Tuition Assistance Top-Up
If your course costs more than what’s covered by the Defense Department (DOD) Tuition Assistance (TA) program, you can get money through Tuition Assistance Top-Up to help cover the difference.
Am I eligible for Tuition Assistance Top-Up?
You may be eligible for Tuition Assistance Top-Up if you’re approved for Tuition Assistance through DOD and you meet both of the requirements listed here.
Both of these must be true:
- You qualify for Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD), and
- The cost of the course and fees is more than Tuition Assistance will cover
Who’s covered?
Service members
What benefits can I get?
If you’re eligible, you can get money to cover the difference between the full cost of a course and the amount covered by your DOD payment under active-duty TA for up to 36 months.
We’ll charge your MGIB-AD benefits 1 month of entitlement for each payment you receive that’s equal to the full-time monthly MGIB-AD rate.
Check the current payment rates for MGIB-AD
Note: The combined amount paid by DOD and Tuition Assistance Top-Up can never be more than the total cost of the course.
How do I get these benefits?
If you need additional education benefits beyond what you can get through Tuition Assistance, talk to the certifying official at your school. Tell them you’re using Tuition Assistance and want to find out if you’re eligible for Tuition Assistance Top-Up.
If you’re not already getting MGIB-AD, you’ll need to apply for education benefits before you can use Tuition Assistance Top-Up.