You can earn a powerful degree at University of Maryland Global Campus without breaking the bank.

Whether you are an active-duty servicemember, veteran, or a military spouse or dependent child, you may be eligible for options to make your education more affordable. Explore benefit options, such as military Tuition Assistance, veterans education benefits, and Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts, better known as MyCAA. As a member of the military community, you could be eligible for a wide range of payment options. You may also be eligible for scholarships and financial aid.

Military Servicemembers

Tuition Assistance for Military Personnel

UMGC keeps its undergraduate and graduate tuition rates affordable so your military benefits can go farther.

We offer a special undergraduate discounted tuition rate for active duty servicemembers, members of a National Guard unit, or selected reserves, so Tuition Assistance covers up to 100 percent of tuition. We also offer a special undergraduate discounted tuition rate to members of the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) and members of the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). We've outlined the steps to apply including the documentation required to verify your eligibility for the military tuition rate.

Please note that to receive the reduced military tuition rate, within 30 days of the date that you submitted your application for admission to UMGC, you must submit documentation to verify your eligibility in accordance with the procedures for receiving the military tuition rate. If you do not submit sufficient documentation within the deadline, your tuition rate will be changed to the appropriate rate.

Veterans Education Benefits Available while Serving in the Military

You may be eligible to use your veterans education benefits to help pay for your education at UMGC if you are not receiving Tuition Assistance or if it does not pay the full cost of your tuition.

Your eligibility depends on a number of factors. If you have specific questions about your eligibility or are trying to decide between benefits, please contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to discuss your specific situation. If you have questions about how your benefits will work at UMGC, please contact our military and veterans admissions advisors.

The following veterans education benefits may be available to you while you are active duty.

Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty Increased Educational Benefits

Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty (Chapter 30) benefits are paid directly to you in monthly benefits based on your training time. If you are using Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill benefits, you are responsible for paying your tuition and fees directly to the university and are required to complete a monthly verification of enrollment.

Chapter 33: Post-9/11 GI Bill

Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits are paid based on your percent of eligibility and the rate at which you pursue your degree. Tuition and fee payments are disbursed directly to UMUC.

REAP benefits are paid directly to you as monthly benefits based on your training time. You are responsible for paying your tuition and fees directly to the university and are required to complete a monthly verification of enrollment.

Veterans

Veterans Education Benefits

You can use your veterans education benefits to help pay for your education at UMGC. Your eligibility depends on a number of factors.

If you have questions about how your benefits will work at UMGC, please contact our specially trained veterans admissions advisors.

If you have specific questions about your eligibility or are trying to decide between benefits, please contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to discuss your specific situation.

Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty Increased Educational Benefits

Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty benefits are paid directly to you in monthly benefits based on your training time. If eligible, a book allowance will also be paid directly to you. If you are using Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill benefits, you are responsible for paying your tuition and fees directly to the university and are required to complete a monthly verification of enrollment.

Chapter 31: Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E)

VR&E benefits for tuition and fees are paid directly to UMGC. If eligible, you may also have your application fee paid. Your VA case manager must forward your VA Authorization Form to UMGC to authorize your enrollment. For additional information, you can contact UMGC's Veterans Certification Office at CH31@umgc.edu.

Chapter 32: Veterans Educational Assistance Program

Chapter 32 benefits are paid directly to you in monthly benefits based on your training time. If eligible, book allowances are also paid directly to you. If you are using Chapter 32 benefits, you are responsible for paying your tuition and fees directly to the university and are required to complete a monthly verification of enrollment.

Chapter 33: Post-9/11 GI Bill

Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits are paid based on your percent of eligibility and the rate at which you pursue your degree. Tuition and fee payments are disbursed directly to UMGC. If eligible, book allowance and housing allowance are paid directly to you.

Chapter 1606: Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve

Chapter 1606 benefits are paid directly to you as monthly benefits based on your training time. You are responsible for paying your tuition and fees directly to the university and are required to complete a   monthly verification of enrollment.

REAP benefits are paid directly to you as monthly benefits based on your training time. You are responsible for paying your tuition and fees directly to the university and are required to complete a   monthly verification of enrollment.

National Call to Service Program

If you are eligible for the National Call to Service Program, you have a choice of the following benefits: a cash bonus, repayment of student loans, entitlement to education benefits equal to the three-year monthly Chapter 30 rate for 12 months, or entitlement to education benefits to 50 percent of the less than three-year monthly Chapter 30 rate for 36 months.

Veterans Assistance Fund

Veterans enrolled at UMGC can apply for financial assistance from the Veterans Assistance Fund.

In-State Tuition

Maryland state law requires public institutions of higher education in Maryland to classify a veteran as in-state if the veteran was honorably discharged and resides in or is domiciled in Maryland.

The Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 requires public institutions of higher education to classify veterans and their spouses and dependent children as in-state if all of the following requirements are met:

  • The veteran or the veteran's spouse or dependent child lives in the state in which the institution is headquartered;
  • The veteran served at least ninety (90) days in the military;
  • The veteran was discharged less than three (3) years prior to when the student enrolls; and
  • The student is using veterans benefits.

Additionally, for courses with a start date on or after March 1, 2019, the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2018 requires public institutions of higher education to classify veterans as in-state if all of the following requirements are met:

  • The veteran lives in the state in which the institution is headquartered; and
  • The veteran is using Chapter 31 Veteran Readiness and Employment benefits.

Section 103

The university permits any student using benefits under Chapter 31 (Veteran Readiness & Employment) or Chapter 33 (Post 9/11 GI Bill) ("covered individual") to attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to the educational institution a certificate of eligibility (COE) for entitlement to educational assistance ending on the earlier of the following dates: 1. The date on which payment from the VA is made to the institution 2. 90 days after the date the institution certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the COE.

The university will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual's inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement of funding from the VA under Chapter 31 or 33, for a period of no less than 90 days.

Spouses and Dependent Children

Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts

The U.S. Department of Defense offers Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts, known as MyCAA, a program that provides as much as $4,000 in financial assistance to eligible military spouses toward an Associate of Arts or any of our undergraduate and graduate certificates. The program is capped at $2,000 a year and is available to spouses of active-duty military personnel in pay grades E1-E5, W1-W2, and O1-O2.

MyCAA Eligible Programs

The U.S. Department of Defense administers the MyCAA Scholarship Program, which covers tuition for courses and exams that lead to an associate degree with some exceptions. The DoD summarizes the program at a high level, explaining that the scholarship "covers the costs for obtaining a license, certificate or certification at an accredited college, university or technical school in the United States or approved testing organization that expands employment or portable career opportunities for military spouses."

UMGC's Associate of Arts and each of the specialized curricula are eligible for MyCAA financial assistance. Plus, each UMGC undergraduate and graduate certificate program is eligible for MyCAA financial assistance. You can apply all of the credits you earn in one of these undergraduate certificate programs to a bachelor's degree. Learn about the MyCAA-eligible programs for students in Europe and Asia.

Eligibility for Military Spouse Benefits

Spouses of service members on active duty in pay grades E-1 to E-5, W-1 to W-2 and O-1 to O-2 who have successfully completed high school and have the ability to request tuition assistance while their military sponsor is on Title 10 military orders are eligible. Spouses married to members of the National Guard and reserves in these same pay grades are eligible.

Get Started in the MyCAA Program

Getting started using your MyCAA benefit at UMGC is easy.

  1. Set up a profile in MyCAA.
  2. Review and digitally sign the MyCAA online Statement of Understanding Terms and Conditions.
  3. Develop a career and training plan. MyCAA does not reimburse for classes that have already started.
  4. Search for UMGC using the School Search function under the Resources tab.
  5. Apply to UMGC.

Veterans Education Benefits for Military Spouses and Dependent Children

If you qualify for veterans education benefits as a spouse or dependent child of an active-duty servicemember or veteran, you can use those benefits to help pay for your education at UMGC. Your eligibility depends on a number of factors.

If you have specific questions about your eligibility or are trying to decide between benefits, please contact the Department of Veterans Affairs to discuss your specific situation. If you have questions about how your benefits will work at UMGC, please contact our specially trained military and veterans admissions advisors.

Chapter 33: Post-9/11 GI Bill

Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits are paid based on your sponsor's percent of eligibility and at the rate at which you pursue your degree. Tuition and fee payments are disbursed directly to UMGC. Dependent children of active-duty servicemembers are eligible to receive the monthly housing allowance. Spouses are not eligible.

Chapter 35: Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (DEA)

DEA benefits are paid directly to you in monthly benefits based on your training time. If you are using Chapter 35 benefits, you are responsible for paying your tuition and fees directly to the university.

The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship

Fry Scholarship benefits include tuition and fees paid directly to UMGC. Allowances for resource materials and supplies are based on the number of credit hours enrolled and housing allowances are based on your rate of pursuit. For academic terms beginning after August 1, 2018, Fry Scholarship recipients are eligible for Yellow Ribbon Program benefits.

Steps to Apply for Military and Veteran Students

Learn about our multiple start dates and rolling admission.

UMGC Is a Yellow Ribbon Program School

Spouses and dependent children of veterans with 100 percent eligibility under the Post-9/11 GI Bill who are paying out-of-state tuition may qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program, decreasing out-of-pocket costs.

More Military and Veterans Benefits

Military Tuition Rate Eligibility

Find out if you qualify to save money through reduced tuition.

Tuition Assistance & Top-Up

Explore how your degree can be more affordable with Tuition Assistance.

Housing Allowance for Hybrid Courses

Maximize your allowance with our class options.

Scholarships for Military-Affiliated Students

Read about scholarships specifically for you.

Financial Aid and Payment Options for Military Students

Learn how you can combine your benefits with financial aid.

Certification of Veterans Benefits

Get help applying your benefits toward a degree.

Learn How Much Your Degree May Cost

The Time and Tuition Estimator provides estimated tuition and fees based on your program of interest and tuition rate. You can calculate potential savings with transfer credits, scholarships, grants, tuition assistance, and employer discounts. Plus, you can estimate your graduation date. Get your estimate today.