SINCE 1987

Education Benefits for Military Students

Center for Advanced Legal Studies proudly accepts a variety of VA education benefits to support veterans, service members, and their eligible dependents in achieving their academic goals. These benefits help cover tuition, fees, and other educational expenses. Eligible students may qualify for the following programs.

  • Chapter 30 – Montgomery GI Bill®: This chapter provides education benefits for active-duty and selected reserve service members.
  • Chapter 31 – Veteran Readiness and Employment: This chapter supports veterans with service-connected disabilities in preparing for, finding, and maintaining employment through education and training.
  • Chapter 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill®: This chapter offers comprehensive education benefits for veterans who served after September 10, 2001, including tuition coverage, a housing allowance, and stipends for books and supplies.
  • Chapter 35 – Dependents Educational Assistance: This chapter provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents and survivors of certain veterans.
  • DOD Tuition Assistance (TA) Funding – TA funding helps cover tuition costs for eligible military personnel, making higher education more accessible while serving. Each branch of the military has its own TA program, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.
    • Service members should check with their Education Service Officer (ESO) or military branch to determine eligibility and application procedures. Our SCO can assist you in navigating the TA process and ensuring a smooth enrollment experience. 
    • TA Refund Policy – In accordance with Department of Defense (DOD) regulations, Center for Advanced Legal Studies returns any unearned TA funds on a proportional basis through at least the 60 percent portion of the enrollment period for which the funds were provided. If a student using TA funding withdraws before completing 60 percent of the course, the institution will return the unearned portion of the funds directly to the DOD.

Please note that while we accept most military education benefits, the Hazlewood Act applies only to public institutions and is not available at CALS. 

For additional information about these VA programs, please go to https://www.va.gov/education/. DOD TA participants can review https://www.dodmou.com/TADECIDE/.  

Who to Contact

If you have questions regarding VA or DOD TA funding, please call 800-446-6931 to speak with James Scheffer, our Director of Admissions and School Certifying Official. Mr. Scheffer is a retired Navy paralegal (Senior Chief Legalman) and former Paralegal Specialist (0950 GS-11) with U.S. Coast Guard.  You may contact him directly to discuss your interest in the paralegal occupation and utilization of military education benefits. Military students with questions about other Financial Aid options, including Title IV eligibility, can contact our Financial Aid Director, Lou Nieves, at 800-446-6931.

Additional Links for Military and Veterans: 

Important Program Information for Veterans

For program length, tuition, books, and fees, please see the following program specific resources. Please note that all programs currently offered at Center for Advanced Legal Studies are delivered 100% online. Consequently, students do not need to reside within commuting distance of school facilities. Therefore, Center for Advanced Legal Studies does not maintain or provide lodging or room and board for its students. Annual cost of living expenses will vary by student and be impacted by their city and state of residence. Student specific annual costs will be calculated during application and enrollment on a student by student basis.

Policy for Students Called to Active Military Service: Readmission and Course Options

Center for Advanced Legal Studies is committed to supporting students who are called to active duty in the U.S. military or the Texas National Guard. Students who withdraw for military service have the following options upon their return:

  1. Re-enrollment without Penalty: Students may re-enroll in their program (or a substantially equivalent one) without incurring additional tuition, fees, or charges for the courses they did not complete, provided they return within one year of their discharge from active duty. They will retain the academic standing they held at the time of withdrawal.
  2. Incomplete Grades: Students may choose to receive an “Incomplete” grade (designated “Withdrawn-Military”) for uncompleted courses, with the option to complete them upon re-enrollment.
  3. Credit for Completed Work: For courses where at least 90% of the coursework was satisfactorily completed and mastery demonstrated, students may be assigned a final grade or receive credit.
  4. Pro-Rata Refund: Students who paid tuition and fees in advance may receive a pro-rata refund for the uncompleted portion of their program, and any outstanding charges for that portion will be canceled.

To initiate any of these options or for more information, please contact School Certifiying Official, James Scheffer, with documentation of your active duty orders.