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Course Fees
Tuition Assistance typically only pays for tuition and will not pay for fees (class fee, transportation fee, etc.). This may be reviewed if a military education office or branch service portal specifies on a TA authorization form or request that they are willing to do so (must include an authorizing signature).
Course Dates
Tuition Assistance regulations require accurate start and end dates on all TA authorizations. Start and end dates for a semester/term can be found on our Academic Calendar. A TA authorization form must be completed for each semester or mini term.
Degree Completion Plans
If you need a degree plan for your Tuition Assistance, you may contact academic advising. To schedule an appointment with your advisor, look under the "Student Academics" tab in the FSW Student Portal. To contact the Advising Office, please call (239) 489-9365.
Note: Students must to be accepted to their program and have all official transcripts processed by FSW before an official degree plan can be generated.
Financial Aid
We encourage students to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and apply for scholarships. Follow up with our Office of Student Financial Aid to complete the financial aid process.
Grades
Students will be responsible to repay any Tuition Assistance funds for grades that are not a C grade or higher.
Intensives
Due to Tuition Assistance grade and invoicing regulations, students are required to request their TA with the exact start and end dates for the course. Exact course dates for classes can be located on our Academic Calendar.
Tuition Assistance Refunds
If you are approved for more Tuition Assistance than the amount being charged to your account, we will only post enough to cover your remaining eligible charges. Tuition Assistance is never refundable to the student.
GI Bill® Benefits and Tuition Assistance
Per the 2014 Department of Defense Memorandum of Understanding, Federal Tuition Assistance and Veterans Affairs benefits cannot be used to pay for the same course(s). There are currently 3 exceptions to this policy. Students using Post-9/11 GI Bill® are able to use their Veterans Education Benefits to cover the remaining balance for courses not completely covered by Federal Tuition Assistance. As of May 5, 2021, students using the Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve Education Benefit (MGIB-SR or Chapter 1606) may also use their benefit concurrently with Federal Tuition Assistance when they are enrolled in a program of education that is half-time or greater. Concurrent use is not authorized under Chapter 1606 when students are enrolled less than half-time. The final exception to this policy is for the Montgomery GI Bill: Active Duty (MGIB or Chapter 30) under the use of Top-Up. The Top-Up benefit may only be used with Chapter 30 to receive from the VA those tuition costs that exceed, or are not authorized in, the amount of TA provided to the service member by his/her military branch.
***Post-9/11 GI Bill recipients may be certified for $0, if Tuition Assistance is covering the full cost of their course(s). This $0 certification will generate a Housing stipend for the duration of the course (for those enrolled greater than half-time), as well as a Book Stipend payment. Students should keep in mind that Active Duty students and their spouses are not eligible to receive a Monthly Housing Allowance from their GI Bill benefits. For more information about Chapter 33, please see the Post-9/11 GI Bill webpage.
***Students eligible for Veterans Education Benefits will have their enrollment certified with the VA. If Federal Tuition Assistance is later applied toward a course that has been certified, the certification for Veterans Benefits will be either amended (Chapters 33 and 1606) to account for the Tuition Assistance or terminated (all other GI Bill chapters) in accordance with the 2014 Department of Defense Memorandum of Understanding.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.