees.
  • Graduation fees.
  • Credit evaluation fees.
  • Transcript fees.
  • Medical services (Student Health Center fees can be paid only if charged as a condition of registration).
  • Any other fees not an absolute requirement for enrollment in a given course/term.
• Evaluation of portfolio/transcription for credit.
• MOS and/or mission-required military training courses (for example, Emergency Medical Technician training for 91-series Soldiers, linguist refresher, and enhancement language training).
• Courses at the doctorate level.
• Certification courses provided directly by proprietary institutions.
• Payment of certification examinations.
• Courses sponsored by continuing education departments yielding continuing education units (or equivalent) that cannot be used towards degree/certificate completion.
• Preparatory courses for college/graduate admissions testing such as the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT), Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Law School Aptitude Test (LSAT).

Now you are ready to learn about the Army Tuition Assistance Eligibility or visit the links to the left to learn more about other areas of the Army's Tuition Assistance Program