Military Tuition Assistance


Tuition Assistance (TA) is a Department of Defense benefit paid to current service members of all branches of the Armed Forces to assist with the cost of tuition. Those who may be eligible are members of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and the Coast Guard. Participation in this program is for our servicemen and women enrolled in CBU online degrees and course offerings. The current TA rate is $250 per unit.

How to apply for Tuition Assistance

Each military service branch and component has their own criteria for Tuition Assistance eligibility, military service obligation, application process and restrictions. It is recommended you speak with your chain of command and a CBU representative for further guidance to request your TA benefits.

For more information, review your military service website for details on your eligibility and the process for requesting tuition assistance.

Steps to apply for Tuition Assistance

  1. Speak with your education officer, career counselor, or benefits incentive specialists to ensure you are eligible for Tuition Assistance.
  2. Gain approval from your commander to attend classes at CBU prior to enrollment. (Note: Commanders approve TA!)
  3. See your base Education Services Officer (ESO) prior to enrolling for classes at CBU.
  4. Follow the military service branch and component specific instructions how to request Tuition Assistance for your course(s). Take note of the TA application instructions/deadlines specific to your branch and CBU’s academic calendar.
  5. Submit your approved TA request to mta@calbaptist.edu, PDF format.
  6. The Veterans Resource Center will process your approved TA request and posts the credit to your student account. Please ensure you review your student account to ensure your TA is posted online.

Step by Step Guide

Step 1: Apply for Admissions

Complete an online application to get the process started. Please be sure to complete the military information portion of the application.

Step 2: Submit Your Admissions Documents

Check out the information on the Admissions webpage to find guidance on the specific requirements for your program.


To help you get started, we have listed a few admissions requirements that you will not want to forget below:

Military Transcripts

Request an office evaluation of your military training for college credits

JST: Joint Services Transcript
CCAF: Community College of the Air Force
DLI: Defense Language Institute
DAU: Defense Acquisition University
CLEP & DSST Test Scores

Civilian Transcripts

Official College Transcripts: A sealed, unopened copy of all official transcripts must be submitted for an official acceptance decision to be made

Mailed to:
California Baptist University
8432 Magnolia Avenue
Riverside, CA 92504

or

Emailed to:
CBUOnline@calbaptist.edu

While waiting to complete the admissions process and enroll in your first courses, you may continue through Steps 3-4.

Step 3: Explore the Military Benefits Available

California Baptist University is a long-time supporter of the United States military. We would like to honor your service by giving you the best possible education and offering the highest caliber of support.

We are proud to offer the below benefits and services to our military students:

  • Tuition discounts
  • Dedicated Military Support Office for military and veteran affairs
  • Flexible arrangements
  • Free evaluation for military training for college credits

Step 4: Set Up Your Military and Veteran Benefits Funding

If you are planning to use Tuition Assistance, Veterans Affairs benefits, or any other type of military funding, you will need to take steps to ensure all documentation is submitted for those benefits. If you are unsure about your eligibility, please contact your Base Education Office or the Veterans Affairs Administration directly.

Step 5: Enroll in Courses and Complete Financial Check-In

Once an acceptance decision has been made, you will be contacted by an Admissions counselor directly and provided a degree guide.

TA Request Timeframes

  • Air Force
    • Start: 45 days before term starts
    • End: 7 days before term starts
  • Army
    • Start: 60 days before term starts
    • End: 1 days before term starts
  • Coast Guard
    • Start: 90 days before term starts
    • End: 16 days before term starts
  • Marine
    • Start: 60 days before term starts
    • End: 1 days before term starts
  • Navy
    • Start: 120 days before term starts
    • End: 14 days before term starts

Military Tuition Assistance Recipients

Military Tuition Assistance is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When a student withdraws, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of TA funds originally awarded. To comply with the U.S. Department of Defense policy, CBU will return any and awarded TA funds on a proportional bases through at least 60% portion of the period for which the funds were provided. If a service member stops attending due to a military service obligation, CBU will work with the service member to identify solutions that will not result in a student debt for the return portion.

Withdrawals

A student’s official withdrawal date is used as the last date of attendance and to calculate earned percentage of TA. The last date of attendance (LDA) is provided by the course instructor when a student withdraws from the class. TA funds are earned proportionally during an enrollment period with unearned funds returned based upon when a student stops attending.

8-week Course Withdraw submitted and LDA confirmed:

Before or during week 1 100% return
During week 2 75% return
During week 3-4 50% return
During week 5 40% return (60% of course completed)
During week 6-8 0% return