1. MARINE CORPS TUITION ASSISTANCE POLICIES

2. There is no waivers or exception to policy for Marines
Guiding Documents
MCO
MARADMIN 687/14
MARADMIN 093/16
Marines can receive up to $4500 per Fiscal Year (October 1st- Sept 30th).
TA is authorized up to:
$250/semester credit
$166.67/quarter credit
$16.67/clock credit
There is no waivers or exception to policy for Marines
to receive more funds.

3. To Qualify for TA Command confirmation:
Per MARADMIN 093/16, Marines will complete the Higher Education Preparation (HEP) Course online if they’ve never used TA before and never attended our old “College 101.”
Go to Course number: HEP-US001.
Have a GT score of 100 or higher.
Command confirmation:
First-time applicants shall have a minimum Time-In-Service of 24 months from their AFADBD.
Prior to approval, first-time applicants shall complete the Personal Financial Management MCI (3420G).
Must be eligible for promotion per MCO P D CH2.

4. To Qualify for TA If the Marine does not have a GT at 100 or higher…
Then we provide the TABE test (Test for Adult Basic Education).
Marines who take the TABE must score a 10.2 or higher (sophomore level proficiency).
If they do not, then we have our Academic Skills Program (ASP) periodically throughout the year.
ASP is 4 weeks long, each day.
Marines must have taken the TABE test no matter what as a prerequisite for the course.
Marines must receive command approval and be on PTAD orders for the full duration of the course.
Palomar College provides the instruction/curriculum
Free course

5. Once the Marine qualifies…
It is the Marine’s choice what school to attend**
Marines do not need to be officially enrolled in the courses, however the course information is needed for the TA forms.
Marines will submit their TA application requests via the WebTA portal:
TA requests are required to be first command approved, by either the CO, XO, or OIC. Education Officers or anyone approved by the CO is ok as well.
Any SNCO who signs a TA request must have authorization from the CO with a BY DIR letter. All BY DIR letters must be on file prior to processing TA.
**It is recommended that Marines make an appointment to see a counselor at the BEC prior to enrolling in any school.

6. Tuition Assistance Program Policies
TA applications can be submitted up to 60 days prior to the start of the class. Submissions that exceed 60 days will be denied. TA applications will be automatically denied if the course has started (on the day or thereafter). ALL TA REQUESTS must be Command Approved prior to the course start date.
Marines must submit a degree plan before their third class on TA.
TA shall be authorized to first-time applicants for only one (1) course, unless documentation is provided that the Marine has at least an Associate’s degree or at least sixty (60) academic credits and a minimum GPA of 2.5.
Marines may not actively participate in more than two (2) TA-funded classes simultaneously.

7. Tuition Assistance Program Policies
TA shall not be authorized for duplicate degrees (only move forward).
TA is only authorized for one associates, one bachelors, and one masters. Marines can also receive TA for one certificate (get pre-approval for the cert as TA will not cover most).
When using TA, a Marine may only pursue one education goal at a time.
Enlisted Marines’ EAS must be at least of sixty (60) days beyond the completion date of the course in order to be approved for TA. Marines who are re-enlisting or extending and want TA must plan ahead.

8. Tuition Assistance Program Policies
Marines are responsible for non-tuition fees including but not limited to costs associated with distance learning, equipment, supplies, books/materials, exams, insurance, parking, transportation, admissions, registration, or fines.
Marines are required to submit their grade(s) to the BEC within 30 days of the course completion date.
TA will be recouped (repaid) for the following reasons:
(1) Failed courses (UG grade of “D or F” or Graduate grade of “C or below”),
(2) Unresolved incomplete courses (grade of “I”)
(3) Course from which you voluntarily withdrew resulting in a “W” grade.
If a Marine has TA recouped or if their GPA drops below 2.5, they are only authorized 1 class for the next proceeding school term.
GPA must be a 2.0 or higher to have any TA.

9. Tuition Assistance Program Policies
Officers must agree to remain on active duty for two continuous years after completion of a TA funded course.
Reserve Component Officers on Active Duty orders must have an EAS date of two (2) years beyond the completion date of the requested class in order to be approved for TA.

10. Tuition Assistance Program Policies
TA shall not be approved retroactively. All TA applications must be submitted, command approved, and authorized by the BEC prior to the term start date for college courses or the training start date for voc/tech programs.
Coursework with a start date between 15 and 30 September must be command approved and authorized by the BEC no later than 15 September.
TA is not authorized for noncredit courses, training programs, or professional credentialing programs under Continuing Education or Workforce Development.

11. Tuition Assistance Program Policies
Marines assigned to an MOS school or Residential PME (i.e. Staff College, Cpl Course, Sgt Course, Career Course, etc.) are not authorized receipt of TA until they return to their regular or permanent duty.
Open issues in a Marine’s TA account, including incomplete courses, reimbursement issues, or waivers, must be resolved and posted to the student’s record prior to approval of future TA requests.

12. Web Tuition Assistance (WebTA)

13. Let’s get started….Log-In
Once you access WebTA, you can use CAC Login or NKO user name and password to log-in.
If you do not have NKO account, go to to create one. (Civilian TA approvers will also need to contact the Education Center to create an NKO account.)

14. My Education ”
To start an application select “My Tuition Assistance (WebTA)”

15. If you are eligible You will get a caption that says:
“Please select one of the
following options to
continue:”
And the Eligibility
window says:
“Your eligibility to use this
system has been verified.”

16. If you are not eligible You will see a caption that says:
“We are sorry, but you are
ineligible to use this system.”
The Eligibility window will list
the things you need to correct in order to use WebTA.
You must work with your Education Office to clear these items.

17. Create TA Application
Select “Create TA Application” to start a new application.

18. Application Agreement
The first screen is the Application Agreement Acceptance page.
“I Accept” indicates the member has read and will comply.
“I Do Not Accept” closes the program.

19. Default Values
If you have used TA before, the system assumes you are attending the school most recently attended. Select “Yes” if the application is for the same school or “No” to select a new school.

20. New Application
Question #8: Type in the CO or By Direction Authority’s address. Please make sure the address is correct. If you copied and pasted the address, it must not have blank spaces at the end.
Question #15: Ensure the Education Office corresponds to the current duty station

21. New Application Step 2 of 4
Question 16: Use drop down to select immediate academic goal.
Question 17: Answer if you have an Education Plan/Degree Plan for the academic goal.
Questions 18-20: If you are graduating within 12 months, select anticipated graduation date, select the school issuing your degree, and select if you have or have not applied for graduation.
Questions 21-22: Select if you have a SOCMAR agreement, if “yes” select the school you have it with.

22. New Application Step 3 of 4
Question 25: Find school name by using partial or full name.
Question 26: Use drop down Calendar to select term start/end dates.
Question 27: Select box to the right of the blank box to view University course listing. If course is not listed, enter course manually.
Question 28: Type course title if it is not entered automatically after entering course department and number.
Question 29: Select if course is a foreign language.
Question 30: Type or select course description from drop down box.
Question 31: Type or select course level from drop down box.
Question 32: Type or select primary instructional mode from drop down.
Question 33: Type or select Credit Unit from drop down.

23. New Application Step 4 of 4
Question 34: Enter the total number of credit hours.
Question 35: Enter the cost per credit (student is responsible for correct cost).
Question 36: Enter zero (0).

24. Correcting errors
To clear an error in any section, highlight the error an then click “Clear Checked”.
To clear all course information on that line, click the box on the left side of section 27 and then click “Clear Checked”. This will remove all course information on that line.
Select “Save” to submit application.
A warning appears giving you the option to make changes

25. Warning Select “Yes” when TA document is completed.
Select “No” to make changes.
Other warnings may appear depending on your inputs.

26. Submit Application
Click submit to forward to CO or By Direction Authority for approval.

27. Application Status History
Student can view status of TA applications here and on the “Existing Applications” screens.

28. Student Options Prior to Command Approval
The student has the option of cancelling or resubmitting the document only if the Command Approval official has not processed the application.

29. Command Approval
The Command Approving official receives an requesting “approval or disapproval” of the TA application.
To approve or disapprove , click on URL listed or cut and paste the URL to the web.

30. Notification to Student of
Commander’s Decision
Student receives an upon “approval or disapproval” decision of TA application by Command Approving Official.

31. Notification to Student from
Education Center
Student receives an on “authorization or non-authorization” of TA by the Education Office .

32. Student Actions After Authorization of TA Application
1 Return to and click on “Existing Application. 2
Click View for Existing Applications in Authorized Status.
3 Click “Print Document” for student to print, sign, and provide voucher to school.

33. Example of TA Voucher
Your Signature Here
After printing, Marine must sign and deliver to the school.

34. A couple of reminders…
Tuition is paid based on the data that you provided. If there any changes to dates, courses, or other information, your School’s request for payment may not be honored or you may be required to pay back the government.
You CANNOT electronically change or cancel any information on your TA Application after it has been processed by your Command Approving Authority.
Never make, or allow others to make, “pen changes” to your voucher.
If you need to make changes to or cancel your TA Application after funding is authorized, contact your Education Office .

35. Websites of Interest
JKO site (for HEP)– . Course number is HEP-US001.
Camp Pendleton Base Education Center –
G.I. Bill –
T.E.B. –
Kuder Journey: Career guidance and planning system -
San Diego County ROP – vocational training for military and dependents (tuition-free)
MyCAA (Career Advancement Account)

36. For more information about Education Programs, Services, & Resources
EDUCATION CENTER
Bldg #1331
(760) /6414 Or
Your Unit Education Officer
On Facebook at MCCS Camp Pendleton – Education & Libraries

37. BEC Northern Satellite Site
School of Infantry (Bldg )
Phone number (760)
Hours of Operation:
Monday, Tuesday (0800 – 1130), Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (0800 – 1630).

38. Any Questions?