Tuition Assistance Top-Up is a benefit program that allows GI Bill participants' to use the GI Bill to add to the tuition and fees not covered by Tuition Assistance. The amount of the benefit can be equal to the difference between the total cost of a college course and the amount of Tuition Assistance that is paid by the military for the course. The amount of the benefit is limited to the amount that the person would receive for the same course if regular GI Bill benefits were being paid. In no case can the amount paid by the military combined with the amount paid by VA be more than the total cost of the course. If you receive the Top-Up benefit, your regular GI Bill benefits will be reduced.
To be eligible for the benefit, you must meet the following criteria:
- be approved for federal Tuition Assistance by a military department
- be eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty benefits or the Post 9/11 GI Bill
- must have served at least two full years
For more information, call 1-888-GIBILL-1 or visit the
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website.
Related article: Will I need to use Top UP?
