Education Benefits and Financial Aid for Military Members and Spouses

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Many students have questions about the military education benefits they may have earned through their service or if they can use these benefits at Purdue Global. From military tuition assistance to information on benefits for military spouses, this is where you can learn about options available to servicemembers (including Guard and Reserve units), veterans, and their spouses.

View the total cost of attendance for your program.

Military tuition assistance may pay up to $166.67 per quarter credit hour for a maximum of $4,500 per year for Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, and Marines. The annual cap for Army is $4,500.

For example, Purdue Global’s undergraduate tuition rate for servicemembers, including members of the Guard or Reserve and TA-eligible DoD civilian employees, is $165 per credit hour. If a servicemember was approved for the $4,500 maximum, the tuition assistance would cover 27 quarter credit hours per year ($165 x 27 = $4,455).

Below are the annual caps for Purdue Global students:

Air Force, Space Force, and Marines: $4,500 per year
Army: $4,455 per year based on the 27 quarter credit hour limit
Coast Guard: $4,500 per year
Navy: $4,500 per year ($4,455 for undergraduate students) based on the 27 quarter credit hour limit

Note: You must be approved for tuition assistance before enrolling and must apply for additional courses each term. Your Educational Service Officer will inform you regarding your eligibility.

Applying for Federal Military Tuition Assistance

Speak with a Purdue Global Military Admissions Advisor or review the branch-specific tuition assistance eligibility requirements and benefits.
Apply for conditional acceptance to Purdue Global.
Apply for tuition assistance and speak to your Educational Service Officer or complete the online application.
If approved, begin classes.

Note: Should your Educational Services Officer not approve your tuition assistance request and you are not approved by your start date, you will be liable for any tuition and fees due. We highly recommend you verify your tuition assistance before beginning courses.

Return of Unearned Tuition Assistance

If you withdraw or are dismissed from the University, you may no longer be eligible for the full amount of TA funds originally awarded. For details about the calculation and return of unearned tuition assistance, please refer to the Refund Policy in the University Catalog.

Obtaining information on the Montgomery GI Bill^® and the Post-9/11 GI Bill®*
Understanding how military tuition assistance programs work
Reviewing tuition costs and how these compare to education benefits for military
Explaining how Purdue Global’s tuition reductions apply to your selected program
Applying for military benefits
Exploring other financial aid options if you are not eligible for or are not using military education benefits

GI Bill^® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/.

Please refer to the branch-specific resource pages for important information about military tuition assistance:

MyCAA

The My Career Advancement Account Scholarship (MyCAA) is a workforce development program that provides tuition assistance to eligible military spouses. The scholarship assists military spouses in pursuing licenses, certificates, certifications, or associate’s degrees necessary to gain employment in high-demand, high-growth portable career fields and occupations.*

The MyCAA program is open to eligible spouses under the below program guidelines. Spouses are subject to eligibility criteria and revised funding limits:

Spouses of an Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force or Marine servicemember, or active Reserve member in the pay grades of E-1 to E-9, W-1 to W-3, or O1 to O-3 are eligible.
National Guard and/or AGR sponsors must be on federal Title 10 active-duty orders as reported in DEERS.
Spouses of Guard/Reserve members in an Alert, Transition Assistance, or Post-deployment status are not eligible.
MyCAA accounts are limited to the new $4,000 maximum benefit with a $2,000 fiscal year cap. Waivers are available for spouses pursuing licensure or certification up to the total maximum assistance of $4,000.
Spouses must finish their program of study within 3 years from the start date of the first course.

*MyCAA funding can only be used toward associate degree programs at Purdue Global.

Additional Information

Military One Source is a Department of Defense resource that provides information about education, relocation, parenting, stress, and other issues many military families may face.

The Scholarship and Financial Aid Explorer website was established to assist military members in locating scholarships and financial support for education. The site is open to all veterans and members regardless of branch.

Federal financial aid may be available for military students not eligible for military tuition assistance or GI Bill^® benefits. Purdue Global can help determine if you are eligible for federal financial aid, including grants and loan programs.

While GI Bill^® benefits are often thought of as exclusively for veterans, they can be used during active-duty service. When these benefits are used in conjunction with military tuition assistance, it is done through the Top Up provision. Often, Top Up is not used because a student may lose a disproportionate amount of their GI Bill^® benefits in this situation. However, any GI Bill^® benefits are directly proportionate to the courses you take. For example, if you are eligible for the 100% entitlement of the Post-9/11 GI Bill^® and you attend 6 months of courses at a 50% course load, your GI Bill^® benefit would be reduced by 6 months. However, housing allowance would be prorated based on school (%) status.

Please note, you would not be eligible for the Basic Housing Allowance for the portion of your Post-9/11 GI Bill^® benefits you use while on active duty; the housing allowance is only paid when you are in a veteran status.

It is important that you contact the Veterans Administration to determine exactly what your benefits are. There are several levels of entitlement and different types of GI Bills^®, each with varying rules and benefits to consider.

You can start at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) education and training page or benefits page.

Post-9/11 GI Bill^®: Basics and Eligibility

The Post-9/11 GI Bill^®, or Chapter 33, can help you pay for school or cover expenses while you’re training for a job. If you’ve served on active duty after September 10, 2001, you may qualify for the Post 9/11 GI Bill^®.

Eligibility

You may be eligible for benefits through the Post-9/11 GI Bill^® (Chapter 33) if:

You served at least 90 days on active duty (either all at once or with breaks in service) on or after September 11, 2001, or
You received a Purple Heart on or after September 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged after any amount of service, or
You served for at least 30 continuous days (all at once, without a break in service) on or after September 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged with a service-connected disability, or
You’re a dependent child using benefits transferred by a qualifying Veteran or service member

The amount of benefit you can receive is based on your level of service as shown below.

If your service ended before January 1, 2013, your Post-9/11 GI Bill^® (Chapter 33) benefits will expire 15 years after your last separation date from active service. If your service ended on or after January 1, 2013, your benefits won’t expire.

Active Duty Service / Maximum Benefit

At least 36 months / 100%
At least 30 months < 36 months / 90%
At least 24 months < 30 months / 80%
At least 18 months < 24 months / 70%
At least 6 months < 18 months / 60%
At least 90 days < 6 months / 50%

For additional information, please visit https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/. You should also contact the VA to determine your eligibility and benefit level.

Post-9/11 GI Bill^®: Tuition and Fees

At the 100% benefit level, the Post-9/11 GI Bill^® covers all tuition and fees at any in-state public institution. If a student wishes to attend a private or foreign institution, the Post-9/11 GI Bill^® will provide up to $29,920.95 in tuition and fees for the VA 2025 Academic Year from August 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026.

You can visit www.va.gov/education/benefit-rates/post-9-11-gi-bill-rates/ for current rates.

Purdue Global's tuition and fees for all undergraduate programs fall within this limit, as do the majority of our master's degree programs. For veterans who have less than the 100% entitlement, the Post-9/11 GI Bill^® will pay the percentage of tuition and fees outlined in the section above. Tuition and fees are paid directly to the institution of higher learning.

Post-9/11 GI Bill^®: Monthly Housing Allowance

The Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) for students taking online-only courses is based on half the national average for MHA. The VA will then pay you a percentage of the MHA based on two factors:

Your Eligibility Tier: The percentage of GI Bill benefits you qualify for based on how long you served on active duty
Your Rate of Pursuit: How many credits you’re taking each term compared to full-time status.

To be eligible for MHA, your rate of pursuit must be more than 50%.

For more detailed information on monthly housing allowance benefits, students should contact the VA Education Call Center at 1-888-442-4551.

Post-9/11 GI Bill^®: Books and Supplies Stipend

Students may receive up to $1,000 per year, paid proportionately based on their level of entitlement and course load.

Post-9/11 GI Bill^®: The Yellow Ribbon Program

U.S. military servicemembers receiving reduced military tuition rates and fees are not eligible for Purdue Global scholarships, tuition vouchers, or reductions. Purdue Global participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which assists eligible students utilizing Post-9/11 GI Bill^® Chapter 33 benefits with tuition and fees that exceed the annual VA benefit cap.

Post-9/11 GI Bill^®: Transfer of Benefits to a Spouse or Dependent

The Post-9/11 GI Bill^® may allow the transfer of all or a portion of educational benefits to a spouse or dependent. This is available to active duty or Selected Reserve members with at least 6 years of service and a commitment of an additional 4 years of service. The person getting benefits must be enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).

While you’re still on active duty, you’ll need to request a Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB) from the DOD through milConnect: https://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil/milconnect/. You can’t request a TEB from VA.

Montgomery GI Bill^®: Basics and Eligibility

Effective October 1, 2025, the Montgomery GI Bill^® Chapter 30 (Active-Duty Benefits) provides up to $2,518 per month for 36 months for eligible members. In some cases, such as those who participated in the $600 buy-up program, an additional $5,400 may be available in total full-time benefits.

The amount received each month is determined by your rate of pursuit, or course load. For example, a veteran eligible for Montgomery GI Bill^® benefits taking 6 credits per term (half time) would receive 50% of the monthly GI Bill^® benefit ($1,259).

For servicemembers who served 3 years or more, the current benefits are as follows:

Training Time / Monthly Rate

Full-Time / $2,518
Three-Quarter Time / $1,888.50
Half-Time / $1,259
Less Than Half-Time, More Than One-Quarter Time / $1,259*
One-Quarter Time or Less / $629.50*

*Tuition and fees ONLY. Payment cannot exceed the listed amount.

For servicemembers who served less than 3 years, the full-time monthly rate is $2,043.

You usually have 10 years from your last discharge or release from active duty to use your MGIB-AD benefits. This may change depending on your situation. Visit https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/ for the current rate or call 888-442-4551 (888-GI BILL 1) for more information.

If you served in the military, you may qualify for up to 48 months of combined education benefits under both the Montgomery and Post-9/11 GI Bills. Learn how the Rudisill and Perkins court decisions affect your eligibility at https://benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/rudisill.asp.

Montgomery GI Bill^®: Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR/Chapter 1606)

The Montgomery GI Bill^®Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) program offers up to 36 months of education and training benefits to eligible members of the Selected Reserve, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard, or Air National Guard.

You may be eligible if you meet the following requirements.

One of these must be true:

You have a 6-year service obligation (you agreed to serve 6 years) in the Selected Reserve, or
You’re an officer in the Selected Reserve and you agreed to serve 6 years in addition to your initial service obligation

And all of these must also be true:

You complete your initial active duty for training (IADT)
You get a high school diploma or certificate of equal value before finishing IADT
You stay in good standing while serving in an active Selected Reserve unit

You may use this education assistance program for Purdue Global degree and certificate programs. Your eligibility for the program typically ends on the day you leave the Selected Reserve. But there are exceptions to this rule. Visit the VA website to learn more.

View the current monthly rates for the Montgomery GI Bill^®-SR (Chapter 1606).

*GI Bill^® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/.

Purdue Global understands the importance of a quality education and offers flexible programs designed to support those who balance career, duty, family, and their studies. We also recognize the significant value these students bring to campus and are committed to the 8 Keys to Veterans' Success to ensure veterans and all military-affiliated students receive the best possible educational experience.

2025–26 Military Friendly® School

2025–26 Military Friendly Spouse School®

2025 Military Times Best for Vets: Colleges

Sources: Military Friendly Schools, Military Times Best for Vets: Colleges

Military Education Benefits, Tuition Assistance, and Veteran Funding Options

Education Options for Active Military, Veterans, and Spouses