Even If It Doesn’t Get Paid Back, APSU Covering Soldier Tuition During Shutdown

Active duty military can get up to $4,500 for college work per year. But the tuition assistance program was suspended October 1. Credit: United States Forces – Iraq via Flickr

Austin Peay State University may lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in the process, but it plans to float tuition for soldier-students if the government shutdown continues.

The federal Tuition Assistance program for active duty military has been suspended. Austin Peay spokesman Bill Persinger says it leaves as many as 700 students looking for another way to fund their coursework.

“We want to make sure – especially with our active duty military – we absolutely want to see them finish. It’s essentially a no-brainer for all of us.”

Service members enrolled in classes that started before the shutdown have nothing to worry about, according to the Pentagon. But Austin Peay’s campus at Fort Campbell runs on a quarter system, and the problem comes when the next quarter starts in 10 days.

The emergency scholarships may not be needed if the funding impasse is resolved first. To qualify, soldiers do have to agree to apply for retroactive tuition assistance if it’s offered.