Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Program
The Department of Defense (DoD) Tuition Assistance (TA) program provides financial assistance to service members for voluntary, off-duty education programs to support professional and personal development goals. TA is available for courses offered as part of an approved academic degree or certificate program, either in the classroom or by distance learning. Western is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to offer courses as a signatory to the current DoD Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (DoD MOU).
Before enrolling at Western, service members are advised to contact their Military Branch Education Counselor or Education Service Officer (ESO) regarding the TA program eligibility and the branch process for submitting the TA form. The branches are authorized to establish service specific eligibility criteria to manage TA funds. For service-specific policies and procedures, see these websites:
- United States Air Force
- United States Army
- United States Coast Guard
- United States Marine Corps
- United States Navy
What is Covered
In general, eligible active duty service members can receive TA at a capped rate of $250 per semester hour, with an annual ceiling of $4,500. However, branches may have service-specific criteria (see links above).
College Evaluation, Comparison and Selection Resources
- Tuition Assistance (TA) DECIDE – developed by the DOD, TA Decide was created to help participants by providing information on participating institutions in a format that allows side-by-side comparison.
- Net Price Calculator – provides estimated net price information to current and prospective students and their families based on what similar students paid in a previous year.
- College Scoreboard – compare colleges, including their fields of study, costs, admissions, results, and more.
- Paying for College—a resource from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau focused on financial aid offers, repaying loans, and more.
Western Campus Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
While there are no unique requirements for students using the DOD TA program, you should contact your Military Branch Education Counselor or Education Service Officer (ESO) for details on TA eligibility and the specific branch process for submitting the TA form and other required documentation before you begin classes at Western.
- Carrie Reinecke, our Military and Veterans Support coordinator, will be your primary contact and support navigator at Western.
Carrie Reinecke, VA Certifying Official
Phone: 970.943.2048
va_rep@western.edu
Taylor Hall 300
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231
Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
You can submit the completed form through your Western Navigator Portal, or email to va_rep@western.edu.
TA is awarded under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. If a Service member using Tuition Assistance withdraws from a course before completing 60 percent of the period of enrollment, the institution must return a portion of the TA funds to the appropriate military service. After 60 percent of the semester is completed, no refunds are issued.
Standard 16-week Term Course Withdraw
- Before or during weeks 1-2 100% return
- During weeks 3-4 75% return
- During weeks 5-8 50% return
- During weeks 9-10 40% return (60% of course is completed at week 10)
- During weeks 11-16 0% return
Contact our Military and Veterans Support coordinator as soon as you start making plans to drop or withdraw.
Carrie Reinecke, VA Certifying Official
Phone: 970.943.2048
va_rep@western.edu
Taylor Hall 300
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231
Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
In times of emergency, certain students (including reserve military units, individuals with specialized skills, or firefighters) are called to provide services to the state or country. Details are available in the Catalog under Academic Policies.
Contact Carrie Reinecke for more information and support.
Phone: 970.943.2048
va_rep@western.edu
Taylor Hall 300
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231
Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The most up-to-date policies for readmission are at https://western.edu/admissions-aid/admissions/application-requirements/readmission-to-western/.
College Navigator is the most reliable way to see and compare Student Loan Cohort Default Rates. Because loans payments were suspended during COVID, the most recent rates are not reflective of 3-5 year averages.
Western Colorado University does not engage in high-pressure recruiting tactics for any students, including service members.
General policy details are available in the Catalog: Undergraduate | Graduate
Service Member Recruitment Policy
Western Colorado University will refrain from using high-pressure recruitment tactics such as making multiple unsolicited contacts (3 or more), including contacts by phone, email, or in-person, and engaging in same-day recruitment and registration for the purposes of securing Service member enrollments. Western will not reach out to Service members with non-essential communications more frequently than once a week. Western Colorado University prohibits high-pressure or aggressive recruitment of service members.
Accreditation
Western Colorado University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. For more information, please go to Higher Learning Commission’s website at https://www.hlcommission.org.
The Partnership Program in Engineering is ABET Accredited.
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