College of the Atlantic is approved by the Department of Defense to participate in the Tuition Assistance (TA) program for service members and their dependents. 

Veterans, service members, and benefit recipients may evaluate their eligibility at https://www.vets.gov/gi-bill-comparison-tool

Eligible veterans and/or their dependents receive the Post 9/11 GI Bill® annual tuition and mandatory fee allowance. Veterans or their designated transferee may also receive additional funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program to help fill the gap between Post-9/11 GI Bill® funds and the student’s tuition and fees. To learn more and check your eligibility, please visit the Department of Veterans Affairs website.

As a first step prior to enrollment, Service members must receive approval from their Educational Services Officer (ESO) or counselor within the military service. If an eligible Service member (or designated transferee) decides to use Tuition Assistance (TA), College of the Atlantic will enroll them only after the TA has been approved by the individual’s Service.

For more information about applying for financial aid at COA as a service member, veteran, or dependent, contact Amy McIntire, Director of Financial Aid: amcintire@coa.edu, 207-801-5645. 


College of the Atlantic’s Return Policy on Tuition Assistance (TA) Funds

In the event that a military-connected student is unable to complete a course, funds will be returned to the appropriate branch using the following methodology (aligned with College of the Atlantic’s approach to Department of Education Title-IV financial aid returns):

The student earns the tuition benefits based on a prorated calculation according to the number of days they have completed, divided by the number of course days (not including weekends) in the term (50). Any student who withdraws from a course by the end of the first week of term (the add/drop deadline), there will be a 100% refund of the TA funds. For any student who withdraws from a course at 60% of the term (30 days) completed, there will be a 40% refund of the TA funds. For any student who withdraws from a course after 60% of the term (31 days or more) the refund of TA funds will be zero—meaning they will have earned 100% of the TA benefit, as is the case with all Title IV aid.

Should a student’s withdrawal be due to a military service obligation, the College will work with the affected student to identify solutions that will not result in student debt due to the return itself.


GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by the VA is available at the official U.S. government website:  http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.