CSU respects the sacrifices made by spouses of military men and women to protect the freedoms of this nation. Many spouses face the challenges of raising a family, maintaining a home and job or searching for work while their partner is deployed.
To help spouses attain more for themselves and their families, CSU offers various opportunities to use education to achieve their career goals.
MyCAA Scholarship
The Military Spouse Career Advancement Account Scholarship (MyCAA) is a workforce development program that provides up to $4,000 of tuition assistance to eligible military spouses pursuing a license, certification or associate degree in a portable career field and occupation. Spouses may use their MyCAA funds at any academic institution approved for participation in the MyCAA Scholarship.
The MyCAA Scholarship pays tuition costs for education and training courses and examinations leading to an associate degree (excluding associate degrees in General Studies, Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies that do not have a concentration).
Air Force Aid Society Merit Scholarship
Columbia Southern University and the Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) are proud to announce a new partnership to offer an annual 60-credit hour, $25,000 scholarship for military spouses. The Air Force Aid Society Merit Scholarship will be applied directly to the recipient’s tuition for up to three years or until the selected online degree program is completed, whichever comes first.
Hero Behind the Hero Scholarship
CSU is proud to award a total of four scholarships yearly through the Hero Behind the Hero Scholarship Program. CSU recognizes the sacrifices made by the family members of America’s military men and women and public safety personnel (firefighters, law enforcement officers, EMTs and dispatchers).
In appreciation of their support, each award date, one scholarship will be awarded to the spouse or child of a National Guard or active military man or woman or spouse or child of a public safety personnel.
Post 9/11 GI Bill® Transferability
Spouses of military men and women can achieve a dream career with online education at CSU.
Eligible military men and women may transfer 36 months or the portion of unused Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits to their spouses and children to help them reach their educational goals at CSU. Family members must be enrolled in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System and be eligible for benefits at the time of transfer to receive transferred benefits.
Eligible military personnel also must meet the following criteria:
- Has at least six years of service in the armed forces (active duty and/or selected Reserve) on the date of approval and agrees to serve four additional years in the armed forces from the date of election.
- Has at least 10 years of service in the armed forces (active-duty and/or selected Reserve) on the date of approval, is precluded by either standard policy (by service branch or Department of Defense) or statute from committing to four additional years, and agrees to serve for the maximum amount of time allowed by such policy or statute.
- Is or becomes retirement-eligible and agrees to serve an additional four years of service on or after Aug. 1, 2012. A servicemember is considered to be retirement-eligible if he or she has completed 20 years of active federal service or 20 qualifying years as computed (pursuant to section 12732 of title 10 U.S.C.).
- Transfer requests are submitted and approved while the member is in the armed forces.
Upon approval, family members may apply to use transferred benefits with VA by printing, completing and mailing the VA Form 22-1990e to your nearest VA regional office or applying online.
For more details on transferability of Post-9/11 GI Bill®, please contact a CSU Veterans Affairs representative at 800-977-8449 ext. 6533.
GI 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 Web sitehttps://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.