The U.S. Armed Services offer tuition assistance (TA) to active duty, National Guard and Reserve personnel who fulfill certain requirements. TA is a distinct source of financial aid for eligible service members and mandated to be the first payer of their college tuition.
TA through the U.S. Army is slightly different than it is for other service branches:
- Army personnel must be accepted for enrollment before their TA approval will be granted
- Tuition coverage is limited to $154.66 per credit hour for undergraduate students and $250 per credit hour for graduate students
Prior to enrolling, eligible service members must receive approval for TA funding from an Educational Services Officer (ESO) or counselor within their branch of service.
Students can enroll in TA-qualifying courses on any Florida State University campus or by distance learning. As much as 100% of the tuition rate is covered by TA for academic credit hours – undergraduate or graduate – that cost $250 or less (up to $4,500 each fiscal year). These tuition costs, along with certain course-specific fees, are paid by the student’s branch of service directly to FSU. Students using TA are responsible for paying the difference in tuition rates above $250 per credit hour, along with any fees not covered by TA.
TA at Florida State is a form of “third party billing” and students using Tuition Assistance must complete an Agency Billing Form (the first form on the page) and submit it along with their service branch’s approved TA paperwork.
The university’s point-of-contact for TA is Tina Bauldree in Student Finance. Tina has extensive training and experience in assisting military-connected students with federal TA, having managed these funds at FSU for several years. Tina maintains her expertise by participating in federal TA updates, workshops and conferences on an ongoing basis.
TA information and assistance is available by emailing Tina Bauldree at tbauldree@fsu.edu or calling (850) 644-6173.
Each branch of service has its own TA application form and procedures. Again, service members are required to first consult with an education counselor in their service branch on the specifics of using TA, either by visiting their installation’s education office or an online virtual education center.
Please review the TA information available for your branch through the following links:
Be aware that TA only covers additional fees that directly relate to the service member’s specific courses. TA does not cover the cost of books or course materials, or having to retake a course. However, some Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits, like the Post-9/11 GI Bill®, may cover fees not covered by TA. For further information on VA benefits, please contact the FSU Student Veterans Center.
Also be aware that if a TA-funded student separates before their service ends, quits a course (other than for mission requirements, military transfer or personal illness), or fails a course, the student will have to reimburse any funds already paid. Florida State then returns these funds to the student’s military service branch on a prorated basis.
