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Military Students at CityU
Military Students
For over 50 years, CityU has supported active-duty service members, veterans, and their families with reduced tuition, comprehensive benefit acceptance, and credit for prior learning experience.
Why Military Students Choose CityU
Whether you’re starting fresh or returning to finish your degree, CityU’s military benefits are built around you.
Save on Tuition
Depending on your program, we offer generous discounts for military students, for both undergraduate and graduate programs.
Yellow Ribbon Participant
No cap on funding. No cap on participants.
Flexible Transfer Policy
Prior Learning Assessment, CLEP, DANTES, ACE credits for military training (JST), along with any previous credits.
Who Qualifies for CityU Military Benefits?
Active duty, veterans and their families are eligible for military benefits at CityU including the groups listed below:
- Active Duty Military
- National Guard and Coast Guard Members
- Active Reserve Members
- Veterans or Transitioning
- Current spouse or dependent of any of the above
Committed to Those Who Serve
For more than five decades, CityU has helped military members and their families pursue their educational goals. Active-duty service members and veterans can take advantage of military partnerships, special tuition rates, scholarships, and opportunities to earn credit for eligible prior learning and experience.
Our support extends to spouses and dependents, too. With longstanding relationships with local bases and experience employing service members, we understand the unique needs of military-connected families.
Whether you’re serving, transitioning to civilian life, or a veteran, CityU can help you build on your experience and take the next step toward your educational and career goals.
The University refrains from high-pressure recruitment tactics for the purpose of enrolling veterans and service members. Click to read the University’s Ethical Recruitment of Students Statement.
City University of Seattle was ranked among the top Best Online Programs for Veterans by U.S. News & World Report.
Military Benefits at CityU
You may be eligible to get a CityU degree for $0 out of pocket costs, depending on your program and situation.
May cover up to 100% of your degree*
Active Duty Members Tuition Assistance
The Department of Defense Tuition Assistance program provides financial assistance of $250 per semester hour, up to $4,500 a year total.
CityU offers an active military discount of $166 per credit for undergraduate degrees, and $312 per credit for graduate degrees (doctoral not included). That means tuition assistance could pay for all (or most) of your degree:
Degree level
Cost per credit hour
Tuition assistance pays
Your cost
Bachelors degrees:
$166
$166
$0*
Graduate degrees:
$312
$99-$250 (varries)
$62-213** per credit hour
*Up to TA’s annual $4,500 cap. Most active-duty students study part-time and stay well under this.
**Yearly costs for graduate degrees after tuition assistance come to around $930/year, or $2,790 total tuition for the full degree. Financial aid and scholarships may reduce this amount even further.
The Department of Defense’s standardized Tuition Assistance (TA) program provides financial assistance for voluntary education programs in support of service members’ professional and personal self-development goals. These programs are collectively known as “Armed Forces Active Duty Tuition Assistance” and the program is intended for active enlisted military personnel who wish to further their education during off-duty hours. Individual service branches each have their specific guidelines, requirements and limits for educational benefits offered.
For more information on Tuition Assistance, visit Military Tuition Assistance.
50-70% off full price tuition
Family Members
Family members of active-duty members, Reserve and National Guard qualify for the same CityU military discount — $166 per credit for undergraduate and $312 per credit for graduate degrees.
While Tuition Assistance is reserved for the service member, family members may still be able to use transferred GI Bill® benefits or other scholarships to further reduce costs.
May cover up to 100% of your degree*
Veteran Benefits and Resources (GI Bill)®
Depending on your program your veteran benefits may pay up to 100% of tuition for your CityU degree. CityU accepts the following benefits
- Ch 30 Montgomery GI Bill®
- Ch 31 Veterans Readiness & Employment
- Ch 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill®
- Ch 35 Survivors and Dependents
- Ch 1606 Selected Reserves
- Fry Scholarship and STEM Scholarship
As a military-affiliated student, you may qualify for Veterans Educational Benefits under existing veterans programs. After you apply with the VA and have been approved for benefits, the VA will issue a Certificate of Eligibility online and mail it to the address on file. You can connect with the CityU Veterans Affairs Officer by calling 206.239.4539 of [email protected] to ease the transition with using your VA Benefits.
Covers what GI Bill® doesn’t
Yellow Ribbon Program
Yellow Ribbon covers the gap between what your Ch. 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill® pays and what tuition costs. CityU has no funding cap and no participant cap, so you’re never turned away — and many veterans end up at $0 out of pocket.
These funds are an extension of the Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill® to help cover any charges that exceed the maximum limits the VA has in place for private and public educational institutions. We do not have a limit as to how much our school will cover or the number of students that can participate in this program at our school. Click to find out more information.
50-70% off full price tuition
Family Members
Family members of veterans qualify for the CityU military discount — $166 per credit for undergraduate and $312 per credit for graduate degrees. That’s up to 70% off full price tuition.
Family members may still be able to use transferred GI Bill® benefits or other financial aid and scholarships to further reduce costs.
Why Get Your Degree With CityU?
Flexible Study Options
CityU has over 60 flexible degree programs offered online and/or on-site. We have campuses throughout Washington state and the world, and our online courses can be taken from anywhere — at home and abroad.
In addition to these learning paths, we offer performance-based programs, which allow students to progress at their own pace by demonstrating a predetermined set of learning outcomes.
Flexible Transfer Policy
City University of Seattle offers transfer-friendly undergraduate degree programs to help you maximize as many previously-earned credits as possible including:
- Prior Learning Assessment
- College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
- Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES)
- ACE credits for military training
- Credits earned from prior attended technical and vocational institutions as well as community colleges
Next Steps to Receive Military Benefits
Applying for Active Duty Tuition Assistance at CityU
Follow these steps to apply for Tuition Assistance:
Obtain Approval
Contact your Education Office to meet with the appropriate Education Services Officer (ESO) or military counselor to discuss your benefits and to obtain approval to enroll at CityU.
Meet with a CityU Enrollment Advisor
Meet with an enrollment advisor to determine the program that best aligns with your professional and personal goals. To ensure that you are getting the most of your tuition assistance, review our financial aid page to learn about what additional grants and scholarships might be available to you.
Apply to CityU
Complete your CityU Application. Upon submission of your application an Enrollment Advisor will be in contact to help you complete the admissions process.
Register For Classes
Pick your start date and get on track to graduation
Next term starts January 11, 2027
How to Use Your GI Bill® at CityU
Here are the steps to take to use your GI Bill®:
Apply to CityU
Complete your application in under 10 minutes.
- $0 application fee
- Rolling admissions—apply anytime
Meet with a CityU Enrollment Advisor
Our advisors can help you explore your military funding options and guide you through the enrollment process.
Consult the GI Bill® Comparison Tool
Apply for VA Benefits
Receive Certificate of Eligibility
After you have been approved for benefits, the VA will issue you a Certificate of Eligibility by mail, as well as provide an online benefits information card.
Apply for VA Education Benefits at CityU
The Veterans Affairs Office at CityU will work with you to complete a CityU quarterly VA authorization form, and they can certify you based on the information provided. Processing of your certification takes up to two weeks once all required documents are received and about 3 weeks with the VA depending on their workload at the time.
Required Documents:
- Certificate of Eligibility or Authorization in Tungsten (Chapter 31 students only)
- Student Waiver Form (If you qualify for the Military Tuition Rate)
- CityU Quarterly VA Benefits Authorization Form
Every academic quarter, the Veterans Affairs Office at CityU will work with you to ensure your VA benefits remain active.
Have questions about financial aid? Speak with a Financial Aid Advisor who can help you navigate grants and scholarship opportunities.
Learn How to Finish Your Degree
10-week quarters for most programs allow you to complete your degree faster. Apply today for FREE.
Next start date:
Jan 2027
Alumni Success Stories
Learn how CityU has helped students transform their future.
Getting my degree at CityU helped me transition to a new career. The flexibility of online classes with an in-person weekend component worked well with my schedule.
Dan B.
Bachelor in Management
I got behind on my coursework and I thought that was it. My readmission advisor helped me get back on track, and now I’m using my degree in a new job.
Tonita W.
Doctor of Business Administration