Who may be eligible for Air Force Tuition Assistance?

Service members on active duty with more than 120 consecutive days in that status may qualify. Members of the Reserves with at least 24 months of active duty service may also qualify. Eligibility is determined by the Air Force, not by the school, and the Air Force Virtual Education Center is where an application is reviewed.

Which programs can Tuition Assistance be applied to?

Tuition Assistance is applied to approved programs of study. Because approval is determined through the Air Force education system rather than by the college, prospective students are asked to confirm a specific program with an admissions advisor and through their education office before enrolling.

Does Tuition Assistance cover the full cost of a program?

Coverage depends on the terms the Air Force applies at the time of application. The Military Division at InterCoast can review what a given program costs and what remains after any benefit is applied. Financial aid may be available to those who qualify.

Air Force Tuition Assistance — InterCoast Colleges

What Air Force Tuition Assistance is

Tuition Assistance is an education benefit administered by the Air Force. Applications are submitted and reviewed through the Air Force Virtual Education Center, and eligibility is determined by the Air Force rather than by the school. InterCoast Colleges works with service members who are using the benefit, and the college's Military Division handles enrollment once an application has been started.

Who may qualify

Service members on active duty with more than 120 consecutive days in that status may qualify. Members of the Reserves with at least 24 months of active duty service may also qualify. These are the general criteria; an individual determination is made through the Air Force education system, and the education office attached to a member's unit is the authority on current requirements.

About the college

InterCoast Colleges was founded in 1985 and operates campuses across California. The college has been accredited by ACCET since 1988 and is approved to operate by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education. Programs are structured for adults who are working or serving while they study, with day and evening schedules. Financial aid may be available to those who qualify.

Programs offered

The programs below are among those offered at InterCoast. Whether a particular program can be funded through Tuition Assistance is determined through the Air Force education system, so a service member should confirm a specific program with an admissions advisor and with their education office before enrolling.

A full list is on the programs page, and campus locations and hours are on the campuses page.

To determine your eligibility, follow the steps below

Start by applying online at InterCoast.
Sign in to the Air Force Virtual Education Center (AFVEC). Service members reach it through the Air Force education portal, and a unit education office can confirm the current point of access. A third-party overview is also available at veteran.com, which is an independent site and not an Air Force property.
Create a new user account if you haven't already done so.
Open the Air Force Virtual Education Center (AFVEC) section.
Apply for Tuition Assistance in the Self-Service Options section.
Once completed, call 877-CAREERS (877-227-3377) and speak to the Military Division at InterCoast. We will make sure you have everything ready to finalize your enrollment.

What to have ready

Having a few details on hand makes the first conversation with an advisor quicker. Useful items are the program and campus under consideration, current service status and component, and whether a Tuition Assistance application has already been started in the Air Force Virtual Education Center.

Common questions

Who may be eligible for Air Force Tuition Assistance?: Service members on active duty with more than 120 consecutive days in that status may qualify. Members of the Reserves with at least 24 months of active duty service may also qualify. Eligibility is determined by the Air Force, not by the school, and the Air Force Virtual Education Center is where an application is reviewed.
Is InterCoast Colleges accredited?: InterCoast Colleges has been accredited by ACCET since 1988 and is approved to operate by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education. The college was founded in 1985 and operates campuses across California.
Which programs can Tuition Assistance be applied to?: Tuition Assistance is applied to approved programs of study. Because approval is determined through the Air Force education system rather than by the college, prospective students are asked to confirm a specific program with an admissions advisor and through their education office before enrolling.
Does Tuition Assistance cover the full cost of a program?: Coverage depends on the terms the Air Force applies at the time of application. The Military Division at InterCoast can review what a given program costs and what remains after any benefit is applied. Financial aid may be available to those who qualify.
What should a service member have ready before contacting the college?: It helps to know which program and which campus are under consideration, current service status and component, and whether a Tuition Assistance application has already been started in the Air Force Virtual Education Center.

Request program information Call 877-CAREERS

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 at https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/.

Air Force Tuition Assistance for Career Training