Military Services

Military Benefits

You may qualify for Federal or State Military Tuition Assistance to help pay for school.  Military Tuition Assistance is a First Payer to help pay for school and should be used first before any other funding.  Please note you must first meet and receive approval to attend school (if active duty) from your Education Service Office (ESO), Military Counselor, and/or Supervisor before enrolling and starting classes.  If you are guard or reserve it is recommended you contact your education office before classes start to see all the aid you may qualify for to help pay for school.  Please see links below to research your options and apply for military & veteran tuition assistance:

Army – Active Duty and Reserves
https://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Benefit-Library/Federal-Benefits/Tuition-Assistance-(TA)
https://www.va.gov/education/

Army National Guard (WI)
https://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Benefit-Library/Federal-Benefits/Tuition-Assistance-(TA)
https://dma.wi.gov/DMA/support/education
https://www.va.gov/education/

Navy
https://www.navycollege.navy.mil/sailors/tuition-assistance-ncpace.htm
https://www.va.gov/education/

Marines
https://usmc-mccs.org/articles/how-do-i-apply-for-tuition-assistance/
https://www.va.gov/education/

Air Force
https://www.afpc.af.mil/benefits-and-entitlements/military-tuition-assistance-program/
https://www.va.gov/education/

Coast Guard
https://www.forcecom.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/FORCECOM-UNITS/ETQC/VOLUNTARY-EDUCATION/Tuition-Assistance/
https://www.va.gov/education/

1. Military Tuition Assistance is a source of financial aid for active duty military.  See if you qualify first for Federal or State Military Tuition Assistance and/or the GI Bill.

Marian University participates in the Tuition Assistance program offered by the Department of Defense (DoD). In addition to working with Marian University’s Certifying Officials, Active duty, reservists, and guardsmen members are encouraged to speak with their Educational Services Officer (ESO) or equivalent in their Military Service branch prior to enrolling.

If an eligible Service member decides to use TA, Marian University will enroll him or her only after the TA is approved by the individual’s Service. Service members will be solely responsible for all tuition costs without this prior approval. This requirement does not prohibit Marian University from pre-registering a Service member in a course in order to secure a slot in the course. If a school enrolls the Service member before the appropriate Service approves Military TA, then the Service member could be responsible for the tuition. All Military TA must be requested and approved prior to the start date of the course. The Military TA is approved on a course-by-course basis and only for the specific course(s) and class dates that a Service member requests. If a military student “self-identifies” their eligibility and the Service has not approved the funding, then the Service member will be solely responsible for all tuition costs, not the Service.

Students are encouraged to look into financial aid since Military or VA benefits may not cover all educational costs.  Victoria Gack is the Associate Director of Financial Aid and is trained and qualified to assist with questions regarding financial aid. Benefit coverage depends on which educational assistance program the veteran or military service member applied for.  https://www.marianuniversity.edu/admission-financial-aid/financial-aid/

Before offering, recommending, arranging, signing up, dispersing or enrolling service members for private student loans, we provide service members access to an institutional financial aid adviser who will make available appropriate loan counseling, including, but not limited to:

1. Providing a clear and complete explanation of available financial aid, including Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.
2. Describing the differences between private and federal student loans to include terms, conditions, repayment and forgiveness options.
3. Disclosing the institution’s student loan Cohort Default Rate (CDR), the percentage of its students who borrow and how its CDR compares to the national average. If the institution’s CDR is greater than the national average CDR, it must disclose that information and provide the student with loan repayment data.
4. Explaining that students have the ability to refuse all or borrow less than the maximum student loan amount allowed.

Here is information on how Marian University complies with requirements for return of TA funds:

(a) Return any TA Program funds directly to the Military Service, not to the Service member.

(b) Up to the start date, return all (100 percent) TA funds to the appropriate Military Service when the Service member does not:

(i) Begin attendance at the institution; or

(ii) Start a course, regardless of whether the student starts other courses.

(c) Return any TA funds paid for a course that is canceled by the educational institution.

(d) Returns any unearned TA funds on a proportional basis through at least the 60 percent portion of the period for which the funds were provided. TA funds are earned proportionally during an enrollment period, with unearned funds returned based upon when a student stops attending. In instances when a Service member stops attending due to a military service obligation, Marian University works with the affected Service member to identify solutions that will not result in a student debt for the returned portion.

7 Week Course

Before or during weeks 1-2          100% return
During weeks 3-4                             50% return
During week 5                                   25% return (60% of course is completed)
During weeks 6-7                             0% return

15 Week Course

Before or during weeks 1-2          100% return
During weeks 3-5                             50% return
During weeks 6-8                             40% return
During week 9                                   30% return (60% of course is completed)
During weeks 10-15                         0% return

2. Meet with School Certifying Official (SCO)

The Office of the Registrar, 45 S. National Ave., Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, 54935, is the certifying office for veterans’ benefits at Marian University. Senior Assistant Registrar, Debra Barrett, serves as the military contact and School Certifying Official in VA benefit matters.  She is trained and qualified to handle the TA program and VA education benefits.  She can also appropriately direct Service members seeking information about academic counseling, financial aid counseling, job search support or other student support services.  Please contact the Senior Assistant Registrar at 920.923.8127 or dabarrett08@marianuniversity.edu. The St. Louis VA Regional Office has a toll free number available for individual educational inquiries 1.888.442.4551 or 1-800-827-1000.  The Fond du Lac County Veteran’s Service office is available for assistance and is located at 50 N. Portland, Fond du Lac, WI 54935, 920.929.3117.

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.

3. Go through the admission process and register for classes

Degree Requirements

All undergraduate students at Marian University must meet with their academic advisor prior to course selection. Undergraduate students may find the applicable program sheets to assist them with developing their Degree Plan.  All students, including graduate students, may peruse the Academic Bulletin for the degree requirements and timelines for degree programs. Requirements are determined by the student’s catalog year and are unchanging unless the student undertakes a change to his or her catalog year or degree program.

Degree requirements in effect at the time of each Service member’s enrollment will remain in effect for a period of at least 1 year beyond the program’s standard length, provided the Service member is in good academic standing and has been continuously enrolled or received an approved academic leave of absence. Adjustments to degree requirements may be made as a result of formal changes to academic policy pursuant to institutional or departmental determination, provided that:

(a) They go into effect at least 2 years after affected students have been notified; or

(b) In instances when courses or programs are no longer available or changes have been mandated by a State or accrediting body, the educational institution will identify low or no cost solutions, working with affected Service members to identify substitutions that would not hinder the student from graduating in a timely manner.

Transfer Credit 

After admission to the university, all students receive a degree audit report prior to making a decision on enrollment. The degree audit report shows how credit transfers and counts within their program of choice. Please make sure to order ALL military transcripts, college transcript, and test credits to see how they will transfer in towards your degree.  Prospective students can learn more about transfer credits here.

Students should request to have their official Joint Service Transcript (JST) or Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) transcript submitted to Marian University as part of the application process for admission to the university.

Review established credit equivalency determinations:

Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard transcripts:  https://jst.doded.mil/smart/welcome.do

US Air Force (CCAF):  https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Barnes/CCAF/

Readmissions Policy

Marian University follows the guidelines for readmissions and course withdrawals and release that align with provisions for Service members provided in Chapter 3 of Volume 2 of the Federal Student Aid Handbook for Service members.