Military
Berklee Online is honored to serve service members, veterans, and their families, and is here to support the success of your educational and professional goals.
Contact Military Affairs
(617) 747-2146 (Global) +1 (866) 237-5533 (U.S.) +0 (800) 092-0980 (U.K.)Military Tuition Assistance for Service Members
Tuition Assistance (TA) is a government benefit offered to service members of all branches of the Armed Forces to assist with the cost of tuition. Here you will find information on the general processes to request TA as well as policies for utilizing Military Tuition Assistance. Berklee Online offers a 30% military tuition reduction to all military students. For service members who use tuition assistance, the reduction will be applied once one of the following documents is received: Military Leave and Earnings Statement (LES), current military orders, or an approved tuition assistance voucher.
How to Request Tuition Assistance
The process for requesting Tuition Assistance is the same for all branches of the military (with ArmyIgnitED as an exception), and is outlined in the steps below. Please see the branch sections below for specific information regarding the type of military Tuition Assistance you are using.
- Speak with your local Education Services Officer (ESO) or counselor within your Military Service Branch prior to enrolling at Berklee College of Music. They should be aware of your degree path and academic goals before you apply for a degree program or pursue a certificate program at Berklee College of Music. They can also confirm your eligibility for Tuition Assistance at Berklee College of Music.
- Follow their instructions for how to request Tuition Assistance for your course(s). Take note of the timeframe in which you are able to request your TA.
- The military approves your TA request.
- Submit your Tuition Assistance authorization form to the Berklee Online Military Affairs Team for processing by email at military@online.berklee.edu. ArmyIgnitED students do not need to submit an authorization form once TA has been approved.
- The Berklee Online Military Affairs will post your anticipated TA funding to your account within 1-2 business days of receiving your form.
Branch-Specific Procedures
Select your branch of the military below for more specific information relevant to the type of Tuition Assistance you will be using.
Army
Soldiers are authorized to participate in the Tuition Assistance program through ArmyIgnitED. After creating an account in ArmyIgnitED, students should reference the following resources on creating an educational path and requesting tuition assistance.
Educational Path Resource PDF
- Select Berklee College of Music as your institution.
- For questions on which educational path aligns with your degree program or to request an evaluated degree, contact the Military Affairs Team.
TA Request Resource PDF
- After your educational path is approved, submit your course tuition assistance request in ArmyIgnitED.
- Save your tuition assistance authorization voucher once approved.
Eligible Program: Degree and certificate programs
How to Use Military Tuition Assistance at Berklee Online
- Submit the Military Intake Form for Veterans, Service Members, and Military Dependents.
- Work with your Admissions and Academic Advisors to register for courses.
- Submit your approved Tuition Assistance authorization voucher you have saved from ArmyIgnitED, to the Military Affairs Team.
- The amount the Army is paying will be applied to the tuition due as well as the military discount. An email will be sent to you once both have been applied to your student account. You will be responsible for any approved amount that is not paid by the Army.
Air Force
Air Force students must apply for Tuition Assistance online using the Air Force Virtual Education Center portal at https://afvec.us.af.mil/afvec/public/welcome. Note that students must choose Berklee College of Music when completing their request for tuition assistance.
Eligible Program: Degree programs only
How to Use Military Tuition Assistance at Berklee Online
- Submit the Military Intake Form for Veterans, Service Members, and Military Dependents.
- Work with your Admissions and Academic Advisors to register for courses.
- If you require a degree plan or cost/course verification for your tuition assistance, contact the Military Affairs Team to request a signed copy.
- Submit your approved Tuition Assistance authorization voucher to the Military Affairs Team.
- The amount the Air Force is paying will be applied to the tuition due as well as the military discount. An email will be sent to you once both have been applied to your student account. You will be responsible for any approved amount that is not paid by the Air Force.
Marines
Marine Corps Tuition Assistance (TA) offers financial assistance to service members who elect to pursue Off-Duty or Voluntary Education. For more information and to apply for tuition assistance, please visit U.S. Marine Corps Tuition Assistance. Note that students must choose Berklee College of Music when completing their request for tuition assistance.
Eligible Programs: Degree and certificate programs
How to Use Military Tuition Assistance at Berklee Online
- Submit the Military Intake Form for Veterans, Service Members, and Military Dependents.
- Work with your Admissions and Academic Advisors to register for courses.
- If you require a degree plan or cost/course verification for your tuition assistance, contact the Military Affairs Team to request a signed copy.
- Submit your approved Tuition Assistance authorization voucher to the Military Affairs Team.
- The amount the Marines is paying will be applied to the tuition due as well as the military discount. An email will be sent to you once both have been applied to your student account. You will be responsible for any approved amount that is not paid by the Marines.
Coast Guard
Coast Guard Tuition Assistance assists eligible personnel—active duty, reserve, and civilian employees—in their professional development by providing funding for off-duty voluntary education courses to broaden their academic or Coast Guard technical background. For more information and to apply for tuition assistance please visit uscg.mil. Note that students must choose Berklee College of Music when completing their request for tuition assistance.
Eligible Programs: Degree and certificate programs
How to Use Military Tuition Assistance at Berklee Online
- Submit the Military Intake Form for Veterans, Service Members, and Military Dependents.
- Work with your Admissions and Academic Advisors to register for courses.
- If you require a degree plan or cost/course verification for your tuition assistance, contact the Military Affairs Team to request a signed copy.
- Submit your approved Tuition Assistance authorization voucher to the Military Affairs Team.
- The amount the Coast Guard is paying will be applied to the tuition due as well as the military discount. An email will be sent to you once both have been applied to your student account. You will be responsible for any approved amount that is not paid by the Coast Guard.
Return of Unearned Military Tuition Assistance
Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When a student using military tuition assistance withdraws, they may no longer be eligible for the full amount of TA funds originally awarded. To comply with the U.S. Department of Defense policy, Berklee Online will return any unearned TA funds on a proportional basis through at least the 60% portion of the period for which the funds were provided. TA funds will be returned to the service member’s branch of service (Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and Air Force). In instances when a service member stops attending due to a military service obligation, Berklee Online will work with the affected service member to identify solutions that will not result in a student debt for the returned portion.
A student’s official withdrawal date is used to calculate the percentage of TA earned. A student’s official withdrawal date is the last date of attendance. The return calculation is based on the formula listed below.
Portion of semester completed as of withdrawal date |
% of unearned TA returned |
| Less than 10% | 90% returned |
| 10% up to but not including 20% | 80% returned |
| 20% up to but not including 30% | 60% returned |
| 30% up to but not including 40% | 40% returned |
| 40% up to but not including 60% | 20% returned |
| More than 60% | No return |
Contact Military Affairs
(617) 747-2146 (Global) +1 (866) 237-5533 (U.S.) +0 (800) 092-0980 (U.K.)
