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Education Home > Navy Voluntary Education Programs

Additional Education Programs from the Army

The Navy has special programs in place to help its servicemembers meet educational goals. You may hear these programs referred to as “Voluntary Education” or “Vol Ed.” The following programs are offered through the Navel Education and Training Command:

  • Navy Advanced Education Voucher (AEV)
  • Tuition Assistance
  • Servicemembers Opportunity College (SOCNAV)
  • College-At-Sea (NCPACE)
  • Seaman to Admiral (STA-21)
  • Navy Marine Corps Relief Society Grants
  • Other Navy Education Benefit Programs

Navy Advanced Education Voucher Program (AEV)
If you are a senior enlisted servicemember, E-7 through E-9, you may be eligible for a voucher program that will help you earn your bachelor’s or master’s degree. The program is designed with personnel in mind who are superior performers, who have potential to continue to grow and who wish to study a Navy-related field.

For a bachelor’s degree, AEV will cover 100% of tuition, books, and other related fees—maximum $6,700 per year for 36 months from the date of enrollment. For a master’s degree, AEV will cover 100% of tuition, books, and other related fees—maximum $20,000 per year for up to 24 months from date of enrollment. Total program payments will not exceed $40,000.

Navy Tuition Assistance
Active duty Navy solders may be eligible for tuition assistance for up to 100% of college tuition costs. Payments cover up to $250 per semester credit hour for 12 credit hours per year. Additionally, other mandatory, published fees will be covered through the Tuition Assistance Program.

SOCNAV
SOCNAV is the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) program for Navy members and their adult family members. SOCNAV is a network of colleges that agree to accept credits from every other college in the network and that require low or no residency, making these college programs ideal for students who are transferred often. These colleges are accessible to students at Army installations worldwide. To learn more, visit the SOCNAV
website.

Navy College-at-Sea (NCPACE)
This program allows servicemembers to work on academic skills and college degrees—both undergraduate and graduate—while on sea-duty assignments. Fifteen nationally accredited colleges offer courses for the Navy College-at-Sea Program. Learn more here.

Navy Seaman to Admiral Program (STA-21)
This commissioning program allows sailors to attend college, earn a degree and a commission as a Naval officer while maintaining benefits, pay and privileges. Visit the STA-21 website for more information.

Navy Marine Corps Relief Society Grants
The Admiral Mike Boorda Seaman-to-Admiral Education Assistance Program
This program makes grants and/or interest-free loans for up to $2,000 available to active duty servicemembers who have been accepted into the Enlisted Commissioning Program, the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program, or the Medical Enlisted Commissioning Program.

Note: You may also qualify if you are a Midshipman that has been released from active duty for immediate assignment to the NROTC program. In this case, you may apply through your NROTC commanding officer or by contacting the NMCRS headquarters.

Visit the official Admiral Mike Boorda Education Assistance Program website for more information. http://www.nmcrs.org/boorda.html

Spouse Tuition Aid Program (STAP)
This program is available to the spouses of active duty servicemembers stationed at an overseas (OCONUS) location who wish to pursue an on-base certificate program, bachelor’s degree or graduate degree either part or full-time. For undergraduate students, a maximum of $300 per semester is issued with an annual cap of $1,500. Graduate students are covered $350 per semester with an annual cap of $1,750.

Official NMCRS offices are located in Guam, Guantanamo Bay, London, Naples, Okinawa, Roosevelt Roads, Rota, Sigonella, or Yokosuk.

Visit the official Spouse Tuition Aid Program website for more information.

VADM E.P. Travers Scholarship and Loan Program
Each year 1,000 grants are awarded in the amount of $2,000 to spouses and dependent children of active or retired members of the Navy or Marine Corps. Each individual who applies is also evaluated for an interest-free loan up to $3,000. All applicants must be full-time undergraduate students at an accredited institution.

Note: Loan repayment begins 30 days after the award is issued and must be paid over a 24-month period.

Learn more at the official VADM E.P. Travers Scholarship and Loan Program website.

Other Navy Education Benefit Programs

Navy College Fund
An additional $15,000 in educational benefits may be available to enlisted servicemembers who choose to fill a position or specialty in critical need, have a high school diploma, and score a 50 or better on the ASVAB. To learn more about the Navy College fund, visit their website.

Student Loan Repayment Program (LRP)
If you enlist after you go to college or while you are working toward your degree, and you qualify for LRP, then the Navy will pay off your student loans up to $65,000. Learn more at the Navy Loan Repayment Program webpage.

Navy College Assistance/ Student Headstart (NAVY-CASH)
This program grants full Navy pay and benefits to individuals as they attend college for twelve months. Individuals selected for this program are motivated high school students or college students who qualify for the Enlisted Nuclear Field Program.