Reserve Tuition Assistance

Army Reserve Tuition Assistance

Servicemembers of the Army Reserves who are eligible for tuition assistance are given financial assistance to pursue their education goals in their off-duty time.  Outside voluntary education is significant to reserve members because it can increase the chance of promotion opportunities. 

The following payment amounts allowed under the tuition assistance program for eligible Army Reserve members.

  • Tuition assistance will cover up to 100% of tuition and fees not to exceed $250 per semester credit hour, or $166 per quarter credit hour, and no more than $4500 per fiscal year.
  • Tuition assistance will cover up to 75% of tuition and fees not to exceed $250 per semester credit hour, or $166 per quarter credit hour, and no more than $4500 per fiscal year for officers pursuing a bachelors degree.

The eligibility criteria to receive Army Reserve tuition assistance are the following:

  • Must be a drilling reservist with good standing
  • Must state educational goal that will lead to a degree higher than their current level of education
  • There must be sufficient time remaining in term of service to complete all TA funded courses for enlisted servicemembers and warrant officers
  • Commissioned officers must serve at least 4 years after the last TA funded course is completed before separation
  • Army Reserve procedures require servicemembers using tuition assistance to enroll in an independent study course

Air Force Reserve Tuition Assistance

The Air Force Reserves offers financial assistance through their tuition assistance program for servicemembers to pursue their educational goals in their off-duty time.  The Air Force Reserves TA offers assistance in obtaining both undergraduate degrees as well as graduate, masters, level degrees in the following amounts:

  • Tuition assistance will cover up to 100% of tuition and fees for undergraduate degree programs not to exceed $250 per semester credit hour, or $166 per quarter credit hour, and no more than $4500 per fiscal servicemember.
  • Tuition assistance will cover up to 75% of tuition and fees for graduate degree programs (masters degree) not to exceed $250 per semester credit hour, or $166 per quarter credit hour, and no more than $4500 per year.

Payment for the United States Air Force Reserve is provided by the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support.

Coast Guard Tuition Assistance

Under the new “Team Coast Guard”, members of the United States Coast Guard now are eligible for all active duty educational programs.  Due to this, they have the following tuition assistance coverage: 

  • Tuition assistance will cover up to 100% of tuition and fees not to exceed $250 per semester credit hour, or $166 per quarter credit hour, and no more than $4500 per fiscal year.

At this time the United States Navy Reserve and the United States Marine Corps Reserve do not have tuition assistance programs available to them.  However, if they are activated they would then be eligible for Navy Tuition Assistance and Marine Corps Tuition Assistance respectively.