UNDERSTANDING TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

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UNDERSTANDING TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
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UNDERSTANDING TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
This tutorial is designed to assist you in
selecting the correct tuition assistance program
to apply for. There are two tuition assistance
programs in Iowa the Army National Guard Federal
Tuition Assistance Program (ARNG-FTA), and the
National Guard Education Assistance Program
(NGEAP). Eligibility is based on several factors
to include full time national guard employment
(AGR or Technician), MOS qualification, school
location (in Iowa, outside Iowa), level of degree
you are pursuing (Associates, Bachelors, Masters,
Certification), and term or semester you are
taking courses (Fall, Spring, Summer) The
following pages will assist you in understanding
the tuition assistance programs and ensure you
apply for the correct program at the correct
times.
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UNDERSTANDING TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
The first factor in determining which tuition
assistance program you should apply for is your
status as a guard member. You must be an active
drilling member to receive tuition assistance.
Soldiers in the ING or IRR are not eligible to
receive tuition assistance.
I Am
Full Time
Weekend
AGR or TECHNICIAN
M-DAY or ADSW
Deployed
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UNDERSTANDING TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
As an AGR you are eligible for the Army
Continuing Education System (ACES) tuition
assistance. For information on how to use this
program click here. As a Technician you are
eligible for the Army National Guard Federal
Tuition Assistance Program (ARNG-FTA). For
information on this program please click here.
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UNDERSTANDING TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
ACES for AGRs in Iowa is managed at the Rock
Island Arsenal. Please contact the Rock Island
Arsenal to learn about ACES. Rock Island Arsenal
Army Education Staff Ann Showalter (ESO)
309-782-2065 ann.showalter_at_us.army.mil Jan
DeTaeye (Counselor) 309-782-1849
janice.detaeye_at_us.army.mil Kathy Zingre
(Counselor) 309-782-5895 kathryn.zingrek_at_us.army.m
il Mike Montford (Counselor) 309-782-6343
michael.montford_at_us.army.mil Mary Sanders
(Counselor) 309-782-6671 mary.j.sanders_at_us.army.mi
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UNDERSTANDING TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
You have selected M-Day or ADSW. In order to
determine which tuition assistance program you
should apply for, we need to determine if you
are MOS qualified or not. Please make a selection
from the following
I Have
Completed Basic Training and AIT
Not Completed Basic Training and AIT
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UNDERSTANDING TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
You have completed Basic Training and AIT. You
are MOS Qualified. Now we need to know where your
school is located and if it is NCA accredited.
NCA North Central Accrediting Agency. The
Registrars Office at your school should be able
to provide this answer if you do not know.
Please make a selection from the following
My School Is
Not in Iowa
In Iowa Not NCA accredited
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UNDERSTANDING TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
Now that we know you are MOSQ and attending a
school in Iowa, we need to know what type of
degree you are pursuing. Please make a selection
from the following
I Am Pursuing
Associates or Bachelors
Masters or Certification
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UNDERSTANDING TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
The last eligibility criteria deals with when
your courses begin and end. If your courses begin
in May and end in June or July, select
Summer. Please make a selection from the
following
My Courses Begin
Fall/Winter
Spring
Summer
MAY-JULY
JAN-MAY
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UNDERSTANDING TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
You are eligible for and should apply for
NGEAP. NGEAP is a state funded tuition assistance
program designed for M-Day soldiers pursuing a
first Bachelors degree or an Associates degree
from an Iowa college or university that is NCA
accredited. NGEAP covers tuition during
fall/winter and spring terms only. It does not
cover summer courses. You should apply for
ARNG-FTA for your summer courses. Please select
the links below to learn more about this program.
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NGEAP
Applications for NGEAP should be completed and
submitted online from the Iowa National Guard
website www.iowanationalguard.com From the main
page select Army Education, then Tuition
Assistance.
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NGEAP
Deadlines for the application are 31 August for
the fall semester and 15 December for the spring
semester. If you attend the same school fall and
spring semester, you only have to apply once (at
the beginning of the fall semester). If you
change schools for spring semester, you should
submit an application prior to the 15 December
deadline.
Late applications are accepted and reviewed on a
case by case basis.
Soldiers returning from AIT or a deployment are
allowed to apply late.
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NGEAP
Current funding levels allow NGEAP to provide up
to the full tuition rate at state colleges and
universities. The Board of Regents sets tuition
caps each year, and NGEAP caps reflect this
maximum amount. Soldiers will never receive more
than the full tuition rate. Private universities
are typically more expensive than state schools
so NGEAP may not cover the full tuition rate at
these schools.
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NGEAP
Soldiers will be required to provide an email
address on the NGEAP application. Your email does
NOT have to be AKO. Soldiers will receive an
automatic email when their application is
successfully submitted. They will receive a
second email when their application is approved.
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NGEAP
Your school Financial Aid Office coordinates with
the Iowa College Student Aid Commission to
receive the money for your tuition assistance.
If you have been approved for NGEAP but it is
not reflected on your university account, work
with your Financial Aid Office to get it resolved.
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NGEAP
NGEAP currently does not have a requirement to
track grades. Soldiers may use NGEAP for up to 8
semesters or the equivalent towards a Bachelors.
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UNDERSTANDING TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
You are eligible for and should apply for
ARNG-FTA. ARNG-FTA is a federally funded tuition
assistance program designed for all soldiers
pursuing a degree at any level through Masters
from an accredited college or university located
in the United States. Please select the links
below to learn more about this program.
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ARNG-FTA
Applications for ARNG-FTA should be completed and
submitted online from the Iowa National Guard
website www.iowanationalguard.com From the main
page select Army Education, then Tuition
Assistance.
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ARNG-FTA
Applications must be submitted prior to the start
date of the course. Ideally the application
should be submitted 30 days prior to the start
date. Late applications are reviewed on a case
by case basis.
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ARNG-FTA
ARNG-FTA covers the cost of tuition up to 250
per semester hour, 167 per quarter hour, or
16.67 per clock hour. Soldiers may receive up to
4,500.00 per fiscal year (OCT-SEP). ARNG-FTA can
also cover the cost of some fees. Typically
these fees include lab fees, computer fees, or
other fees directly associated with a course.
ARNG-FTA does not cover books, health services
fees, student activity fees, or other fees not
related to a course.
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ARNG-FTA
Soldiers must provide their AKO email address
when submitting the application. Soldiers will
receive an automatic email when their application
is successfully submitted. They will receive a
second email when their application is approved.

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ARNG-FTA
Schools are paid one of three ways credit card,
Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) or
check. Payments can be completed in one day or up
to 30 days depending on the method of payment. If
you have received an email for an approved
application, you can be assured the payment is in
process and the Education Services Office is
working to get the money to your school.
If your course is nearing completion or is over
and your school has not received payment, contact
your Financial Aid Office or the Education
Services Office to check on the status.
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ARNG-FTA
Soldiers are required to submit grades to the
Education Services Office after course
completion. Failure to submit course completion
documentation in a timely manner will affect
future ARNG-FTA applications. Fax number and
address information can be found on our website
at www.iowanationalguard.com under Army
Education.
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UNDERSTANDING TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
You have selected Deployed. Officer tuition
assistance is managed by the Iowa Army National
Guard Education Services Office. Enlisted tuition
assistance is managed by the Active Army. Please
select the appropriate button below for more
information
I Am an
Officer
Enlisted
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UNDERSTANDING TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
As a deployed enlisted soldier you are eligible
for the Army Continuing Education System (ACES)
tuition assistance. You must contact your
supporting Education Office through your active
duty chain of command to receive tuition
assistance. This office may be in theater, at an
active duty post or at your mobilization
station. If you plan to attend college after your
deployment, select the Back button below and
choose M-Day or ADSW for more information. You
will be using the GoArmyEd web site to apply
for FTA.