Tuition and Fees for Military and Veterans

2024-2025 Tuition and Fees

For non-nursing undergraduate degree programs only.

  • Military Tuition: $250 per credit
  • TECEP Exams
    • Lower Level TECEP Exams (100-200): $52 per credit
    • Upper Level TECEP Exams (300-400): $77 per credit
  • Application fee*: $50
  • Graduation Audit Fee: $298

* (currently waived for military and veteran students)

The Military Tuition rate is offered to Active Duty, Air/Army National Guard, and Reserve Servicemembers, their spouses and dependents, and Department of Defense Civil Service employees.

Tuition is paid at the time of course registration. Text and materials are extra and cost varies per course. Students can order textbooks and course materials directly from:

Barnes & Noble College
Order online: bncvirtual.com/tesu
Order by phone: 800-325-3252
VA Chapter 31 and Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Students: Use a Voucher

Tuition effective 7/1/24 to 6/30/25. Tuition and fees are subject to change.

Credit Hour Residency Waiver Fee

Military Rate: $3,354

NOTE: The Credit Hour Residency Waiver Fee applies to military students who have not earned at least 12 semester hours toward their associate’s degree or 24 semester hours toward their bachelor’s degree program.

If a student pays either residency waiver fee or does not graduate within 15 months, they will be required to pay additional credit hour residency waiver fees.

Students who successfully graduate from their first associate degree at TESU and pay the waiver will have been deemed to meet the University’s Credit Hour Residency requirement for both the completed associate degree and their first bachelor’s degree should they pursue one at TESU. The certificate residency fee may be applied toward the first associates/bachelors’ residency fee if the student completes their degree at TESU.

Students will be responsible for any increase in credit hour residency fees if the fee paid for the associate degree is less than the current fee at the time the student applies for graduation for their first bachelor’s degree.

Students with questions about the Credit Hour Residency Waiver are encouraged to speak with their TESU advisor.

Important Note for Military Students

In accordance with VA guidance, Thomas Edison State University places all VA students no longer qualifying for contracted military tuition programs into the Per Credit Tuition Plan (PCTP). Under this plan, undergraduate tuition will be assessed on a per-credit basis.

Whether or not a student will have out-of-pocket expenses depends on which chapter of the GI Bill they are using and whether they are covered at 100% or not. Some chapters are designed to have students pay for tuition up front and receive reimbursement from the VA following certification. Other chapters do not require students to pay for tuition up front and the tuition is sent from the VA to the University following certification. If you have specific questions about your educational benefit, please contact the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs directly at 888-442-4551.

  • Important Note for Using Your Service’s Tuition Assistance

    Students attending Thomas Edison State University are expected to participate and fully engage in all academically related activities. Examples of these activities include making submissions to online discussion boards, communicating within the class lounge forum, dialoguing with mentors within the private mentor forum, submitting assignments and completing exams and quizzes when due. Students must review course calendars for the timing and types of submissions expected.

    Note: Merely logging into or viewing your courses does not constitute academic engagement.

    The University will periodically review student progress and engagement during each term. Failure to sign into your courses and complete your scheduled course work on time may result in an adjustment or termination of federally sponsored financial support, such as Military Tuition Assistance, Veterans Education Benefits or other Title IV Financial Aid (grants and loans). Such decertification or adjustments may lead to cancellation of benefits or recoupment by the sponsoring agency for any monies paid to students (or to the University on student’s behalf) for enrolling in these courses, including tuition, fees, housing allowance and book stipends. Such cancellation or recoupment does not negate the student’s financial obligation to the University; they may be held responsible for all charges incurred for the courses in which they are enrolled.

  • Institutional Policy on the Return of Unearned TA Funds to the Government

    Thomas Edison State University complies with Change 3, DoDI 1322.25 (July 07, 2014) (Appendix to Enclosure 3, 4. f. [2] (d) [page 42]): "All institutions will have an institutional policy that returns any unearned TA funds on a proportional basis through at least the 60% portion of the period for which the funds were provided. TA funds are earned proportionally during an enrollment period, with unearned funds returned based upon when a student stops attending." The University also works with the affected Service member to identify solutions that will not result in a student debt for the returned portion and to return any TA funds directly to the Military Service, not the Service member.

    Return of Unearned TA Funds to the Government Schedule

    A table of the return schedule for unearned funds.

Thomas Edison State University is a participating institution with the Department of Defense Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (DoD MOU). We provide the following information and resources to ensure military and veteran students, and their families, make an informed decision about the university they plan to attend.

Please visit the The College Scorecard and The College Navigator, provided by the U.S. Department of Education, for statistics and information about colleges and universities that you may find helpful.

Financial Aid and Financial Planning Resources

All students are encouraged to apply for financial aid, which can be used in conjunction with Tuition Assistance and Veterans Education Benefits.

Thomas Edison State University has established scholarships to recognize the service and sacrifice of U.S. Active Duty, Reserve, and Air or Army National Guard service members, their spouses and dependents, Veterans and wounded warriors.

These free resources can help you understand your financial cost and benefits available for attending Thomas Edison State University: