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Education
Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART)
Marine Corps and Navy Personnel do not have an official document certifying military training and education for college credit. In some instances, Marines enroll in college classes that duplicate military education and training. An official transcript endorsing and recommending college credit for military education and training and recognized by the American Council on Education (ACE) would increase college credit awarded, enhance opportunities to complete a college degree and offset tuition assistance costs through increased college and university recognition of military schools and experience for credit.
The Marine Corps and the Navy are working on a joint project to develop an education transcript to document military education and training. This transcript will be endorsed by ACE and may be submitted directly to a college/university for college credit. ACE publishes the Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services, the most widely accepted reference for college credit recommendations for service schools and experience.
The project is divided into four phases: Phase I (Design), Phase II (Development), Phase III (Implementation), and Phase IV (Operation). .
Transcripts for Marines and Sailors are currently undergoing validation. Upon certification by ACE of a transcript's validity, all Marines, active duty and reserve, will be able to request a copy at their local education center or via mail.
Navy Tuition Assistance Program
Tuition Assistance (TA) is the Navy’s financial assistance program. It provides active duty personnel a percentage of the tuition costs for courses taken in an off-duty status at an accredited college, university, or vocational/technical institution leading to a certificate, associate, bachelors, masters, doctoral, or professional degree.
What is Covered
TA pays:
- 100% of tuition costs for courses applicable to the completion of a high school diploma or equivalency certificate.
- Seventy-five percent, not to exceed $187.50 per semester hour (or equivalent).
- $3500 overall cap per individual per fiscal year.
Eligibility
TA is open to both officer and enlisted active duty personnel. It is also open to Naval Reservists on continuous active duty and those ordered to active duty 120 days or more. To qualify, service members must:
- be on active duty for the whole length of the course
- attend an accredited institution
- be pursuing a high school diploma or equivalency, vocational/professional certificate, or associate's, bachelor's, graduate or doctoral
- receive counseling from a Navy College Office
- submit application form prior to beginning the course. Application for TA must be submitted to the Navy College Office before the end of the school's late registration or add-drop period. Mail-ins have until 30 days after course start date to submit (application for TA) to Navy College Office.
- successfully complete the course and maintain at least a "C" average for undergraduate courses and at least a "B" average for graduate courses
- agree, if an officer, to remain on active duty for at least two years upon completion of courses funded by TA. This obligation runs concurrently with remaining obligated service time. Those who fail to serve the obligation must repay the TA funds expended on their behalf during the last two years of active duty on a pro rate basis.
Program Restrictions
- TA may be used to pay for an individual's first certificate or degree at the associate, bachelor, master, doctoral or professional level. Once a certificate or degree has been earned, either prior to or while on active duty, no matter how funded or when begun, TA will not be used to subsidize additional certificates or degrees at the same level (lateral degrees). It can be used for both classroom and independent study/distance learning courses.
- TA does not pay for books or registration fees.
- Undergraduate courses will be funded for those who have earned an undergraduate degree (bachelor) only when the courses are a required prerequisite for the graduate program the individual is seeking or if the courses are necessary to obtain teacher certification. These exceptions should be documented in the school catalog or by a letter from the school and presented to the Navy College Office. The maximum number of credits that can be TA-funded for prerequisite courses is 21 semester credits/32 quarter credits; for teacher certification courses, 36 semester credits/54 quarter credits.
- TA cannot be used to pay for flight training or physical education/ recreation courses (unless the service member is pursuing a physical education/recreation major or the physical education/recreation courses are required for degree completion).
- TA cannot be used by those in a duty-under-instruction status (such as EEAP) or in an officer accession program which involves full time instruction at a civilian institution (such as ECP).
- A student may not use TA and the GI Bill concurrently for the same courses. TA will only be approved for courses scheduled for one academic term at a time. TA cannot be used for CEU's (Continuing Education Units).
Outside the commuting area of a Navy College Office
TA can be processed through the mail or fax. Mail/fax TA students should receive counseling by phone or from their local Educational Service Office before enrolling in school and/or applying for TA. Locate your nearest
Mail-In Tuition Assistance Location.
The Navy/Marine Corps Application for Tuition Assistance Form (6-97) can be downloaded here. Two formats have been provided:
Family Member Educational Assistance Programs
A family member tuition program is administered by the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society or NMCRS, based on financial need and paid for from their reserve funds, i.e., not the funds raised for emergency relief. Applications and awards are administered by NCMRS. Individuals should apply through the local NMCRS office. The telephone number is (703) 696-4960.
Spouse Tuition Aid Program (STAP): STAP is available to spouses of active duty Navy and Marine Corps personnel in OCONUS locations. The spouse may be a full or part time student studying toward a vocational certificate or an undergraduate or graduate degree. Undergraduate level of study has a per term maximum of $300 and a maximum per academic year of $1500. Graduate level of study has a per term maximum of $350 and a maximum per academic year of $1750. Students must apply prior to the start of each term.
VADM E.P. Travers Scholarship and Loan Program: Applicants must be the spouse of an active duty member or the dependent child of an active or retired member of the Navy or Marine Corps. The individual must be a full time undergraduate student at an accredited college or university. 1000 grants are awarded each academic year at $2000 each. Applicants are also evaluated for an interest-free student loan of up to $3000. The loan repayment begins within 30 days of award and must be repaid by allotment within 24 months. Application deadline is 1 March of each year. Late applications will not be considered for the scholarship, but will be evaluated for a loan.
For more information, visit the NMCRS website.
Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation
The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation is a private, non-profit organization that provides scholarship opportunities for the sons and daughters of Marines for pursuit of higher education opportunities. Their toll free number is 800-292-7777.
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