The Navy has announced that it is increasing the maximum Tuition Assistance (TA) payable to active duty sailors.

Effective June 1, sailors will be able to take as many classes as they wish using TA, as long as they don't exceed the maximum DOD mandated cap of $4,500 per fiscal year.

Previously, sailors were only able to use TA for up to 16 semester hours per fiscal year no matter what the cost. Navy TA is still limited to a maximum reimbursement of $250 per semester hour or $16.67 per quarter hour of college instruction.

Sailors can now benefit from comparison shopping to get a better value under this expanded program. Using TA at a lower cost school may potentially allow those using TA to take more courses for free using the TA program.

The expansion of TA benefits is designed to expand the professional development opportunities and enhance degree completion rates of sailors in support of the Sailor 2025 initiative. 

All other services except the Coast Guard have have the same limit of $4,500 in TA payments each year. The Coast Guard limits its members to $2,250 each year.

By Jim Absher