Members of the Colorado National Guard (Army and Air) are eligible for state tuition assistance (TA) – up to 100% tuition paid at any of the schools approved by the Department of Military and Veterans affairs (DMVA). State funding can be used in conjunction with Federal Tuition Assistance. Requirements to receive tuition assistance from the Colorado National Guard include:

• Minimum of six months of service in the Colorado National Guard prior to the start of the semester
• Meet Colorado National Guard performance requirements
• End of Term Service (ETS) date must be on or after the last day of the semester
• Enrolled at a State TA approved institution
• Maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) or 2.5 or higher
• Meet all school continuing requirements

Apply for the Colorado National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program. The application link might not be open for the term you wish to apply for. Check the boxed information for application open and close dates.

If you are awarded state TA, the DMVA will send you an “Authorization Notice”. You must sign (only hand-written signatures will be accepted) and date this form. To submit, email the Authorization Form to gi_bill@colostate.edu or drop it off at the Veteran Education Benefits Office counter in Centennial Hall before the end of the add/drop period. 

State TA pays for tuition only (base tuition plus differential tuition less the College Opportunity Fund). If you receive other financial aid, your state TA award may be reduced. Keep in mind this will not happen until after the end of the course withdrawal period when schedules and awards are finalized.

To obtain federal military tuition assistance, you need to visit your installation’s Education Services Officer (ESO) before enrolling at CSU.

Army

The Tuition Assistance (TA) program provides financial assistance for voluntary off-duty education programs in support of a soldier’s professional and personal self-development goals. TA is available for courses offered in the classroom or by distance learning that are part of an approved academic degree or certificate program. The courses must be offered by schools that are registered in ArmyIgnitED, accredited by accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and signatories to the current Department of Defense Memorandum of Understanding (DoD MOU).

The maximum amount paid for Tuition Assistance is 100% Tuition and Fees, not to exceed:

• $250 per Semester Credit Hour, or
• $166.67 per Quarter Credit Hour.
• 16 Semester Hours per Year
• $4,000 per Fiscal Year

For general information about the Army’s automated TA process, visit My Army Benefits.

Marine Corps

TA is available for all active duty Marines with at least twenty-four months of service. TA is also available to reservists on continuous active duty, enlisted reservists ordered to active duty 120 days, and to reserve officers ordered to active duty for two years or more. 

The maximum amount paid for TA is 100% Tuition and Fees, not to exceed:

• $250 per Semester Credit Hour, or 
• $166 per Quarter Credit Hour.
• $4500 per Fiscal Year

You must earn a grade of D or higher for all non-graduate level coursework and a C or higher for graduate level courses. If you do not earn the minimum grade required, you will have to repay all TA funds for the courses you received unacceptable grades in.

Visit Marine Corps Community Services for more information.

Navy

Tuition Assistance (TA) is available to both Naval Officers and Enlisted active duty personnel. It is also available to:

• Enlisted Naval Reservists ordered to active duty for 120 days or more.
• Naval Reservist Officers ordered to active duty for two years or more.

All sailors are limited to eighteen semester hours (or their quarter hour equivalent) TA per fiscal year. Sailors can only use TA to fund two courses each quarter of the fiscal year, and they are limited to 120 semester hours for their entire career.

The maximum amount paid for Tuition Assistance is 100% Tuition and Fees, not to exceed:

• $250 per Semester Credit Hour, or 
• $166.67 per Quarter Credit Hour.
• $4,500 per Fiscal Year

You must pay back TA you receive for:

• undergraduate classes for which you earn a grade of D or lower
• graduate classes for which you earn a grade of C or lower
• any classes for which you earn a non-passing grade or for which you take an incomplete grade.

For further program details and Navy Tuition Assistance program updates, visit the Navy College Program website.

Air Force

Air Force Tuition Assistance (TA) is an important quality of life program providing 100% tuition and fees for courses taken by active duty personnel. The program is one of the most frequent reasons given for enlisting and re-enlisting in the Air Force.

The maximum amount paid for Tuition Assistance is 100% Tuition and Fees, not to exceed:

• $250 per Semester Credit Hour, or
• $166 per Quarter Credit Hour, and
• $4500 per Fiscal Year

Application Process: Apply for Tuition Assistance online using the Air Force Virtual Education Center. This must be done through the Air Force Portal. There are six steps to completing the AFVEC online TA process.

Coast Guard

Coast Guard Tuition Assistance (TA) pays up to 100% of tuition and required fees for taking college courses while on active duty.

The maximum amount paid for by TA is 100% Tuition and Fees, not to exceed:

• $250 per Semester Credit Hour, or
• $166.67 per Quarter Credit Hour.
• $3,750 per Fiscal Year

If you earn a grade lower than a C for undergraduate courses or B for graduate courses, you must pay back any TA funds received for those courses. 

Refer to the ETQC website for more information.

Top-Up Benefit

To be eligible for the Top-Up benefit, you must be approved for federal Tuition Assistance by a military department and be eligible for GI Bill® benefits. To be eligible, you must be a GI Bill® participant, still on active duty, and served at least two full years.

The amount of the benefit is limited to the amount the person would receive for the same course if regular GI Bill® benefits were being paid. In no case can the amount paid by the military combined with the amount paid by VA be more than the total cost of the course.

If you receive the Top-Up benefit, your regular GI Bill® benefits will be reduced. The amount of entitlement charged for Top-Up payments is as follows:

• If you are utilizing the Montgomery GI Bill^®, your entitlement is charged based on the dollar amount of benefits the VA pays you. You will be charged one month of entitlement for each payment you receive that is equal to the full time monthly rate for the GI Bill^®.
• If you are utilizing the Post-9/11 GI Bill^®, your entitlement is charged based on the training time you are enrolled in. If you are going to classes at the 1/2 time training level, you will be charged 1/2 month of Post-9/11 GI Bill^® benefits for each month you are enrolled and receiving GI Bill^® benefits (it does not matter how much money you are reimbursed).

Contact the Veteran Education Benefits Office if you are planning on using Federal Tuition Assistance as a top-up so we can review with you all of your options to help you maximize your benefit eligibility. 

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.