Military Tuition Assistance

The Tuition Assistance (TA) program provides financial assistance to service members for voluntary off-duty education programs in support of professional and personal self-development goals. TA is available for courses that are offered in the classroom or by distance learning and are part of an approved academic degree or certificate program. The courses must be offered by schools that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and are signatories to the current DoD Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (DOD MOU).

Your service branch pays your tuition directly to the school. The Department of Defense (DoD) has directed a uniform per semester hour cap of $250 for tuition assistance (TA) and an annual ceiling of $4,500.

TA is available to active duty, National Guard and Reserve Component servicemembers. The military branches are authorized to establish service-specific eligibility criteria to manage TA funds. Service members need to first check with an Educational Services Officer (ESO) or counselor for the specifics of TA by visiting their local installation education office or a virtual education center online.

The University of Wisconsin – Madison has entered into an agreement with the Department of Defense (DoD) Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and agrees to abide by the Principles of Excellence. The Principles of Excellence protect service members from predatory and misleading behavior from educational institutions.

UW-Madison agrees to ensure that the institution refrains from providing commission, bonus, or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on securing enrollments or federal financial aid (including Tuition Assistance funds) to any persons or entities engaged in any student recruiting, admission activities, or making decisions regarding the award of student financial assistance.  Furthermore, UW-Madison agrees to refrain from high-pressure recruitment tactics such as making multiple unsolicited contacts (3 or more), including contacts by phone, email, or in-person, or engage in same-day recruitment and registration for the purpose of securing service member enrollments.

UW-Madison agrees to readmit service members with the same academic standing they achieved prior to serving on active duty. Students whose enrollment is interrupted due to active duty service should contact University Veteran Services at UW-Madison as soon as possible to discuss withdrawal options, necessary documentation, refunds and other concerns. Please review UW-Madison’s full active duty policy.

In the unlikely event the institution’s CDR rises above the national average, that information will be disclosed and loan repayment data will be provided.

University Veteran Services Liaison Team meets regularly to receive training and updates on military and veteran students – a list of liaisons can be found on our ‘About Us’ page.

Application Process

Each military branch has its own TA application and procedures. All service members MUST speak with their Educational Services Officer (ESO) or counselor within their military service prior to enrolling. To find out how to get started, call or visit the Educational Services Officer (ESO) or counselor at your local installation’s education center, go online to a virtual education center or click on the following links for each service branch:

• Air Force
• Army
• Coast Guard
• Marine Corps
• Navy
• National Guard

The Tuition Assistance Top-Up program may be an option for those using the Montgomery GI Bill^® – Active Duty or the Post 9/11 GI Bill® when the cost of the course and fees is higher than the amount TA will cover. This program will affect your GI Bill® benefits, so it’s important to consider your options before applying.

Additional Service Member Responsibilities

Prior to enrollment at UW-Madison, it is the responsibility of service members pursuing Tuition Assistance to:

• speak with their Educational Services Officer (ESO) or counselor within their military service to complete an education plan (if required) and ensure approval of TA
• review the UW-Madison policies regarding transfer credit
• submit official transcripts of all previous education and training, including JST/CCAF as applicable, to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at UW-Madison in a timely manner
• notify University Veteran Services of your intent to use TA and confirm your benefits each semester