Military Education Benefits at South University
South University proudly offers educational opportunities for military members, veterans and their families who have honorably served.
Our university is committed to providing a warm, welcoming environment where faculty and staff provide individualized attention and guidance to foster your intellectual, social and professional development during your military service or in your civilian life.
Request Information
Committed to Helping Our Service Members
As an eligible active military personnel, reservist, veteran, or family member, you may use your educational benefits – such as Tuition Assistance, the GI Bill® and the Yellow Ribbon Program, among others – to help you pursue your goals at South University.*
To speak with a knowledgeable admissions representative about military benefits and eligibility, fill out a form to request information or call us at 855-884-2408. Our team is here to help you throughout the admissions, financial aid and enrollment process.
*The following section provides information on the benefits and opportunities available through the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The government agency offering the benefit provides the ultimate approval of a student's ability to use a particular benefit.
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 benefits.va.gov.
Helping Warriors and Their Families Thrive
Explore the military education benefits that may be used at South University, a community designed to inspire your growth and provide a place where you may belong, believe and become.
Active Duty, Reserve, and National Guard
Tuition Assistance
The Military Tuition Assistance (TA) programs currently pay tuition and course-specific fees up to $166 per quarter hour for eligible active duty, National Guard and Reserve Component service members. Your service branch pays your tuition directly to the school, and each military branch has its own TA application form and procedures, eligibility requirements and amounts of assistance available.
Before enrolling, you must check with an education counselor or Educational Services Officer (ESO) by visiting your local installation education office, contacting your education counselor or ESO, or going online to a virtual education center. You must apply for the program and receive approval before starting classes, and you may be required to develop an education plan or complete TA orientation. To learn more, contact your ESO, visit your local installation education center, or visit a virtual education center online:
- Army
- Navy
- Air Force
South University also strives to be flexible and responsive to the needs of anyone deployed away from their home or permanent duty station or affected by a natural disaster, including offering the following refund and readmissions policies. Please see policy to ensure accuracy.
Top Up
Top Up allows eligible service members to use Tuition Assistance in conjunction with either the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) ® or the Post 9/11 GI Bill®* if the cost of tuition exceeds the amount covered. You must be eligible to use either Chapter 30 or Chapter 33 of the GI Bill® and meet the eligibility guidelines for tuition assistance. For more information, please visit va.gov.
Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill®
This is an education benefit for eligible service members who have served on active duty for at least 90 days after 9/10/2001, or were discharged with a service connected disability after 30 consecutive days. An honorable discharge (character of service) is required for veterans. Individuals who are entitled to 100% of this benefit can have their entire cost of tuition and fees covered when eligible. For more information, visit va.gov.
Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill®
Eligible service members who have paid into this benefit while on active duty may have a significant portion of their tuition and fees covered. This benefit pays to the student, so you will need to arrange a payment plan with your South University financial aid officer. For more information, visit va.gov.
Chapter 1606: Selective Reserve Montgomery GI Bill®
This program is for eligible members of the Selective Reserve and National Guard who have enlisted or re-enlisted in the select reserve with an obligation to serve 6 or more years on or after July 1st 1985. In order to be eligible for this benefit, the member will have had to complete their IDAT (initial date active training). Chapter 1606 expires once a service member has separated. This benefit pays to the student, so you will need to arrange a payment plan with your South University financial aid officer. For more information, visit va.gov.
Kickers & Additional Contributions
A kicker is part of an enlistment contract and is a fixed dollar amount that will be disbursed in even installments over the course of the entitlement period for eligible Chapter 30 and 1606 recipients. The VA should automatically pay this benefit as an addition to the normal entitlement amount paid each month to the veteran. If not, the veteran should contact the VA Regional Office processing his or her claim. No additional paperwork is needed.
Veterans
Veterans Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill®
This is an education benefit for eligible service members who have served on active duty for at least 90 days after 9/10/2001, or were discharged with a service connected disability after 30 consecutive days. An honorable discharge (character of service) is required for veterans. Individuals who are entitled to 100% of this benefit can have their entire cost of tuition and fees covered while eligible. For more information, visit va.gov.
Yellow Ribbon Program
South University proudly participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program for all degree programs from the associate to the doctoral programs. The Yellow Ribbon Program provides assistance to eligible veterans with 100% eligibility of Ch 33 Post 9/11GI Bill® whose cost of tuition and fees exceeded the annual cap. Once the annual cap is reached, half of the remaining cost for tuition and fees for the fiscal year will be covered by the school and the VA will match the other half. Some degree programs may be subject to a maximum tuition & fee reimbursement amount per academic year from the Yellow Ribbon Program. Active duty service members or their spouses using transferred benefits may be eligible if they have served at least 36 months on active duty. Child transferees of active duty service members may be eligible if the service member is qualified at the 100 percent rate. Fry Scholars and Purple Heart recipients may also be eligible For more information, visit va.gov.
Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill®
Eligible service members who have paid into this benefit while on active duty may have a significant portion of their tuition and fees covered. This benefit pays to the student, so you will need to arrange a payment plan with your South University financial aid officer. For more information, visit va.gov.
Chapter 31:Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E)
This employment program provides educational support to eligible veterans who are entering the workforce. Veterans will meet with their Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor to develop an education plan. This benefit may cover the entire cost of tuition and fees. To contact a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, visit va.gov.
Spouses and Dependent Children
Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MYCAA) Program
This program provides educational assistance to eligible spouses of Active Duty members towards an Associate or Certificate program. Students who are eligible can qualify up to a $4,000 lifetime limit, with a maximum of $2,000 per Department of Defense fiscal year (Oct 1st – Sep 30th). For more information, please visit militaryonesource.mil.
Transfer of Education Benefit (TEB) Post 9/11 GI Bill® to Dependents
Eligible active duty service members may be able to transfer their unused Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) benefit to their spouses or dependent children, while on active duty. This benefit may cover 100% of tuition and fees up to an amount established by the VA per fiscal year (Aug 1st – July 31st). For more information, visit va.gov.
Fry Scholarship
The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Fry Scholarship), is a scholarship that provides for eligible children and dependents of service members, or surviving spouses of members of the armed forces who have died in the line of duty after 9/10/2001. Students who are entitled to this benefit may have a significant portion of their tuition covered. For more information, please visit va.gov.
Chapter 35: Survivor and Dependents Assistance
This program provides educational assistance to eligible spouses and dependents of veterans who have died or are totally and permanently disabled, as a result of their service, and may be able to assist with the cost of tuition and fees. This benefit pays directly to the student, so you will need to arrange a payment plan with your financial aid officer. For more information, visit va.gov .
Setting You Up For Success
Support for Your Education and Career Goals
Extensive program offering
Ranging from associate to doctoral level, the degree programs at South University are designed to prepare you for a variety of careers* in business, technology, nursing, public health, the healthcare professions, psychology, counseling, criminal justice, the legal field, ministry, public administration, and pharmacy.
Flexible learning options
We understand that frequent relocations and deployments can make it difficult to pursue your educational goals. That’s why South University offers classes at our campuses throughout the United States and online, and even allows you to blend the two for a customized experience that meets your needs. Our fully online degree programs give you the freedom to log in to your classes anytime so that you can interact with your class and your professor from anywhere around the world.
Knowledgeable support team
Any active military personnel, reservist, veteran or family members will have a team of dedicated admissions, financial aid and academic advisors focused on meeting your unique needs as a military student.
*South University does not promise or guarantee licensure, employment, or salary amounts.
Military Transfer Credits
Military and veteran students bring invaluable real-life experience to South University’s classrooms. When applicable, the University awards credit for eligible and appropriate learning acquired in military service at levels consistent with the American Council on Education (ACE) Guide recommendations. In addition, we utilize Joint Services Transcript (JST) or Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) Transcript to process prior learning experiences for possible transfer credit. We also accept CLEP and DSST exam results for evaluation for course credit.
CLEP
The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) can help you earn credit for what you’ve learned from the military and your life experience. Learn more or schedule an exam here.
DSST (also known as DANTES)
The DANTES Subject Standardized Tests are college-level exams through which you can receive college credit for prior knowledge in particular subject areas. For a complete listing, visit the testing services office or website.
Military Transcript Requests & Joint Services Transcript (JST)
Most military training courses have been evaluated for academic credit by the American Council on Education (ACE) and South University relies on this information to assess your learning acquired during military service. The JST (jst.doded.mil) is also used to produce a uniform transcript of all military training and experiences to service members of all branches except the Air Force. South University will evaluate your JST or corresponding official service transcript to determine if we can award college level credit for your prior learning.
More Information
Our transfer of credit policy may be reviewed in our catalog and found on the Student Consumer Information web page. To find out more about transferring credits, contact your South University location to speak with the school registrar.
Active Duty Military Grant Opportunities
South University is proud to offer institutional grant opportunities to qualifying Active Duty military. A signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will need to be submitted, and documentation will be required to prove eligibility.
Military Personnel
South University offers an Active Duty Grant to all eligible active duty, active and drilling members of the Reserve and National Guard.
For undergraduate programs, the cost of tuition is $166.00 per quarter credit hour after the applied Active Duty Grant. For graduate programs, the Active Duty Grant provides 10% off the cost of tuition.
Tuition and Fees
Additional Information regarding the cost of each program can be found on our Program Cost Sheet which is also located on the Student Consumer Information page.
Military Spotlights
South University has a proud tradition and a strong record of serving our nation’s veterans and their families. We share a deep gratitude to the men and women who keep America safe and also have faculty and staff who are veterans and military personnel. Through various programs — in disciplines ranging from business to psychology to the healthcare fields — we provide active duty service members, reservists, veterans, military spouses, and families the quality, flexibility, and convenience they seek through courses on campus and online. Our programs provide real-world, hands-on training and experiential learning — not just textbook teaching and learning — to prepare students well in a challenging and competitive environment. At South University, we're here to help you get the education you need to keep your career and future moving in the right direction.
Fill out the form and a representative will contact you today to better understand your academic goals plus answer any questions you may have.
Campuses offer flexible learning formats* including: on-campus, virtual instructions, and online courses.
*Clinical, practicum, and externship requirements exist in certain programs and require field experiences. Learning formats may not be flexible.
Success! Your request was submitted. We'll be in touch soon!
In the meantime, you can view some of our FAQs.
If you want to talk to an admissions representative ASAP, please contact us at 1-888-444-3404.