Delaware Army National Guard Education Benefits

ArmyIgnitED is the one-stop virtual gateway for Soldiers to request Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) online, anytime, for both classroom and distance learning college courses. It is a dynamic online portal which automates most of the enrollment and application process. ArmyIgnitED allows access to regionally and nationally accredited colleges and universities with thousands of degree plans.

Soldiers may use FTA to receive one degree from each of the following levels:

• High school diploma or its equivalency
• Associate, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degree
• One academic certificate (either undergraduate or graduate) during their career

FTA cannot be used for courses or programs leading to a lower or lateral post-secondary credential that is validated in the Soldier’s official military personnel record. FTA cannot be used to pay for First Professional degrees (i.e., doctoral degrees, juris doctorates).

How Do I Qualify?

• Eligibility:
  • Be currently serving in the ARNG and have a common access card (CAC). Note, completion of IADT, BOLC, and/or WOBC are no longer required.
• Service Requirement/Obligation:
  • Enlisted Soldiers: Are not eligible for TA for courses with term start dates less than 60 days and term end dates less than 14 days from their separation date.
  • Officers and Commissioned Warrant Officers: are subject to a four-year Reserve Duty Service Obligation (RDSO) OR a two-year Active-Duty Service Obligation (ADSO).
• Additional Criteria:
  • The college is regionally or nationally accredited AND is a participant in ArmyIgnitED.
  • The funded course(s) meets a requirement listed in your personalized degree plan provided by the school (this can include prerequisite courses).
  • An evaluated degree plan/audit is required after requesting TA for 2 courses in ArmyIgnitED.
  • Maintain an undergraduate GPA of 2.0 or a graduate GPA of 3.0 for FTA-funded courses.
  • You must submit your FTA request at least 10 business days prior to course start date.

What Do I Get?

• Funding for required courses listed on an approved personalized degree plan.
• Cost of tuition (no fees) up to $250 per semester hour.
• Up to 18 semester hours per fiscal year.
• Up to 130 semester hours of undergraduate coursework.
• Up to 39 semester hours of graduate coursework.
• Up to 21 semester hours towards an academic certificate

All currently serving DE Army National Guard members, who are in good standing, are eligible to receive State Tuition Assistance to attend an accredited public or private School within the Delaware. Rules and guidelines in DNG 600-3 must be followed. All participants must agree to serve 6 years with the DEARNG. Soldiers are eligible to receive one Associates & one Bachelor’s Degree. Soldiers are also eligible to receive one Certificate, but it must be approved by the Education Review Board. Masters Degrees are reimbursed if funding exists after all Undergraduates have been paid.

In order to request State Tuition Assistance, Soldiers MUST request Federal Tuition Assistance first. Requests must be completed by the below timeline:

1. Register for your classes
2. Request Federal Tuition Assistance through Army IgnitED (NLT 2 weeks before your course start date)
3. Request State Tuition Assistance by completing a DNG Form 600-1 and submitting it to Mr. Len Gratteri at ng.de.dearng.mbx.state-tuition-program@army.mil (NLT 10 days before your course start date)

We CANNOT accept late applications.

State Tuition Assistance Forms & Regulations:

State Tuition - Undergraduate Direct Pay Process

State Tuition - Graduate Level Reimbursement Process

Download State Tuition Application Form