Army IgnitED

Georgia Southern University is a proud participant in the Army IgnitED program, formerly the GoArmyEd program. This enables U.S. enlisted soldiers to obtain professional technical certifications, associate, bachelor, and graduate degrees while they serve in the Army, Army Reserves, or National Guard.

To determine your eligibility, please check out the full eligibility requirements posted on the ArmyIgnitED website or contact your Education Services Officer (ESO) directly.

The Army Tuition Assistance Program

• May cover up to $250 per credit hour
• Fiscal year cap of $4000.
• Maximum of 16 credit hours may be covered per fiscal year.
• Georgia Southern has additional waivers to further reduce the cost of attendance.

Steps to Enrolling at Georgia Southern University

Step 1: Get Admitted

Step 2: Get Funded

Step 3: Get Enrolled

Step 4: Request Benefits

Need Additional Assistance? Please contact us.

Steps to Creating an Education Path in Army IgnitED

As you may know, ArmyIgnitED is changing starting 1 October 2022.  The rules are much more strict and most of the responsibility is placed on you, the Soldier, to complete the process.  Georgia Southern has loaded all classes, degrees and tuition costs into the new ArmyIgnitED 2.0 (AI Portal).  Directions are included below but please note the highlighted text as the timeline for TA submission has changed.

You must complete your submission no earlier than 60 days prior and no later than 7 days prior to the class start date.  All TA requests must be approved prior to the start date of the course.  

If the TA is not approved prior to the start date, the Army will not pay and you will be responsible for the cost of your classes, no exceptions!  Georgia Southern cannot override this requirement!

You must apply for tuition assistance in the new ArmyIgnitED 2.0 portal: 

https://www.armyignited.army.mil/student/public/welcome

I.  Register for your classes with Georgia Southern after admittance to the University (all students must be accepted and registered with Georgia Southern directly this cannot be completed through ArmyIgnitED)

II.  Create an account in the upgraded ArmyIgnitED system.  In some cases, Soldiers may need assistance creating an account in the upgraded ArmyIgnitED system. Please visit or contact your local Education Center if you need assistance.

III.  Submit an Education Goal:  Each Soldier will need to submit an education goal through ArmyIgnitED even if he/she is close to completing their degree. The goal will be sent to your Education Center, and an Army Education Counselor will review and either approve, disapprove, or request additional information about the goal. Contact your Education Center if your goal is disapproved. You must have an approved education goal to apply for tuition assistance.

Follow this pathway for a tutorial that outlines how a Soldier can create an Education Goal: Login to ArmyIgnitED > Click on the Question Mark Located at the Upper Right Corner > Documents & Links > Tutorial- Creating an Education Goal- SM
Follow the steps below to submit an Education Goal.

Step 1 – Click on “Education Goals” on the left side menu or “Create New Goal” near the bottom of the homepage.

Step 2 – Select your education goal type. If you see N/A by the goal you are trying to create that means you are ineligible for that degree level. Soldiers can hover over the goal and they will see the reason why they are ineligible. If this is in error, please contact your S1 to get your civilian education level updated in your record. In the meantime, Soldiers could contact their Education Center, provide correct documentation (transcript), and request that an Education Counselor do a one-day update of the civilian education level.

Step 3 – Select your Academic Institution. Enter your Academic Institution name and select from the drop-down list. You may need to enter your Academic Institution Student ID if known, click “Next”.

Step 4 – Select a Degree Program. Academic Institutions are required to input the degree programs they offer. There is a keyword search to help find your degree program. If you do not see the degree program you are pursuing, contact the school to have the degree program loaded to the Academic Institution (AI) Portal. Select the Degree Program from the drop-down list, click “Next”.  Please use the major listed on your Evaluated Degree Plan provided by us or the major listed on your Degreeworks.

Step 5 – Upload your Evaluated Degree Plan. An Evaluated Degree Plan is specific to you and lists transfer credits if you have any. If you do not currently have an Evaluated Degree Plan, check the box that states, “No Degree Plan File”, click “Next”. (If you did not attach an official Evaluated Degree when you created your Education Goal, you will need to provide the Evaluated Degree Plan in PDF to your Education Center to be added to your account to continue using tuition assistance after completing two classes).

We will provide a signed Evaluated Degree Plan to you upon request.  To receive an Evaluated Degree Plan please contact William Gammon at wgammon@georgiasouthern.edu

Step 6 – Enter total required credits for your degree level if not already loaded. Most Academic Institutions have already loaded the number of credits required for the degree. If you are uploading an Evaluated Degree Plan, you can update the transferred credits in the “Previous Credits” field. If the credits you enter are in Quarter Hours, check the “Yes” box. Click “Submit Goal”.

Step 7 – Review & Approval/Disapproval. Once you submit your education goal, it is sent to your Education Center for review. Once approved or disapproved, you will receive a message

in your student message section. Once your education goal is approved, you may apply for tuition assistance.

*Important Notes:
1. There will be no more blanket ETP for FY23 courses and beyond (course start dates of 1 October 2022 and later). All TA requests must be submitted in the upgraded ArmyIgnitED.
2. With the new ArmyIgnitED, Soldiers must apply for Tuition Assistance (TA) in the system no earlier than 60 days and no later than 7 days prior to the class start date.
3. Soldiers must accept the TA User Agreement (formerly the Statement of Understanding) when submitting a TA Request.
4. All TA requests must be approved prior to the start date of the course.
5. Eligible Soldiers must enroll directly with their Academic Institution after a TA request is approved in ArmyIgnitED.
6. Soldiers will be solely responsible for all tuition costs if TA is not approved prior to the course start date.
7. TA is approved on a course-by-course basis and only for the specific course(s) and class dates that a Soldier requests.
8. Soldiers must drop or withdraw from a course with their school and process all requests for recoupment waivers for withdrawals in ArmyIgnitED.

IV.  Request Tuition Assistance.  Once your Education Goal has been approved, you can go into ArmyIgnitED and complete your request for TA:  See attached slides for “Creating Tuition Assistance Request (TAR).

V.  Complete Military Fee Waiver if required.  If you have not already done so, or it has been more than a year ago, you need to request/resubmit a Military Fee Waiver (attached).  Complete the Military Fee waiver paperwork and attach a copy of your SRB (ERB) / ORB to have any mandatory fees waived and return them to me at wgammon@georgiasouthern.edu

Not sure which education level is right for you?

Academic Certificate

An Academic Certificate is earned and awarded upon the successful completion of a brief course of study, usually one year or less but at times longer.

Associate’s Degree

An Associate’s Degree is earned and awarded upon the successful completion of a two-year course of study, often by a community or junior college.

Bachelor’s Degree

The Bachelor’s Degree is earned and awarded upon the successful completion of a four-year course of study, often at a higher education institution.

Master’s Degree

A Master’s Degree is earned and awarded upon the successful demonstration of mastery in a specific area of study, often one or two years of additional study following a bachelor’s degree.

Last updated: 1/26/2023