Army Online College & Tuition Assistance

The pathway to your future starts here. At National University, applications are reviewed year-round, so you can begin your Army online college classes when it’s convenient for you, whether you enroll online, on base, or on location. Our 75-plus programs and certifications offer a wide variety of options; whether you are working towards an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, we have something for every soldier.

U.S Army College Education & ArmyIgnitED

National University is proud to have met all requirements and work with ArmyIgnitED, allowing Active duty, Army Reserve, and National Guard to obtain federal tuition assistance dollars. Please review the admissions and enrollment process before submitting your application.

U.S. Army Admissions Process

Please take a few minutes to review our three-step admissions and enrollment process before submitting your application. For more information, contact Military Online at (877) 628-6828.

Step 1: Determine The Level of Army Tuition Assistance

Contact the Base Education Office on your base to complete a Department of Defense Request for Tuition Assistance. Completing this form will start you on your way to earning a degree.

Step 2: Apply to National University

Determine which degree or program you are interested in. See our list of online programs available to take classes anywhere in the world, or check the locations page for on-base or on-location programs.

Next, complete the National University registration form online.

Submit TA Forms, after the TA authorization form is completed and signed, you can fax, email, or hand carry the TA forms to your advisor. To ensure you are getting the most out of your tuition assistance, review the financial aid section.

Receive Verification of Enrollment and Welcome Letter. Applications are processed within one week, but TA authorization will take longer to process. Verification of your enrollment and a welcome letter will be emailed to you once everything has been processed.

Take ACU Placement Test (First-Time College Student Only). Please note: If you’re a first-time college student, you must take the ACU Placement test either online or on base within the first 30 days after you enroll.

Step 3: Get textbooks and course materials

Once you’ve submitted your registration form, received confirmation of registration, and submitted your TA forms and payment, you can order your textbooks, CD, and any other course materials online at the University Bookstore.

Army Tuition Assistance (Army TA)

The Army funds 100 percent of the tuition costs with certain caveats. Army tuition assistance is currently limited to 130 hours of undergraduate credit towards your bachelor’s degree and 39 hours of graduate credit for all post-bachelor degree education. Additional school costs such as books are not covered under this program.

Army TA is currently approved according to the type of courses you take. In addition, the courses you select must be part of an approved degree program. (A few years ago, the Army added a provision that military personnel must have ten years of service before receiving tuition assistance for a next-level program, such as a master’s degree. If you have used financial support for any part of your bachelor’s degree, you are unable to use it to get a similar degree.)

While you are on active duty, you may be eligible to apply for Army tuition assistance. Whether you are an enlisted soldier, warrant officer, or a Troop Program Unit (TPU) warrant officer (without a commission), the only requirement is to have a certain amount of active duty time to complete your school courses.
If you are an officer or a commissioned warrant officer, you’ll need to incur a two-year active duty service commitment in exchange for tuition assistance. Selected reserve officers and commissioned warrant officers must commit to four years in the army reserves.

These service obligations start the day of the last class paid by Army tuition assistance. Keep in mind that if you’re an officer who voluntarily leaves or is discharged due to conduct, you’ll be required to reimburse the Army for tuition assistance received for the service time you were unable to complete.

The Army encourages you to use these benefits at any type of educational institution, including schools that offer online degrees. The only requirement is that the school’s online program must be accredited.

U.S. Army Tuition and Fees

As of March 1, 2022, the National University military tuition rates are as follows:

	On Site Course	Online Course
Undergraduate	$747	$747
Graduate	$822	$981
Undergraduate (per quarter unit)	$166	$166
Graduate (per quarter unit)	$182.67	$218

In addition to our military tuition discount, you may qualify to apply for veteran benefits under existing veteran programs. National University also participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Note that some service branches have established specific guidelines or limits for their members that do not mirror the standard policy. Please check with your Education Services Officer to determine the benefits available to you. For more information on Tuition Assistance, visit the DANTES website.

For more information, contact our Veterans Affairs Office at (858) 541-7970 or veteransaffairs@nu.edu.

U.S. Army Transfer Information

National University offers transfer-friendly degree programs to help you maximize as many previously-earned credits as possible, including college credits from other accredited institutions, professional or technical certifications, and military training and experience.
To learn more about transferring to NU, contact our Veteran’s Affairs Office at (858) 541-7970 or veteransaffairs@nu.edu.

National University Accreditation

National University has been regionally accredited by the WASC, Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) since 1977. As a regionally accredited Institution, NU has met the highest education quality standards. Learn more about our regional accreditation.

Army Scholarships for College

Please visit our complete scholarship offerings for information on National University’s military scholarships, application instructions, and deadlines.

Top Army Education Programs Selected by Soldiers

National University offers a program that fits everyone! As a Military Friendly university, we have military students from across the country. Some of the most popular education programs selected by soldiers are:

• Associate of Arts in General Education
• Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
• Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
• Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security and Emergency Management
• Bachelor of Science in Information Systems (BSIS)