Unlocking Educational Opportunities: A Guide to Military Tuition Benefits at Liberty University

Liberty University recognizes the sacrifices made by military members and their families and is committed to providing resources and support to help them achieve their educational goals. As part of this commitment, Liberty University offers a variety of military tuition benefits to eligible service members, veterans, and their spouses. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the tuition assistance programs available at Liberty University for military students.

Understanding Tuition Assistance (TA)

Tuition Assistance (TA) is a government benefit designed to help service members of all branches of the Armed Forces cover the cost of tuition. Each branch has its own specific guidelines and procedures for requesting and utilizing TA. Liberty University is dedicated to assisting military students in navigating these processes.

General Process for Requesting Tuition Assistance

The general process for requesting Tuition Assistance is the same for all branches of the military, with the exception of the Virginia National Guard State TA. The steps are outlined by each branch of service; it is important to follow their instructions for how to request Tuition Assistance for your course(s).

Air Force and Space Force Tuition Assistance

If you are an Air Force or Space Force service member, your first step is to contact your Education Office for assistance with getting started if you have not used Tuition Assistance before. Ensure your Air Force and Space Force TA account is updated with the degree you will be pursuing at Liberty University. Liberty University loads all available courses into the Air Force Virtual Education Center. To be accepted, your TA authorization form must have all the correct course information, including the course dates associated with your term of enrollment. Once your TA has been approved, you must submit the signed authorization form directly in your Student Checklist by the TA form deadline associated with your term of enrollment. The last four digits of your social security number may be visible on your TA form. Liberty University automatically submits grades to the Air Force and Space Force for TA courses within 30 days of the term end date. However, it is your responsibility to ensure that the Air Force and Space Force receive your grade information.

Army Tuition Assistance (ArmyIgnitED)

Soldiers utilizing Army Tuition Assistance through ArmyIgnitED should take note of the following. Soldiers are limited to 130 credit hours to complete one Bachelor’s Degree and 39 credit hours to complete one Master’s Degree. Post-Graduate degrees and certificates typically do not qualify for Army Tuition Assistance. If you have not yet set up an account with the new ArmyIgnitED, please take the following steps:

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Set up your ArmyIgnitED Account using the URL and your CAC.
Retrieve Your Degree Completion Plan. Army TA students can access their degree plan in the Course Registration Tool. Under the Degree Completion section, type Ctrl P to save your degree plan as a PDF.
Submit an Education Goal. Select your education goal type. If you see N/A by the goal you are trying to create that means you are ineligible for that degree level. Soldiers can hover over the goal and they will see the reason why they are ineligible. If this is in error, please contact your S1 to get your civilian education level updated in your record.
Select Liberty University as your Academic Institution. Enter Liberty University’s name and select from the drop-down list. You can also enter your LU ID.
Select a Degree Program. Liberty University has uploaded all degree programs we offer. There is a keyword search to help find your degree program.
Upload your Evaluated Degree Plan. You can access your Degree Completion Plan in the Course Registration Tool. Enter total required credits for your degree level if not already loaded. Liberty University has already loaded the number of credits required for the degree. If you are uploading an Evaluated Degree Plan, you can update the transferred credits in the “Previous Credits” field. If the credits you enter are in Quarter Hours, check the “Yes” box.
Review & Approval/Disapproval. Once you submit your education goal, it is sent to your Education Center for review. Once approved or disapproved, you will receive a message in your student message section.

Liberty University loads all available courses into the ArmyIgnited Portal. Once your TA has been approved by the Army, you must submit the signed authorization form directly in your Student Checklist by the TA form deadline associated with your term of enrollment. The last four digits of your social security number may be visible on your TA form. You may black out this information and replace it with your Liberty ID before you submit your form to us.

Coast Guard Tuition Assistance

If you have not used Coast Guard Tuition Assistance before, your first step is to contact your Education Office for assistance with getting started. The Coast Guard requires you to request TA within 90-16 days prior to the start date of the course. You will manually enter the course information on your TA request. Make sure you have all the correct information before you submit your request. Once your TA has been approved by the Coast Guard, you must submit the signed authorization form directly in your Student Checklist by the TA form deadline associated with your term of enrollment. The last four digits of your social security number may be visible on your TA form. Liberty University will automatically submit your grades to the military for TA courses within 30 days of the course end date. However, it is your responsibility to make sure this information is received.

Department of Defense (DoD) Tuition Assistance

Please note if you have not used DoD Tuition Assistance before, your first step is to contact your Human Resources Office or Office Supervisor for assistance with getting started. You will need to make sure the correct course information is included on your TA Authorization letter. Forms with incorrect information cannot be accepted. Identifying student information (your form may include the last four digits of your social security number. You must submit your approved TA Authorization Letter to the Office of Military Affairs by the TA Form deadline and complete Financial Check-In by the deadline corresponding to your sub-term of enrollment. The Office of Military Affairs will invoice your DoD employer directly. Invoices are submitted to DoD employers after the add/drop date for each sub-term per the provided invoicing instructions on your DoD TA document. Book Voucher Advances may be applied to your student account if you are approved for books/material stipends on your DoD TA document. These vouchers must be used through Liberty’s online bookstore Barnes & Noble College. Liberty University typically does not submit your grades to the DoD for TA courses (unless this is required by your employer during the invoicing process). Most typically, you will be responsible for submitting this information to your employer directly if it is needed. Army civilians must generate their DoD tuition assistance (TA) through ArmyIgnitED. Once the SF-182 has been created in ArmyIgnitED, the SF-182 can be submitted directly in your Student Checklist. Fill out your student information and click Next. Your SF 182 will be reviewed by your Immediate Supervisor. Next, your SF 182 will be submitted to your Career Program Manager for approval. Next, your SF 182 will be submitted to your HQ ACCMA for approval.

Marine Corps Tuition Assistance

To be eligible for Marine Corps Tuition Assistance, you must be on Active Duty or “Activated Reservist” status. If you have not used Marine Corps Tuition Assistance before, your first step is to contact your Education Office for assistance with getting started. The Marine Corps requires you to request TA within the 60 days prior to the start date of the course. You will manually enter the course information on your TA request. Make sure you have all the correct information before you submit your request. Once your TA has been approved by the Marine Corps, you must submit the signed authorization form directly in your Student Checklist by the TA form deadline associated with your term of enrollment. The last four digits of your social security number may be visible on your TA form. Liberty University will automatically submit your grades to the military for TA courses within 30 days of the course end date. However, it is your responsibility to make sure this information is received.

My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) Tuition Assistance

My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) Tuition Assistance is available for eligible military spouses. Spouses of Active Duty or activated National Guard/Reserve members (pay grades E1-E9, W1-W3, and O1-O3) in the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Navy may qualify. If you have not used MyCAA Tuition Assistance before, your first step is to contact a MyCAA Counselor at (800) 342-9647 for assistance with getting started. MyCAA will only cover an Associate’s degree, certification or licensure program that expands employment and career opportunities. At this time, only Liberty University’s Associate’s degree programs are approved for MyCAA funding. MyCAA requests must be submitted and approved by MyCAA between 1 and 60 days prior to the start date of the course. You will manually enter the course information on your funding request. Make sure you have all the correct information before you submit your request. The GI Bill® (all chapters including Ch. 33 and 35), most outside scholarships, and MyCAA funding are not refundable to the student and therefore may need to be adjusted based on your eligibility. Liberty University will automatically submit your grades to MyCAA within 30 days of the course end date. However, it is your responsibility to make sure that MyCAA receives this information. Prior to requesting MyCAA Financial Assistance (FA), military spouses are required to work with their school to develop an Education and Training Plan. Liberty University is unable to create official degree plan documentation until after you are officially accepted to your program. Liberty University is required to verify the cost of your attendance on your MyCAA Education and Training Plan. Because of this, if you are planning to utilize the discounted military tuition rate and other military benefits available for online military spouses (as defined by Liberty University), you will want to ensure your military documentation has been submitted and approved prior to requesting your Education and Training Plan.

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Navy Tuition Assistance

If you have not used Navy Tuition Assistance (TA) before, your first step is to contact your Education Office for assistance with getting started. The Navy requires you to request TA and receive approval within 120 and 7 days prior to the start date of the course. You will manually enter the course information on your TA request. Make sure you have all the correct information before you submit your request. Once your TA has been approved by the Navy, you must submit the signed authorization form directly in your Student Checklist by the TA form deadline associated with your term of enrollment. The last four digits of your social security number may be visible on your TA form. Liberty University will automatically submit your grades to the Navy College for TA courses within 30 days of the course end date. However, it is your responsibility to make sure the Navy receives this information.

Virginia Army and Air National Guard State Tuition Assistance

Military students serving in the Virginia Army or Air National Guard may be eligible to receive State Tuition Assistance. The Virginia National Guard will determine the amount of Tuition Assistance available each year. Your first step is to contact Fort Pickett for assistance with getting started. You will need to make sure you are aware of all requirements and regulations for using State Tuition Assistance. The deadlines to request State TA for each semester are determined by the Virginia National Guard. You may Request State TA only during active application periods. After your request has been submitted to the Virginia National Guard, a roster of all approvals will be sent to Liberty University closer to the start of the semester. This payment plan option will remain active for students approved for State TA in the previous semester (e.g. State TA funds will be applied to your Liberty account after the invoice is paid by the National Guard. The National Guard will require additional documentation from the student in order to be eligible for TA for a future semester.

Additional Benefits and Discounts

In addition to Tuition Assistance programs, Liberty University offers several other benefits and discounts to military students and their families.

Military Tuition Discount

For undergraduate certificates, associate degrees, and bachelor’s degrees, the tuition rate for qualified or eligible military members is $250 per credit hour.

Doctoral Tuition Discount

As a thank-you for your military service, Liberty University offers eligible current and former service members like you or your spouse multiple pathways to earn a doctoral degree for only $375/credit hour. If you haven’t earned a graduate degree through Liberty, our Executive Certificate program allows you to pay only $375/credit hour for a postgraduate certificate that can stand alone or potentially count as the first 21 hours of a related doctoral degree. When you complete a graduate degree through Liberty - including the nested 21-hour executive certificates - and you continue your studies into a doctoral program within 2 academic years of graduation, you will receive a reduced tuition rate of just $375 per credit hour. The $375 tuition rate only applies to active service members, eligible veterans, and spouses who are new to a doctoral program in Fall 2020 or after. DoD employees are only eligible for the discounted tuition rate for the executive certificates, Ed.S., Ed.D. and D.Min.: Pastoral Counseling programs. Degrees awarded in passing do not qualify. Please that there are some program exclusions.

Military Child Discount

Liberty University recognizes the sacrifice military members and their families make.

Heroes Fund Scholarship

Through generous private donations of Liberty University supporters, the Heroes Fund Scholarship is offered to service members and honorably discharged veterans who meet certain eligibility requirements: eligible applicants were recipients of the prestigious Purple Heart or rated 100% disabled by the Department of Veterans Affairs for an injury, illness, or condition and are pursuing their first certificate, associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree.

Free Evaluation of Military Training

Liberty University offers a free evaluation of your military training and experience for college credit. This only applies to degree programs, not certificates.

Eligibility and Verification

To take advantage of Liberty University's military benefits, you must verify your military status.

New Students

Submit your Liberty University application prior to verifying your military status. This will ensure that your application is processed promptly and will provide our team with the necessary information to assist you in the subsequent steps, including the verification of your military status through ID.me.

Current and Recently Applied Students

To take advantage of the benefits you may be eligible to receive, please verify your military status through ID.me in the myLU portal. If you have completed military verification through ID.me while completing your most recent Liberty application, you do not need to recomplete this verification. If you apply to a new program, change degree levels, or break enrollment, your military status will need to be re-verified through ID.me.

Military Spouses

Military Spouses (as defined by Liberty University) should verify their military and marital status through ID.me using their own credentials. Please note that military spouses who attempt to verify their military affiliation using their spouse’s ID.me credentials may experience delays in processing. Once this verification is successfully completed, they should submit copies of the state-issued active Driver’s License* for both themselves and their spouse. *A state-issued active Driver’s License serves as valid photo identification, which is required for consideration of Liberty’s military benefits. Acceptable forms of photo identification must include name, date of birth, gender, and a photo. If you are unable to submit a Driver’s License, we may also accept a Passport or DMV identification card. Submit your documents directly in your Student Checklist. This documentation will be reviewed within 3-5 business days.

Additional Eligibility Information

In addition, current Department of Defense employees, Veterans (with honorable/general discharge), and military spouses currently qualify. The aforementioned must be pursuing a certificate, associate degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree. Benefits only apply to Liberty University online military students. If your discharge does not meet the criteria for our military benefits and you feel your situation warrants a special review by our office, please provide a written explanation of your circumstances (including the DD-214 with character of service listed, supporting documentation, and a brief essay) to be reviewed by the Office of Military Affairs for consideration.

Important Considerations

Financial Check-In (FCI): The last step to take before beginning your classes is completing Financial Check-In (FCI). It is vital that you complete FCI by the deadline - failure to do so may mean your courses getting dropped and/or a $150 late fee being assessed. As a military student, there may be some additional information you need to know to complete FCI, so please review our Financial Check-In Guide.
Non-Stackable Discounts: Liberty University Online corporate affiliate and promotional discounts and other promotional awards are not stackable with Liberty University given military benefits. If a student is initially awarded both, he or she should see the promotional discount or waiver removed within 24 hours.
Tuition Rates: Please note that tuition rates may change annually. The rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026.

Resources and Support

Liberty University is committed to providing excellent service to military students. A team of professionals is available to assist you with your Tuition Assistance funding. The Office of Military Affairs is committed to the mission of supporting military service members, veterans, and their families. Many of our faculty members have served in the Armed Forces and are actively involved in research, resource development, and/or ministry to benefit the military community.

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