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Federal Tuition Assistance covers credit hours beyond a bachelor’s degree, pays tuition only, and is limited to 16 credit hours per fiscal year. GI Bill is paid directly to the Soldier and can be used to pay tuition, fees, books, etc., but has very strict eligibility guidelines based on each Soldier’s service. NGTW CAN BE USED WITH GI BILL- NGTW will be applied to tuition first so that your GI Bill can be used to cover all addition costs, if you choose to use them both.
Arkansas National Guard Tuition Waiver Program (NGTW) Rules 2024
This rule establishes policy, procedure, and eligibility requirements for administration of the Arkansas National Guard Tuition Waiver Program (NGTW).
1-1. Application Process: Guardsmen (Air and Army National Guard) who want to participate in the Arkansas National Guard Tuition Waiver (NGTW) Program must submit an application for NGTW each semester. The NGTW is available for all semesters, including Fall, Spring, Summer I, Summer II, Winter Intercession, and May Intercession. To apply (Air National Guard): Air National Guard applicants submit an NGTW application with Commander's Letter of Good Standing through your Wing Headquarters (188th/189th). Mail 188th applications and Good Standing letter "HERE". Mail 189th applications and Good Standing letter "HERE". The Wing will then forward through the Education Office for processing. To apply (Army National Guard): Army National Guard applicants submit an NGTW application directly to the ng.ar.ararng.list.education-office@army.mil. The Education Office will verify appropriate personnel and service data for good standing before processing to ADHE. All Applicants: Forms must be filled out in their entirety and contain the Service Member's signature (digital or manual). Unsigned applications will not be processed. Applications are accepted from sixty (60) days prior to term start date until thirty (30) days after term start date in accordance with NGAR 621-203. The following eligibility criteria may be found in Chapter 2 of NGAR 621-203. When completing applications, Service Member’s must meet ALL eligibility requirements. [ ] I am an Arkansas resident. [ ] I am a member of the Arkansas National Guard. [ ] I have completed Initial Active Duty Training*. [ ] I have not yet obtained a Bachelor’s or higher level degree. [ ] I have been accepted to a state supported public institution. [ ] I am enrolled in a degree producing program at that institution. [ ] I have applied completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). [ ] I have completed the Arkansas YOUniversal Financial Aid Application. [ ] I have applied for institutional grants and scholarships offered through my school**. * Note1: Arkansas law allows for exemptions of the initial training requirement in certain exigent circumstances. If you have questions about this requirement, please contact the State Education Office. ** Note2: Each institution manages their grants and scholarships programs independently from the NGTW program. In order to meet this requirement, service members must consult with their respective institution’s Financial Aid Office in order to ensure they have applied for all eligible institutional grants and scholarships. Application Forms may be found "HERE". 1-2. Submission Deadlines: Applications may be submitted up to 60 days prior to the start of the course/semester, but MUST be submitted no llater than 30 days after the start of the course/semester. Applications submitted after the deadline WILL NOT be granted the NGTW for that semester without an approved Exception to Policy (ETP) through the Education Services Office (ESO). 1-3. Other Funding Each Guardsman must submit applications for all federal, state, and institutional grants and scholarships for which they are eligible. The Guardsman must complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at studentaid.ed.gov/sa/, the Arkansas YOUniversal Financial Aid Application at scholarships.adhe.edu/, and any additional forms/applications required by the institution in which they attend. Institutional grants and scholarships are administered exclusively by the service member’s institution. Applicants must consult with their institution’s Financial Aid Office to determine the requirements and application procedures for institutional grants and scholarships. Failure to comply with institutional requirements may result in denial of the NGTW.
2-1. Who: The NGTW Program is open to all enlisted and officer personnel of the Arkansas Army and Air National Guard who have not previously been awarded a Bachelor’s Degree, are residents of the State of Arkansas, are in “Good Standing” with their unit and who have completed Initial Active Duty Training (Basic Training or had the Basic Training requirement waived by the Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC). The Guardsman must be enrolled in an Arkansas state-supported public institution and in a degree seeking program. Guardsmen who have been deployed or discharged may have a continuation of eligibility (see paragraphs 2-3 and 2-4). 2-2. In “Good Standing”: “Good Standing” refers to a Guardsman who is NOT under a Suspension of Favorable Actions for serious misconduct at the time of application for, but not limited to, absent without leave (AWOL), substance abuse violations, or any other serious adverse actions. See Army Regulation 135-178 Chapters 11 and 12 or Air Force Instructions 36-3208 and 36-3209. 2-3. Continuation of Eligibility: Guardsmen who are discharged for non-medical reasons, or medical reasons that are not service connected, are eligible for the semester in which they are enrolled. Guardsmen who are medically discharged due to a service connected condition will remain eligible for up to 5 years from their date of discharge. In a and b above, the benefit will end once the Guardsman receives the benefit for 120 credit hours or completes the degree program in which they were enrolled. 2-4. Deployment or Mobilization: In the event that a mobilization or deployment interrupts the enrollment of a Guardsman currently receiving NGTW, the Guardsman will remain eligible for a period of time equal to the semester in which they were enrolled. It is the Guardsman’s responsibility to notify the institution in which they attend as soon as possible, via copies of the orders for mobilization or deployment. Each institution will handle the mobilization in accordance with Arkansas Code § 6-61-112
3-1. Authorization of Use: NGTW will only be awarded for programs leading to an undergraduate degree up to a bachelor’s degree, in a state-supported public two (2) or four (4) year institution within the State of Arkansas. Guardsmen cannot have previously been awarded a Bachelor's Degree. NGTW will cover tuition for all approved courses and mandatory institution fees. Each Guardsman is responsible for other costs, such as non-mandatory fees, room and board, textbooks, parking permits, etc. 3-2. Schools: Eligible Arkansas institutions may be found at http://www.adhe.edu//locations. No private or out-of-state institution is eligible for use this program (i.e. Central Baptist College, Harding University, or University of Phoenix). Guardsmen may be enrolled in more than one institution concurrently; however, a separate application must be submitted for each institution in which the benefit is being requested. 3-3. Hours Covered by the NGTW: There are no minimum or maximum credit hours, per semester, for this program. NGTW will not pay for more than a total of 120 credit hours or after a Guardsman receives a Bachelor’s Degree. Only credit hours covered by this benefit, to include remedial courses, count toward the 120 credit hour limit.
4-1. Drop I Add dates: Classes dropped after the drop/add date may not be covered by the benefit and the Guardsman may be responsible for paying for those classes directly to the institution in which they attend. 4-2. Academic Progress: Each Guardsman must maintain satisfactory academic progress as determined by the state-supported institution in which the Guardsman is enrolled. 4-3. Becoming Ineligible: A Guardsman will become ineligible for NGTW, and subject to recoupment for that semester, if the Guardsman is dismissed from the institution for academic or disciplinary reasons, if the Guardsman’s service in the Arkansas National Guard is terminated or becomes unsatisfactory, fraud or misrepresentation of information in the application, or failure to complete the semester in which NGTW was awarded. To maintain eligibility, a Guardsman must not drop more than 6 credit hours during the period in which the benefit is received, unless dropping the courses is necessary due to mobilization/deployment or a medical reason approved through the appeal/ETP process in section 5. Classes dropped before the add/drop date are not counted towards those 6 hours. 4-4. Misconduct: A Guardsman will become ineligible for NGTW, and subject to recoupment of ALL funds paid on the Guardsman’s behalf, if the Guardsman engages in serious misconduct or fails to remain a satisfactory participant in active drilling status with the Arkansas National Guard.
In the event a Guardsman is denied for NGTW, has the benefit terminated, or is ordered to repay funds issued on their behalf, in accordance with the provisions of NGAR 621-203, the Guardsman may request an ETP in writing to their Air Wing or the Education Services Office within 30 days from the date of denial/termination/ recoupment. ETP’s must contain, at a minimum, the Guardsman’s name, unit/wing of assignment, institution name and location, and semester/year in question and the reason for the ETP.