State Tuition Assistance

Institutional Needs Assessment

Educational institutions may complete the Institutional Needs Assessment survey as part of the school packet process.

Open Institutional Needs Assessment Survey

State Tuition Assistance Institution Presentation

View or download the State Tuition Assistance presentation for educational institutions.

Open Institution Presentation

School Process Map

Follow these ten steps to verify awards, submit enrollment information, process invoices, and apply State Tuition Assistance funds to student accounts.

School Process Map

State Tuition Assistance Frequently Asked Questions

Information for schools regarding State Tuition Assistance certification, awards, financial aid, refunds, fees, and repayment requirements.

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How many TMD Service Members are sponsored by STA each semester?

For the Spring ’26 Semester, 1,244 Service Members applied; 837 received an award. Between 65%–70% of SMs who apply are eligible to receive an award and have eligible charges.

Can we assign the STA award to the student’s account as a credit as soon as we are notified?

Yes. The certified award can be credited upon certification; however, the amount can be adjusted up or down based upon eligible charges.

How does TMD STA let us know which students are covered?

We’ll send a roster of SMs who are approved, with a certified award amount prior to class starting.

Can that document include an amount?

The certified award will be indicated on the roster; the amount will be adjusted as needed after Census Day.

Will the list of Certified SMs change after the term begins?

It can increase due to late applicants; we will sponsor eligible SMs until we expend our budget for the semester. It can also change due to SMs who withdraw from class or lose eligibility.

What format is the Certification list provided in?

STA can provide the certification list/roster in an Excel spreadsheet or a PDF list. If requested, STA can create a formal letter for each sponsored student.

Is State Tuition Assistance award applied before other financial aid?

STA is applied to the remaining tuition and mandatory fee charges after other aid has been applied to the student’s balance; STA shouldn’t be combined with other forms of aid to create a surplus in the SM’s student account.

What about Pell grants or other aid that isn’t tuition and fee specific?

Pell, SEOG, grants and/or scholarships will be included when calculating the eligible award amount. Grants and Scholarships may reduce the number of qualifying charges that State TA can pay.

Loans or direct payments will not be included in the calculation of the eligible award amount. In other words, if the SM used student loans or a direct payment to pay tuition and fees, State TA can still be approved to cover those charges if they are eligible after the application of all other awards.

NOTE: State TA is not a loan repayment program. Accepting student loans or making a direct payment does not by itself qualify a student for State TA.

Can refunds be sent directly to the Service Member/student (SM)?

STA funds cannot be directly refunded to service members or students.

  1. STA should not exceed eligible tuition and mandatory fee charges after all other forms of aid have been applied.
  2. If a student receives STA and a refund is generated, that refund should not exceed payments the student personally made or the value of a loan taken out to satisfy tuition and fee charges. In that case, the refund represents the student’s own funds being returned, not STA funds.

Note: STA is not a loan repayment program. Accepting student loans or making a direct payment does not by itself qualify a student for STA.

Will STA recoup funds from a SM who dropped late or who failed a class?

Service members are financially responsible for any course that does not result in a passing grade or successful completion.

Withdrawing for non-military related reasons makes the SM responsible for tuition and fees STA paid on their behalf.

If funds must be recovered, TMD will pursue repayment in the following order:

  1. School refund (preferred): The school returns the funds directly to TMD.
  2. Future award reduction: If the SM applies to STA in a future semester, the award will be reduced by the amount owed.
  3. Comptroller payment-hold: Unresolved debts may be reported to the Texas Comptroller’s office, resulting in a warrant or payment hold.
  4. Attorney General collection*: After 90 days, the Comptroller reports unresolved debts to the Texas Attorney General’s office for collection actions to include reporting the debt as a state delinquency on the student’s credit report.

* This is a serious financial obligation, repayment via the school is the fastest and preferred resolution.

Defining some fees as “Mandatory” or “Non-Mandatory” Fees is confusing as some fees, such as distance learning fees are mandatory for our students who can only take classes remotely – is this a rule or a suggestion?

Mandatory Fees are either authorized by statute or the governing board of your institution. Fees should be obligatory and consistent for all students to be considered “mandatory.”

Note: If Mandatory Fees exceed more than 30% of a student’s bill it may trigger an audit by STA.

Since STA is last payer, when STA is applied and a student is later awarded or accepts a scholarship/grant, are we expected to adjust the STA award amount?

Yes. This is consistent with STA being last payer.

Our system can’t track whether a specific sponsor has covered a class before. Can STA require SMs to submit their list of classes before funding is approved so STA can check for duplicate and repeat classes?

STA tracks each SMs course history by requiring them to submit their previous semester transcripts. It’s noted on their account if they have failed a course and if their cumulative GPA has fallen below 2.0.

Requesting Installation Access

Requesting Educational Institution Access to ARNG Military Installations, Facilities, and Organized Events

In accordance with DoDI 1322.25, all educational institutions must submit requests for access to Army National Guard installations, armories, facilities rented by the Army, or organized events through the Education Services Officer. Installation access requests must be submitted through ArmyIgnitED.

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What authorizes educational institution access?
  1. Executive Order 13607, President of the United States, April 27, 2012, Establishing Principles of Excellence for Educational Institutions Serving Service Members, Veterans, Spouses, and Other Family Members.
  2. DoDI 1322.25, Voluntary Education Programs, March 15, 2011, incorporating Change 3, July 7, 2014. Read DoDI 1322.25 .
  3. Memorandum, U.S. Army Human Resources Command, September 24, 2014, subject: Educational Institution Access to Installations.
  4. Memorandum, National Guard Bureau, February 9, 2015, subject: Educational Institution Access to ARNG Installations and Facilities.
How does an educational institution request access?

All installation access requests are reviewed by the Education Services Officer, the Adjutant General's principal advisor on voluntary education matters.

Approval is required to help prevent unfair, deceptive, abusive, or misleading advertising, sales practices, materials, or solicitation directed toward Service Members for the purpose of encouraging enrollment in an educational institution's programs.

Important: Educational institutions may not use or leverage a third-party organization, marketing firm, or company to engage with or solicit Service Members.
What must be included with an access request?

Include With the Request

  • Educational institution name and the intent or purpose of the visit.
  • Number and names of the educational institution representatives requesting access.
  • Proposed counseling delivery method and date of the visit, such as a presentation or individual appointment.
  • Communication process used to notify students that counseling will be available.
  • Agreement to provide a list of Soldiers counseled during the visit.
What is required for access approval?

Required for Approval

  • Maintain a signed Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Defense.
  • Have at least 20 Army National Guard Soldiers enrolled in ArmyIgnitED and assigned to the Texas Army National Guard.
  • Confirm that the educational institution is approved for the use of veterans' education benefits.
  • Verify that the educational institution is accredited by a national or regional accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Who should educational institutions contact?

Texas Military Department

State Tuition Assistance
Education and Incentives

Mailing Address

2200 W. 35th Street, Building 15
Office 106
Camp Mabry
Austin, TX 78703

Phone and Email

Office phone:
(512) 782-6851

Email the Education Team:
ng.tx.txarng.mbx.trp@army.mil