Military Students
Our Commitment to Service
For over four decades, CityU has been committed to serving those who serve in the military. Today, we support our active-duty and veteran students through military partnerships, special tuition, 
scholarships, and maintaining a highly competitive prior learning assessment policy that gives credit for prior learning experience.
This commitment doesn’t stop at the service member — it extends to spouses as well. As an institution that hires service members and has longstanding relationships with local bases, we understand that the families supporting the men and women in the military must also be supported alongside our servicemen and women.
The University refrains from high-pressure recruitment tactics for the purpose of enrolling veterans and service members. Read the University’s Ethical Recruitment of Students Statement here.
If you are an active-duty, transitioning, or veteran member of the military, we are here to serve you and your family. It is our commitment and mission to offer you a high quality and relevant lifelong education. If you are thinking of advancing yourself through education, let us know how we can be of service.
Flexible Study Options
CityU has over 60 flexible degree programs offered online and/or on-site. We have campuses throughout Washington state and the world, and our online courses can be taken from anywhere — at home and abroad.
In addition to these learning paths, we offer performance-based programs, which allow students to progress at their own pace by demonstrating a predetermined set of learning outcomes. Learn more about programs and study options at CityU.
Flexible Transfer Policy
City University of Seattle offers transfer-friendly undergraduate degree programs to help you maximize as many previously-earned credits as possible including:
- Prior Learning Assessment
- College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
- Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES)
- ACE credits for military training
- Credits earned from prior attended technical and vocational institutions as well as community colleges
Active Duty and Family Members
Tuition Discount
CityU offers reduced military tuition rates to our service members. Graduate programs are $312 per credit and undergraduate programs are just $166 per credit. This reduced rate does not apply to doctoral programs. Visit the tuition page to view a full list of rates.
The following groups may qualify for the military tuition rate:
- All U.S. military branches who are active-duty military, guard, and active reserve members
- Current spouse or dependent of anyone listed above
Tuition Assistance
The Department of Defense’s standardized Tuition Assistance (TA) program provides financial assistance for voluntary education programs in support of service members’ professional and personal self-development goals. These programs are collectively known as “Armed Forces Active Duty Tuition Assistance” and the program is intended for active enlisted military personnel who wish to further their education during off-duty hours. Individual service branches each have their specific guidelines, requirements and limits for educational benefits offered.
For more information on Tuition Assistance, visit the DANTES website.
Step 1: Obtain Approval
Contact the Base Education Office to meet with the appropriate Education Services Officer (ESO) or military counselor to discuss your benefits and to obtain approval to enroll at the institution.
Step 2: Meet with a CityU Enrollment Advisor
Meet with an enrollment advisor (virtually or in-person) to determine the program that best aligns with your professional and personal goals.
To ensure that you are getting the most of your tuition assistance, review the financial aid page to learn more about grants and scholarships available to you. Have questions about financial aid? Speak with a Financial Aid Counselor who can help you navigate grants and scholarship opportunities.
Step 3: Apply to CityU
Complete the CityU Application Form online. Upon submission of your application an Enrollment Advisor will be in contact to help you complete the admissions process.
Veterans and Family Members
Veteran Benefits and Resources
As a military-affiliated student, you may qualify for Veterans Educational Benefits under existing veterans programs. After you apply with the VA and have been approved for benefits, the VA will issue a Certificate of Eligibility and mail it to the address on file. You can connect with the CityU Veterans Affairs Officer by calling 206.239.4539 to ease the transition with using your VA Benefits.
We are proud to support our military and look forward to working with you regarding your GI Bill®. If you have questions — even if they are not VA-related — we are happy to assist you in any way.
Acceptable Benefits
City University of Seattle accepts the following benefits:
- Ch 30 Montgomery GI Bill®
- Ch 31 Veterans Readiness & Employment
- Ch 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill®
- Ch 35 Survivors and Dependents
- Ch 1606 Selected Reserves
- Fry Scholarship and STEM Scholarship
Yellow Ribbon
CityU also participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. These funds are an extension of the Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill® to help cover any charges that exceed the maximum limits – the VA has in place for private and public educational institutions. We do not have a limit as to how much our school will cover or the number of students that can participate in this program at our school. To find out more information, click here.
Using Your GI Bill®
Should you have any difficulties during this process, CityU’s Financial Aid office is here to help see you. Here are the steps to take:
- Speak to an Enrollment Advisor
- Apply for admission.
- Apply for VA benefits.
- Consult the GI Bill® Comparison Tool
- After you have been approved for benefits, the VA will issue you a Certificate of Eligibility by mail.
- The Veterans Affairs Office at CityU will work with you to complete a CityU VA Benefits Application, and they can certify you based on the information on the application.
- Processing of your certification takes up to two weeks once all required documents are received and about 3 weeks with the VA depending on their workload at the time.
- Every academic quarter, the Veterans Affairs Office at CityU will work with you to ensure your VA benefits remain active.
- Visit CityU’s student portal for more information about the GI Bill® and CityU.
Required Documents
- Certificate of Eligibility or Authorization in Tungsten (Vocational Rehabilitation students only)
- Student Waiver Form (If you qualify for the Military Tuition Rate)
- CityU VA Benefits Authorization Form
- VA Form 22-1995 or VA Form 22-5495 (If you are transferring from another school where you previously used VA Benefits)
- DD214 Member 4 Copy
Yearly Program Costs & Net Tuition Calculator
The annual cost of attendance (COA) is also referred to as a student budget and is based upon several factors including program that you enroll in at CityU and the number of credits you take each quarter. The follow expenses comprise a student’s COA:
- Tuition and normal registration fees (not including late fees)
- Books and supplies
- Room and board
- Personal expenses
- Transportation
2023-24 the Cost of Attendance (Per Quarter)
| Living with Parent | Not Living with Parent | *High-cost Regions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Fees | See Tuition Chart* | See Tuition Chart* | See Tuition Chart* |
| Books & Supplies | $254 | $254 | $254 |
| Food & Housing | $2,864 | $5,956 | $6,552 |
| Transportation | $600 | $646 | $711 |
| Misc./ Personal | $650 | $650 | $650 |
| Total | $4,368 | $7,506 | $8,166 |
Student budget values are established using student surveys, CPI index, and actual institutional expenses.
*For a complete listing of tuition visit our tuition page.
Net Tuition Calculator
Get an estimate of what your CityU tuition would be in just a few minutes with our Tuition Calculator. This calculator is designed to provide an estimate of the net price to attend CityU as a full-time student during the current academic year. The calculator is meant to be used as a tool for prospective students, and does not represent a final determination, or actual aid offer, of financial assistance. Nor does the estimator consider CityU need- or merit-based scholarships, corporate, military, or partnership discounts that may be applied to the cost of attendance.
You do not have to create an account with the College Board to use the calculator, you may use an alias when completing the form fields. View the Tuition Calculator.
Financial Aid
CityU offers students access to several financial aid programs including: grants, loans, work-study, and scholarships. Finances should never be the issue that prevents a student from earning his or her education. We’re committed to helping students achieve their academic goals no matter what their economic situations. Explore our financial aid options [Financial Aid Information | CityU]
Please feel free to connect with our Financial Aid Counselors by calling 800.426.5596 or 206.239.4540 or by emailing financialaid@cityu.edu.
Applying for Federal Financial Aid
To apply for financial aid, you will be required to set up a FSA ID, or unique logon. This may take 1-2 business days and you must file a new FAFSA® each aid year. The application is free and can be completed by going to https://fafsa.gov.
The average processing timeline is below.
| ACTION TAKEN | EXPECTED TIME FRAME |
|---|---|
| Submit FAFSA® Online | Within 1 week after you submit the FAFSA® online, CityU will download and begin processing your information. |
| Processing FAFSA® | Depending upon the complexity of your filing, on average within 1 to 2 weeks your aid offer process is complete. Make sure to frequently check your email and be prompt with requests for additional information to avoid delays. |
| Application Deadline | To ensure funds can be disbursed at the start of your attendance, the University recommends you apply no less than 2-3 weeks prior to the beginning of the quarter you wish to start. FAFSA® applications are annual and run from summer quarter through spring quarter. You may apply for financial aid at any time during the year based upon your start. |
| Priority Filing Deadline | FAFSA® applications must be received by the Federal Processor May 1st for the aid year starting that summer. Only the Federal SEOG funds for undergraduates has a priority filing date. |
| Disbursing Funds | CityU disbursements occur once per week on Tuesdays and refunds are processed the following week. |
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 site at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.