Active Duty TA and Top-Up

Each military branch has its own Tuition Assistance (TA) form and procedures. Please contact your local education center before accessing the links below. Follow each military branch’s procedure for insuring that your authorization voucher reaches the school location you are attending.

TA Tips

Instructions for the TA process are available on each of the websites listed above. Check early for TA submission deadlines.

When prompted ensure you have entered:

  • Course Number (BIOL101)
  • Course Title (Principles of Biology)
  • Level/Type (undergraduate/graduate)
  • Location (on base, off base, distance learning)
  • Hour type/Number of Hours (semester hours or quarter hours)
  • Cost per unit hour
  • Fees

When your military branch College or Virtual Education Center (VEC) authorizes your TA, you will receive an e-mail providing a link to print your authorization voucher.

Submit your Approved Tuition Assistance Authorization Voucher here.

TOP-UP (TATU)

There are significant differences between Tuition Assistance, Tuition Assistance TOP- UP, and how Tuition Assistance interacts with VA benefits.

• Tuition Assistance – Education payments, in whole or part, made by the Armed Services to an individual on active duty.
• Tuition Assistance TOP-UP (TATU)– Educational payments made by the VA which reimburse an individual for course charges not paid by the Armed Forces. There is no provision for TATU   under MGIB-SR, or VEAP.
• Both Tuition Assistance and the Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) benefit can be used for applicable courses for approved programs of education.
• This is not Tuition Assistance TOP-UP.  Tuition Assistance cannot be used with any VA benefits other than the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty and the Post 9/11 GI Bill. The Department of Defense (DoD) no longer authorizes federal Tuition Assistance for MGIB-SR or VEAP.

Tuition Assistance and Approved Programs
The Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty and Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits can only be paid toward courses when both the school and program are approved for VA benefits. You can determine if a school and program are approved by:

• Visiting the GI Bill Comparison Tool
• Visiting the Public Web Enabled Approval Management System
• Contacting your school’s School Certifying Official

How does Department of Defense tuition assistance work with tuition assistance top-up?
When you use Tuition Assistance and Tuition Assistance TOP-UP to pay for courses, the VA can pay up to 100% of your out of pocket tuition and fees costs, up to the Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty Veteran monthly rate at the applicable training time. Entitlement charges for Tuition Assistance TOP-UP is prorated based on the cost of the course(s). Entitlement is charged based on the following formula:
• Amount of Tuition Assistance TOP-UP payment / the Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty full-time Veteran monthly rate = Months of entitlement charged (with fractional months being converted to days.)
NOTE: Students are limited to 36 months of Tuition Assistance TOP-UP which is charged based on the length of the student’s term (regardless of training time). This limitation is made separately for the Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty entitlement charge and should be provided in all letters the student receives.
If you have questions about how much Tuition Assistance TOP-UP time you have remaining or if you have questions about how much remaining Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty entitlement you have – you can always contact the VA.

How does Department of Defense tuition assistance work with the post 9/11 GI bill benefit?
If both the school and program are approved, you should contact the facility’s School Certifying Official, notify them that you are receiving Tuition Assistance, and have them certify your enrollment. The School Certifying Official will reduce the tuition and fees they report to VA by the amount received from the military service Tuition Assistance. The VA will then issue any remaining tuition and fees and books stipend that you are due. These payments will follow normal Post 9/11 GI Bill rules and entitlement, for more information on how entitlements are charged please visit www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/tutor-assistance/.

What do I need to do to be eligible for tuition assistance?
• You need to request Tuition Assistance from your branch of service and;
• See your Education Services Officer or Education Counselor.

What do i need to do in order to use VA benefits to supplement my tuition assistance?

You need to do the following:

1. You need to formally apply for VA benefits.
2. You need to review your school and program to make sure they are approved to receive VA benefits.
3. You need to contact the School Certifying Official at your school and ask that they formally submit your enrollment for VA benefits.

Is there a “TA approval” form I have to submit?
No. Previously the VA used a “TA Approval” form, but current procedures rely on your school submitting your enrollment information. If you are receiving Tuition Assistance, your School
Certifying Official is responsible for providing the correct information to VA.

Our Education Call Center is available at 1-888-442-4551, or 001-918-781-5678 if calling from overseas, Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. -6 p.m. (CST) for any questions about GI Bill benefits.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
More information about VA education benefits are available at www.va.gov/education/.