Title 10, Armed ForcesRelease 119-102

§2143 Educational Assistance: Amount

Title 10 › Subtitle A — General Military Law › PART III — TRAINING AND EDUCATION › CHAPTER 106A — EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR PERSONS ENLISTING FOR ACTIVE DUTY › § 2143

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

The program must pay school costs for people who qualify under this chapter when they attend an accredited school. It can cover tuition, fees, books, lab charges, and consumable materials used in class or labs. Payments can only be for the usual student costs at that school. The Secretary sets how much a person gets for a normal full school year when the person enlists as described in section 2142. Different groups or enlistments can get different amounts if needed. The benefit a person receives can be changed later under section 2145. No one may get more than $1,200 for a full school year, subject to adjustments under section 2145. Accredited institution: a U.S. college, university, or trade/technical/vocational school that offers post‑high‑school programs and is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §2143

Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Subject to subsection (b), an educational assistance program established under section 2141 of this title shall provide for payment by the Secretary concerned of educational expenses incurred for instruction at an accredited institution by a person entitled to such assistance under this chapter. Expenses for which payment may be made under this section include tuition, fees, books, laboratory fees, and shop fees for consumable materials used as part of classroom or laboratory instruction. Payments under this section shall be limited to those educational expenses normally incurred by students at the institution involved.
(b)(1)The Secretary concerned shall establish the amount of educational assistance for a standard academic year (or the equivalent) to which a person becomes entitled under this chapter at the time of an enlistment described in section 2142 of this title. Depending on the needs of the service, different amounts may be established for different categories of persons or enlistments. The amount of educational assistance to which any person is entitled shall be adjusted in accordance with section 2145 of this title.
(2)The amount of educational assistance which may be provided to any person for a standard academic year (or the equivalent) may not exceed $1,200, adjusted in accordance with section 2145 of this title.
(c)In this section, the term “accredited institution” means a civilian college or university or a trade, technical, or vocational school in the United States (including the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands) that provides education at the postsecondary level and that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association or by an accrediting agency or association recognized by the Secretary of Education.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1987—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 100–180 inserted “the term” after “In this section,”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 2143

Title 10, Armed Forces

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102