The Space Force offers guardians multiple education pathways, from automatic enrollment in the Community College of the Air Force to partnerships with elite research universities. The programs mirror Air Force education benefits with some space-specific additions.
Tuition Assistance
The Military Tuition Assistance program covers up to $250 per semester hour or $166 per quarter hour, with a fiscal year cap of $4,500. Both enlisted guardians and officers can use the benefit for voluntary off-duty education at accredited institutions.
Guardians apply through the Air Force Virtual Education Center, submitting requests between 45 days and seven days before class starts. Supervisor approval is required. The program covers tuition only—not books, fees, or supplies.
Read More:
- Air Force Education Programs
- Army Education Programs
- Coast Guard Education Programs
- Marine Corps Education Programs
- Navy Education Programs
Community College of the Air Force
Every enlisted guardian automatically enrolls in Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) during basic training. The largest community college in the United States and the only degree-granting institution dedicated entirely to Air Force and Space Force enlisted ranks, CCAF awards associate degrees in applied science through on-duty training and voluntary off-duty courses.
Career areas include Intelligence Studies and Technology, Cybersecurity, and Air and Space Operations Technology. Credits earned transfer to four-year institutions: Many partner schools accept CCAF degrees for up to half the credits needed for a bachelor's degree.
Commissioning Programs
The Airman Scholarship and Commissioning Program allows enlisted guardians to earn a commission while completing bachelor's degrees in technical fields. Selected guardians temporarily separate from active duty to join ROTC as full-time students. The program provides tuition and fee scholarships up to $15,000 per year plus a $600 annual textbook allowance.
The Leaders Encouraging Airmen Development program offers pathways to the Air Force Academy Preparatory School and Air Force Academy for enlisted members seeking commission.
University Partnership Program
The Space Force established partnerships with 14 universities to recruit, educate and develop guardians while advancing space research. Partner institutions include MIT, Georgia Tech, Howard University, Purdue, USC, University of Colorado at Boulder and Colorado Springs, University of Texas at Austin and El Paso, Arizona State, Clemson, North Carolina A&T, University of North Dakota and University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez.
These partnerships create opportunities for advanced academic degrees, research collaboration, scholarships, internships and mentorship for officers, enlisted members and civilians. The Advanced Academic Degree and Special Experience Exchange Duties program allows guardians to pursue master's degrees or PhDs through the Air Force Institute of Technology or University Partnership Program schools.
Credentialing and Professional Development
The Air Force Credentialing Opportunities On-line program provides up to $4,500 lifetime funding for professional certifications within career fields, leadership and special interests. The program builds force readiness while preparing members for post-military civilian careers.
GI Bill Benefits
Eligible guardians receive up to 36 months of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for undergraduate and graduate degrees, vocational training, tutorial assistance, books, supplies and monthly housing allowances. Benefits remain valid for 15 years following release from active duty and can transfer to spouses or dependent children.
The Montgomery GI Bill provides an alternative option with up to 36 months of benefits but without transfer eligibility or housing stipends
Entry Pathways
The Air Force Academy offers cost-free education and develops Space Force officers through specialized programs including the Azimuth Guardianship Program and Ops Space Force summer initiatives. Air Force ROTC operates at more than 1,100 colleges nationwide, providing scholarships while preparing future Space Force officers.
For those interested in Space Force civilian positions, the Defense Civilian Training Corps operates through partnerships with North Carolina A&T, Purdue, University of Arizona and Virginia Tech, offering ROTC-style programs for future civilian guardians.
The education programs reflect the Space Force's emphasis on technical expertise and STEM capabilities. Whether pursuing associate degrees through CCAF, leveraging tuition assistance for off-duty coursework, or accessing elite university partnerships, Guardians have structured pathways to advance their education throughout their careers.
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