Learn about federal tuition assistance programs through the Armed Forces
ARMY
- Army Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) may be available to Servicemembers for off-duty education and training. Servicemembers wishing to use FTA must first contact their Educational Services Officer (ESO) for approval. Please contact your local Installation Education Center to reach your ESO.
- Basic qualifications include, but are not limited to: "Good Standing" status within the ARNG, hold a Common Access Card (CAC), and those who maintain a 2.0 GPA for undergraduate courses or a 3.0 for masters level courses.
- FTA will pay up to $250 per semester hour, up to 16 semester hours, and for a total of $4,000 per fiscal year. It can also be used alongside Chapter 1606: MGIB-SR when attending at more than half-time.
- Request an official copy of your Joint Services Transcript (JST) to be sent to Harding.
How to apply:
- Go to ArmyIgnitED and click "Get Started." (You must have your CAC ID with you.)
- Request your education goal.
- Enroll in your courses at Harding.
- Go back to ArmyIgnitED and request FTA for your enrolled courses.
- FTA can be requested up to 60 days before your course start date, but not later than 7 days before your course start date.
- Once you are approved for FTA, please contact Harding’s Veterans Benefits Specialist (veterans@harding.edu or 501-279-4404) to let them know.
AIR FORCE
- You are required to maintain a 2.0 for all undergraduate degrees and a 3.0 for all graduate degrees.
- FTA will pay up to $250 per semester hour, up to 16 semester hours, and for a total of $4,000 per fiscal year. It can also be used alongside Chapter 1606: MGIB-SR when attending at more than half-time.
- Request an official of your Community College of the Air Force transcript be sent to Harding.
How to apply:
- Go to the Air Force Virtual Education Center to complete a multistep process for gaining approval.
- TA can be requested up 45 days before your course begins, but no less than 7 days before the course begins.
- Once you are approved for FTA, please contact Harding’s Veterans Benefits Specialist (veterans@harding.edu or 501-279-4404) to let them know.
All Branches
Education Programs and Degree Plans:
All students have access to Harding’s Academic Catalog which will outline their program requirements. Students will have access to an electronic degree plan and their transcript once they are fully admitted to the University. If you have any questions pertaining to your specific program or how transfer work will equate before you are fully admitted, please contact Harding’s Veterans Benefits Specialist (veterans@harding.edu or 501-279-4404).
Readmission to the University:
All Undergraduate students (regardless of Military affiliation) wishing to re-enroll to the University must submit the Application for Readmission found on the Office of Student Life webpage.
All Graduate students wishing to re-enroll to the University, must go through their Graduate Program. For your program's contact information, please contact Harding's Veterans Benefits Specialist (veterans@harding.edu or 501-279-4404).
Financial Aid:
Students receiving benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs or Federal Tuition Assistance are allowed to receive federal financial aid to supplement their military funding.
How to apply for Federal Financial Aid
Financial aid application deadline: Harding University does not have a policy pertaining to any deadlines in applying for federal financial aid outside of what is published by the federal government on the FASFA website. For the 2023-2024 school year, that deadline is: June 30, 2024.
Financial aid point of contact: While Judy Hall is the main point of contact for all military affiliated students, any Financial Aid Counselor is available to students regardless of military affiliation.
FTA Refund Policy:
Students using FTA as well as personal funds to pay for their semester courses are encouraged to opt-in to the Business Office's payment plan.
- TA Refund Policy: When a student drops a class in which FTA was paid out, Harding is required to return unearned funds and is refunded on a sliding scale.
Weeks 1-2: 100%
Weeks 3-4: 75%
Weeks 5-8: 50%
Weeks 9-10: 40% (60% of course completed)
Weeks 11-16: 0%
Current Tuition Rates:
If you do not see your program listed on the PDF linked below, please contact the Veterans Benefits Specialist (veterans@harding.edu, 501-279-4404).
2023-2024 Tuition Rates pdf
Average Cost of Attendance, Books and Course Materials:
If you do not see your program listed on the link below, please contact the Veterans Benefits Specialist (veterans@harding.edu, 501-279-4404).
Cost of Attendance
Recruiting Policies:
Harding University does not condone nor practice high-pressure recruitment tactics toward any prospective student including military service members, nor do employees receive commissions, bonuses, incentives, etc., before, during or after the recruiting process. If you feel as though this policy has been breached, please contact veterans@harding.edu and let the Veterans Benefits Specialist know.
Additional Information:
College Navigator: College Navigator is a free consumer information tool that guides, leads, and directs students, parents, high school counselors and other interested parties to information about higher education institutions including accredited universities, graduation rates, Cohort Default Rates, estimated expeneses, etc. The primary data source for College Navigator is the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, or IPEDS.
Cohort Default Rate: For information regarding Harding's Student Loan Cohort Default rate, please visit Harding's Consumer Information webpage.
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