Military and Veteran Services

Coast Guard Tuition Assistance

The following information was found in several sites containing cited material about the program, and official existing SIUE documents. Their information and citations can be found at the end of the document.

Program Information

• Tuition Assistance (TA) is a benefit of up to 100% of tuition expenses and certain fees (specifics listed below) being paid to active duty servicemembers of the Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force, and Coast Guard, and select members of their subsequent reserves; the information above and below cover requirements and benefit information for both select reserve members and all active duty servicemembers.
• NOTE: Each of the Armed Forces determine administration of TA, and each state may offer its National Guard servicemembers state funded education incentives based on state guidelines and eligibility; experiences with Tuition Assistance through the National Guard in another state may not apply or be available in Illinois.

Important Information

1. TA is not authorized for several situations and personnel. To see this information, please consult the Coast Guard website.
2. Tuition approved for high school completion programs can be fully funded for personnel who do not have a high school diploma or an equivalent certification.
3. Developmental courses, which some institutions require if a student has been out of school for several years, may be authorized if the institution requires it.

Eligibility Requirements

1. Enlisted members:
   1. Must meet all requirements set in ALCOAST 404/14 in order to confirm the following qualifications:
      i. Satisfactory progress toward completion of unit qualifications.
      ii. Satisfactory progress toward watch station qualifications.
      iii. Satisfactory proficiency of craft.
      iv. Satisfactory conduct during previous 6 months prior to TA application.
      1. Must complete the TA authorized course(s) on or prior to RELAD (Release from Active Duty), discharge, or retirement.
      2. If an applicant is going to RELAD and provides documentation showing that he/she will be in the SELRES (Selected Reserve Drilling Status), then TA authorized course(s) may begin in active duty status and be completed in SELRES status.
2. Officers:
   1. Active duty officers must meet requirements in ALCOAST 404/14 (linked above) to utilize TA.
3. TA is not available for Reservists in a drilling status, but is available for Reservists on long-term orders greater than 180 days and that meet the rest of criteria.

Covered Costs

1. Tuition costs not to exceed:
   1. $250 per semester credit hour
   2. $166.66 per quarter credit hour
   3. $16.67 per clock hour
   4. $4,000 per fiscal year

Costs NOT Covered

1. Fees beyond tuition costs are no longer funded by TA.

Tuition Assistance Reimbursement

1. Applicants will need to repay TA if they:
   1. Do not receive a passing final grade.
   2. Receive an “Incomplete” in a course and do not submit a passing final grade within six months of the course’s original end date.
   3. Disenroll/withdraw from a course after the institution’s cut-off date.
   4. Separate prior to course completion date.
   5. Fail to submit grades within current policy timeline.
2. NOTE: Repayment action will be taken by NETPDTC via member’s pay. However, the member may repay TA debt by mailing a money order or cashier’s check payable to the U.S. Treasury to (member should include TA Authorization form copy and ensure SSN, course name, and TA Authorization number is on the check):

Commanding Officer
NETPDTC N814/Coast Guard Group
6490 Saufley Field Road
Pensacola, FL 32509-5241

Timeline of Benefit Use

1. Tuition Assistance can only be used during a member’s time of service.

Application Process

1. Applicants should consult their ESO to find out if they should use WebTA or the Application for TA form (CG-4147) to apply.
   1. This document lists the steps needed to complete the WebTA application.
2. After either application is complete, the applicant’s ESO receives the applications for review and approval.
   1. In addition to a CG-4147 form, applicants need to submit supporting documentation such as assessment, verification of enrollment, cost and type of fees claimed, and cost of tuition) to their ESO.
   2. NOTE: It is recommended that applicants keep copies of used forms for personal records.
3. After application approval, the applicant’s information is sent to the CG Institute for processing.
4. The CG Institute processes the application and TA Authorization is sent to the applicant’s email and ESO.
   1. If the applicant does not receive an email within 14 days, they should ask their ESO for a copy.

Campus Requirements/Steps

1. Request TA via your education unit prior to start of course(s).
2. Submit Tuition Assistance Authorization form to the Bursar’s Office (located in Rendleman Hall) prior to start of course.
3. Authorization amount will be entered on student account as memo amount.
4. Billing will be processed after four week class drop period.
5. Payment will appear on student account when paid by unit.

Resources Utilized in this Document

1. U.S. Coast Guard website
2. U.S. Coast Guard’s information on Reservists’ TA and grants