Military Benefits Eligibility and Financial Assistance
For U.S. Armed Forces members, this page provides valuable resources to help navigate education benefits and financial aid options. These include:
- Military Education Benefits: Contact your military branch’s education office to learn about available benefits such as Tuition Assistance (TA) and the GI Bill® (Trademark Disclaimer).
- Tuition Assistance Setup: Work with your education officer to prepare your paperwork for TA authorization and other potential benefits.
- FAFSA: File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine your eligibility for federal, state, and institutional aid, including grants and work-study funds. Additional information can be found on CTC's Financial Aid web page.
- CTC Foundation Scholarships: The CTC Foundation offers approximately 180 scholarships each year to competitively selected students.
- Financial Aid Office: Contact the financial aid office if you plan to use multiple sources of aid, such as FAFSA or other scholarships.
- Financial Aid Rights and Responsibilities: Review your rights and responsibilities to ensure you understand your options and obligations.
Army
Explore the links below for important information on military education benefits and resources:
- Review MyArmyBenefits for details on Tuition Assistance (TA) and Army Regulation 621-5.
- Learn about Army National Guard Education benefits.
- Find more information on Credentialing Assistance (CA).
- Use ArmyIgnitED to request TA; remember, you'll need your Common Access Card (CAC) to access the site.
- Submit your Education Goal to get started.
- Soldiers should request TA between 7-60 days before the first day of class.
For assistance:
- Army Virtual Education Center: usarmy.jbsa.imcom-hq-mbx.g1-aces-virtual-education-center@army.mil
- Army National Guard Help Line: 800-GO-GUARD (800-464-8273)
Resources
Navy
Explore the following links for important information on Navy education benefits and resources:
- Visit the Navy College Program website for the latest on Tuition Assistance (TA) and NCPACE.
- Request TA or NCPACE funding through the My Education Portal; applications can be submitted between 7-120 days before the first day of class.
- For support, contact the Navy College Virtual Education Center (NCVEC) at 1-833-330-6622. Select option 3 for Education & Training, then option 1 for Navy College Tuition Assistance. Support is available Monday to Friday, 0600 - 1800 EST.
For additional assistance, call the Help Line at 877-838-1659.
Marine Corps
Here’s what you need to know about Marine Corps education benefits:
- Visit the Marine Corps Tuition Assistance page for detailed instructions on how to apply and access the My Education/Web TA portal.
- Review the latest Marine Corps regulations for up-to-date information on Tuition Assistance (TA).
- Request TA no more than 60 days before the first day of class; TA must be authorized before the term begins.
For help, contact the Marine Corps Help Line at 866-305-9058.
Air Force
Here’s what you need to know about Air Force, Space Force, Air Force National Guard, and Air Force Reserve education benefits:
- Review Air Force regulations for the most up-to-date information on Tuition Assistance (TA).
- Request TA between 7-45 days before the first day of class.
- To access the Air Force portal, click here.
For assistance:
- Air Force Virtual Education Center
- Air National Guard Help Line at 877-596-5771.
Interested in the Air Force General Education Mobile (GEM) Program?
Coast Guard
Here’s what you need to know about Coast Guard education benefits:
- Refer to Coast Guard regulations for the most current information on Tuition Assistance (TA).
- Request TA at MyCG Ed at least 7-90 days before the first day of class.
For assistance:
- Contact the Help Line at 405-954-1360
- Education and Training Quota Management Command (ETQC) Customer Service Email: ETQC-SMB-TAG@USCG.MIL
- EQTC SharePoint for additional resources
Did you know your spouse can qualify for tuition assistance?
Military Spouses
The MyCAA scholarship program provides tuition assistance to eligible military spouses. After spouses have created an Education and Training Plan and received My Career Advancement Account Scholarship approval, they can request financial assistance on a course by - course basis.
Spouses must request financial assistance (FA) no earlier than 60 days and no less than one day prior to the first day of class. Courses that have different start and end dates must be on separate financial assistance requests. Visit the MyCAA portal to register for the program.
What does the My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) Scholarship pay for?
- The pursuit or maintenance, including continuing education courses, of a license, certification or associate degree. The license, certification or associate degree must align with the spouse’s career goal and be obtained from a participating institution.
- The costs of national tests that may earn a participating military spouse course credits required for a degree approved under the program, including the College Level Examination Program tests.
When can a spouse apply for My Career Advancement Account Scholarship financial assistance?
After spouses have created an Education and Training Plan and received My Career Advancement Account Scholarship approval, they can request financial assistance on a course by-course basis no earlier than 60 days before and one day prior to the start of the course. Courses that have different start and end dates must be on separate financial assistance requests.
At a Glance
- Spouses can receive tuition assistance through the My Career Advancement Account scholarship program (MyCAA). Get started now.
- Submit an Education and Training Plan (ETP). MyCAA approval can take up to 14 business days.
- Request Financial Assistance (FA) through the MyCAA portal between 1-60 days before the first day of class.
Veterans
- If you're eligible for VA education benefits and haven’t applied yet, complete your application at Vets.gov. Be sure to save a screenshot of the confirmation page.
- If you've used your VA benefits at another school, complete a Request for Change of Program or School to update your benefits. Again, remember to save a screenshot of the confirmation page.
