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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between financial aid, VA, and TA?

Financial Aid, VA, and TA all come from different funding sources and are processed through different offices.

  • Financial Aid helps students pay for college through federal aid/loans, grants, and scholarships. It is available to most students.
  • VA benefits are administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs and are available to most veterans and active duty personnel, as well as many military dependents.
  • TA is a benefit paid to active duty military students by their branch of service to help cover the cost of tuition.

Why can't I use my scholarships with my G.I. Bill® /waivers/exceptions?

Some funding sources are incompatible, constitute double dipping, or simply aren’t beneficial when used at the same time. Tuition-only scholarships,  exemptions, and discounts are deducted from the amount certified to the VA. In most cases, use of VA and TA to pay the same costs constitutes double dipping.

G.I. Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

How are financial aid, VA, TA, and other third-party payments applied to my account?

Funding is disbursed in the order payments are received. The Office of the Bursar is not a financial institution. Monies cannot be held, directed, or disbursed in a requested order.

Can I get all of my financial aid money refunded to me now, since I will be getting VA or TA money?

The University cannot disburse funds until we have received them. Once your Bursar’s account balance is paid in full, excess funds may be refunded to you. If additional funds in the form of VA or TA become available, they may be refunded to you. VA and TA are processed after the start of term following a strict timetable and cannot be processed early.

VA Benefits FAQ

For veteran student services information, please visit the Veteran Benefits FAQ.

TA FAQ

What portion of my bill does TA cover?

The military typically approves $250 per credit hour and you are responsible for covering the difference, including any additional tuition and fees.

How do I apply for TA?

The first step for all students is to work with their local education officer (Navy, Coast Guard, Marine Corps) or online system (Army, Air Force) to initiate the process of utilizing TA benefits. Once the military approves your TA request, students from all branches except Army should submit their TA to the university. Army students do not need to submit anything, as the TA representative will process their TA based on Go Army Ed enrollments.

  • Air Force: Apply no later than seven days before the start of the course and no sooner than 45 days before the course.
  • Army: You must apply for TA no later than the day before the course starts. You cannot apply for a class more than 60 days before the start of the course. If you are within this time and you cannot find the course in GoArmyEd the registration close date, which is the add/drop date of the course, has passed. We can re-open the course in the portal if you ask us to. You MUST enroll in the course on OU’s side AND apply for TA in GoArmyEd as we are not networked. If you apply for TA and are approved and then you try to enroll, but the course is full, we will have to reject your TA in the portal.

I cannot apply for TA in GoArmy because I have a hold for not having a SQCAD uploaded. How do I get that taken care of?

Contact your advisor or site director to request an upload of your SOCAD.

How can I submit my TA form to the university?

Army: Registering for courses in GoArmyEd is how you request TA, but you must also register for your courses with OU. You will not need to upload anything to the TA database.

After you receive your approval, you will upload your signed PDF to the database (https://ta.pacs.ou.edu/) and it will be processed at the end of the free add/drop period, unless you are a student taking classes at an OU North America or Europe site location. Students enrolled at a site location should turn their completed form into their site director.

Can my TA still be processed if I turn it into the university late?

You can submit your TA to the University late if you applied for TA within the date parameters of your branch of service.

When will my TA funding be applied to my account?

Except for Army TA, TA cannot be processed unless you have submitted a TA form. All account adjustments, including TA, take place after the free add/drop period has ended for the course/term.

  • OU College of Professional and Continuing Studies North America and Europe: TA is applied the month following the start of the course.
  • Army: The Army will push courses that start in the last half of the month to the next invoice. In some cases, you will not get TA processed until two months following the start of the course.
  • Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard: There is no way for OU to see that you have applied for TA, unless you have turned in a TA form.

How are graded reported for TA purposes?

Grades are only submitted for students whom have turned in TA forms to the University.

What happens if I drop a course that was paid for using TA?

It is the responsibility of the student to notify their TA/billing representative of any enrollment changes after the free add/drop date. Upon notification, we will refund whichever military branch paid the TA.

What happens if I fail to receive and "I" grade for a course that was paid for using TA?

The military will recoup the money from you. Most branches will not pay for any course for which you receive a “D” or less as an undergraduate student or a “C” or less as a graduate student. Each branch has a limited period that you may make up an “I” grade and still receive funding. Check with your specific branch of service for details.

What is MyCAA?

MyCAA is spousal Financial Assistance (FA). This FA is applied for and processed through the Air Force portal AFAEMS. The rules for MyCAA are very specific. All the information must be correct, or it will not be processed. MyCAA can ONLY be used for a certificate program. You MUST be participating in a certificate program BEFORE you can use MyCAA.

I messed up my TA (late, incorrect, etc.)! Can I use my VA?

Yes. VA can be submitted up to one year after the last day of the course.