About STAState Tuition Assistance

Funded by the State of Texas, the State TA program is an education benefit that provides money for college to eligible members of the Texas Military Department pursuing their educational and career goals. This benefit is available during Fall and Spring semesters only (no Summer classes) to active drilling members (not AGR) of any of the 3 following Texas components:

  • Texas Army National Guard (TXARNG)
  • Texas Air National Guard (TXANG)
  • Texas State Guard (TXSG)

Applicants interested in requesting assistance must:

  • Have completed Basic Training (or its equivalent)
  • Be attending an accredited Texas college or university
  • Be pursuing:
    • an academic certificate
    • their first undergraduate degree
    • their first graduate or professional degree

Interested in applying for State Tuition Assistance? Click on the “How Do I Apply?” link to find the application instructions.

Additional Questions?

All applicants can submit inquiries about State TA by email: email

 

 

 

 

 


Our office reviews each application to determine whether an applicant meets all the qualifications for a State TA award and to determine the qualifying amount for reimbursement. The review process focuses on 3 categories of information. An applicant must get a GO in all 3 in order to be approved to receive a State TA award. The 3 categories are:

1) Military Service qualifications. We reach out to a representative for your component to verify certain military criteria. The verification is done by the TXARNG Education Office Counselors for Texas Army National Guard members, by the TXANG BETM Offices for Texas Air Guard Members, and by the TXSG T1 office for Texas State Guard members. 

2) Financial Eligibility. This is NOT the same financial requirement as in qualifying for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). We do not use income or living expenses to determine eligibility. We only look at the amounts charged for tuition and fees and the financial aid each applicant receives to calculate a qualifying amount for reimbursement. The qualifying amount for a State TA award is determined using a combination of documents provided by the student and information received directly from the colleges and universities. Click the "More Information" on this page and the link "How Much Can I Get" for more on how the qualifying amount is determined.

3) Scholastic Eligibility. The official transcript that applicants turn in at the end of each semester will show the final grades for each class and the cumulative GPA. State TA awards can only reimburse for classes that are successfully passed (no F, W, or I grades). Applicants must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. If a transcript shows that an applicant has not met one or more of these minimum standards, a State TA award may be reduced or cancelled out. 

Click on the “More Information” link below to find more information about the review process.

 

More Information

Application Instructions: 

There are 3 basic steps to complete a request for State TA. If you apply before the beginning of the Fall semester, you can request aid for the whole school year, in other words for both the Fall and Spring semesters. This will save you a step in completing your request for the Spring semester. To do this you must attend classes for the same school for the whole school year. If you plan on transferring schools for the Spring term, then you will have to start with step 1 again for the Spring semester.

   Follow these 3 steps to apply for State TA. 

Step 1.   Complete The State TA Application Form

  • There is a new, mobile-friendly application form. You can use a desktop, laptop, or mobile device to complete this web-based application form. If you use a mobile device, you can sign using your finger. Click SUBMIT when you're done to automatically send it in. This is the easiest method available to apply. Click here to access the new web-based version. 
  • May not work on RCAS network. If you are on a government computer and cannot connect to the application form, try using a non-government computer. This application form is mobile friendly, so you can use your smart phone.
  • If you have problems with the online application itself, email our office at ng.tx.txarng.mbx.trp@mail.mil.

Step 2.   Send in Supporting Documents.

  • Our office will send a Document List once the semester begins listing ALL documents needed.
  • 3 basic items required of ALL applicants: 1) a tuition statement, 2) class schedule, and 3) financial aid information.
  • Do NOT send anything before the beginning of the semester. If you get your statement too early it will possibly be missing some important information as well as changes that could occur at the beginning of the semester.
  • Click here to view examples of the 3 basic documents required by all applicants, but remember it is best to wait until you receive your Document List before you send any supporting documents. 

Step 3.   Submit an Official Transcript AFTER the end of the semester.

  • When the semester is over, come back to this website and see the section "How Do I Submit My Transcript?"
  • You will also want to check out the "Due Dates/Deadlines" section of this site.

Due Date/Deadline summary:

If you are applying for:

 

Fall Semester Only 

-OR-  Fall/Spring Combined**

Spring Semester Only

 
1) Application Primary Due Date August 14, 2020 ---
   Application Final Deadline September 4, 2020 February 5, 2021
2) Supporting Documents Due Date September 30, 2020 March 1, 2021
3) Official Transcript Due Date January 15, 2021 June 7, 2021

** NOTE: If you apply for Fall/Spring Combined in one application form, you must meet the due date/deadlines under "Fall/Spring Combined" AND Steps 2 and 3 under "Spring Semester Only".

 

 

Award Funding Limitations

All eligible applicants that are approved for a State TA award will receive a reimbursement of up to 6 credit hours worth of tuition and mandatory fees, not to exceed $2,250. Applicants registered for more than 6 credit hours per semester can request for an award upgrade. Award upgrades allow State TA awards up to 12 credit hours of tuition and mandatory fees, not to exceed $4,500. Undergraduate students have top priority for upgrades. Upgrade approval is subject to availability of funds. Upgrade approvals are not guaranteed under any circumstances.

If an applicant receives aid other than State TA, the qualifying amount for reimbursement may be less than the above mentioned amounts. The qualifying amount for State TA awards will be the amount of qualifying tuition and mandatory fees that are not paid by gift aid, i.e. financial aid you do not have to pay back. The intent of State TA is to help reimburse some or all of the out-of-pocket expenses for qualifying tuition and fee charges.

In addition to the financial criteria described in the “How Do I Qualify” section of this site, award amounts are based on:  1) available funding, 2) the number of eligible applicants for that semester and 3) the successful completion of courses.

More Information

State Tuition Process Status
Figure 1. Summarized 5 step process for State TA.

The State TA Program will reimburse Service Members with out-of-pocket expenses for tuition and mandatory fees. Students are responsible to the school for all charges at the beginning of the semester. If all steps are followed, after the semester is over an award payment is sent to the school. The school will either apply the funds to new charges or refund the amount to the student.

Figure 1 shows a simplified model of the State TA process. Status updates are sent to all applicants throughout the semester. At a minimum, the completion of each of the 5 steps in this model will be announced to the applicant in a status update email.

The general process is detailed a little more fully below. More specific steps required to apply for this benefit can be found in the “How To Apply” section.

More Information

  • STATE TA awards are based on: 1. available funding, 2. number of eligible applicants and 3. successful course completion. Since any one of these factors can change from one semester to the next, an award amount received one semester may not be the same as one received another semester even for the same person.
  • Applicants will receive multiple email status updates throughout the semester. If you are not receiving status updates, contact the Education Office to ensure that your application was received and is being processed. See the section on “How It Works” for a list of expected status updates.
  • The tuition award will only reimburse classes that are successfully completed. Classes that are withdrawn, incomplete or failed will not be reimbursed. Official transcripts are required to confirm grades.
  • This program does not pay until after the end of the academic semester. Therefore, it is the applicant’s responsibility to work with the school to satisfy the payment requirements at the beginning of the semester. Most schools will not defer charges based on your application for State Tuition Assistance. 
  • Schedule changes should be reported by submitting an updated course schedule and fee statement to the Education Office.
  • The State TA award will be issued at the completion of the academic semester and only after an official transcript is received in the Education Office.
  • By Texas State law, this program is only authorized to issue payments directly to a college or university in Texas. We cannot issue payments to out of state institutions or to individual persons.
  • Payments are sent as a bulk payment that includes all awards for all award recipients at a given school. Schools may take 7-10 days from the date the payment is received in their accounting system to process the payment. It may take additional time for the school to update the student’s account.
  • If the STATE TA payment creates a positive balance on the student’s account, then the school may issue a refund of the appropriate amount. The school may offer other options to handle the positive account balance.

The last step to complete a Tuition Assistance request is to send in your official transcript AFTER the semester is over. Only OFFICIAL transcripts will be accepted. Unofficial versions or screen shots of your grades will NOT be accepted.

PLEASE NOTE: Send in your official transcript AFTER your grades have posted. If you send in your transcript without the grades showing, you will have to order another transcript.

The general rule is to send your transcript to our office in an electronic/digital format. Most schools now provide an electronic PDF version that can be ordered online and sent electronically directly to our office. If this option is available to you, this is the method you should use.

If you are a student at Texas A&M University College Station or Galveston campus only, click on the link below for more information on steps you need to take when sending your transcript. "Do NOT follow the steps in the next paragraph. Click on the More Information link below and in the detailed instructions, read the information under Option #1, A."

For students of all other schools, login to the transcript ordering site for your school.

On the transcript order screen, search the list of recipients to find "Texas Military Department, Tuition Assistance". Select that option as the recipient and complete the ordering process. If you are unable to find this listing, enter our email address as the recipient: "ng.tx.txarng.mbx.trp@mail.mil". If your school does not offer electronic transcripts, order a paper copy for yourself. Once you have it, scan it and send a copy to our office.

Once we receive your transcripts, we will send out confirmations AFTER your grades have been logged into our system. At certain points it may take a few days from receiving the transcript to update the grades. Please be patient, but if a week passes or the deadline approaches with no confirmation from our office please send an email to confirm if we received your transcript.

Click on the link below to see a more detailed explanation of the suggested steps to send in your official transcript.

More Information

MISSION:

In alignment with the TMD Strategic Plan 2021-2025, The State Tuition Assistance Program supports TMD’s overarching goals of Retention, Building Resiliency and enhancing Community Support. 

GOALS

  • Recruitment and Retention of highly qualified Soldiers, Airmen and State Guard Members.
  • Increase the number of TMD Members who complete an undergraduate degree. 
  • Promote postsecondary education which accelerates military readiness and resiliency as well as personal and professional development. 
  • Improve and expand upon the quality of services offered to the state’s workforce and community. 
  • Increase representation in the STEM disciplines such as cyber space security, computer science, natural or biological sciences, education, engineering, mathematics, physics, public health and the sciences.  
  • Develop a cadre of future leaders for Texas and America by facilitating the completion of higher education. 


VALUES

  • Military Service
  • Scholastic Eligibility
  • Successful completion of classes
  • STEM Degrees that increase employee knowledge and skills that contribute to the TMD Agency and Mission. Applicants meeting the criteria for an award upgrade and pursuing STEM degree will be prioritized for an upgrade above other degree programs.

FAQ

  • Active drilling members in “Good Standing” with TXARNG, TXANG or TXSG.

  • Eligible ranks are: Enlisted (E1-E9), Officers (O1-O5) and Warrant Officers (W1-W3).

  • Applicants must be accepted and registered in a Texas qualifying college or university. Part-time or full-time students are eligible.

  • Applicants must have completed Basic Training prior to the start of the semester. TXSG must complete BOT, RBOT or AIT.

  • Members must continue to serve in their component through the end of the semester. The Service Member’s Expiration of Term of Service (ETS) or Mandatory Retirement Date (MRD) must be a date after the official last day of class. State Guard Members do not have a contract ETS date, but must serve through the end of the semester in order to receive the award payment.

  • ROTC (GRFD and DANG) Cadets utilizing the Room & Board scholarship option or non-scholarship contracts are eligible.

  • Members on AGR status are not eligible.

  • Applicant must attend a public or private college or university with headquarters in Texas as defined in Texas Education Code Section 61.003. For profit schools are not eligible.

  • Must have and maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA.

  • STA is available for Fall and Spring academic semesters only. If you are in classes that do not align with the standard Fall and Spring semester, your classes will be assigned to either semester for processing based on the start and end date of your classes. Payments are issued out only at the end of the standard Fall and Spring semesters.

  • The eligible applicants receive an award payment for up to 6 credits of tuition and fees, not to exceed $2,250 per semester.

  • Applicants registered for more than 6 credit hours in a semester can request an award upgrade. If approved, the upgrade maximum is the equivalent of up to 12 credit hours worth of tuition and mandatory fees, not to exceed $4,500. Upgrades are subject to available funds. Only a limited number of award upgrades can be approved each semester.

  • Private school awards are calculated differently. They are based on the average size of awards for public schools each semester. The average is normally around $1800 for undergraduate students and $2,000 for graduate students taking 6 credit hours or more per semester. 

  • Public school Out-of-State/Non-Resident tuition charges are not eligible for reimbursement. Tuition awards will be approved at the in-state, resident rate.

  • Priority of funding goes to undergraduate students. Students in graduate or professional programs have lower priority.

  • State tuition assistance is available for five academic years or ten semesters.

  • Incomplete, Dropped or Failed classes are ineligible for reimbursement.

  • Continuing education classes are not eligible for reimbursement, these are classes that do not earn academic credits and do not qualify for formula funding by the State of Texas.

  • Yes, State TA can be used or “stacked” with other federal tuition assistance or state programs to cover up to 100% of tuition and eligible fees.

  • If other programs are covering 100% of the tuition and eligible fees, then there is no remaining amount that qualifies for a State TA award.

  • Yes, however, your Pell, SEOG, grants and/or scholarships will be included when calculating your eligible award amount. Grants and Scholarships may reduce the amount of qualifying charges that State TA can pay. If there is any doubt, go ahead and apply for State TA. We will review your information during our normal processing and let you know if you have any remaining charges that qualify for a State TA award.

  • Loans will not be included in the calculation of eligible award amount.

  • If we do not receive information on all the financial aid you are awarded, then our calculation for a State TA award may exceed the maximum amount of aid that your school is allowed to apply to your account. In this case, your school may not accept all or part of your State TA award payment based on the total amount in financial aid that you have been awarded. Additionally, intentional failure to disclose other financial aid, grants or scholarships may be grounds for denial, permanent disqualification from the program as well as prosecution under the Texas Military Code of Justice.

The award upgrade process is intended to help direct our limited funds to applicants with the highest need for additional assistance and to those serving in positions or fields with high-value to the Texas Military Department. The State TA program has a limited number of award upgrades available each semester. Award upgrades are primarily targeted to undergraduate students. Students in a graduate level program can request an upgrade, but will have a low priority level for upgrade consideration. Some criteria that can improve chances of qualifying for an upgrade include:

  • Working on an undergraduate degree

  • Being an ROTC Cadet that does NOT have an ROTC scholarship contract

  • Not receiving financial aid such as Pell Grant, SEOG, Texas Grant, or other scholarships

  • Being registered in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) degree program

  • Being in the last, graduating year of an undergraduate program

  • Being a first year student (fewer than 30 semester credit hours earned)

  • When the Texas Legislature established this program, the statute included a limit of 30 awards for Texas State Guard members each semester. It’s a statutory requirement that can only be changed by the Texas Legislature. 

  • During most semesters, more than 30 TXSG members apply for State TA, but usually less than 30 meet all the eligibility requirements for an award.

  • The most common reason that applicants are not approved for a State TA award is failure to meet financial eligibility. This happens when other aid has paid all the qualifying tuition and fee charges, leaving no qualifying charges that can be reimbursed by State TA.
  • Some of the more common sources of aid that gets applied to tuition charges before State TA include Pell Grants, Federal TA, tuition payments from Post 9-11 GI Bill, Hazlewood, and other sources of tuition assistance.