How does the military pay for college?

Yes, all the services still provide tuition assistance of $250 per semester hour. The Army limits its Soldiers to up to 16 semester hours in a fiscal year. In a traditional school with 3 semester hour courses, that is about 5 classes a year. Additionally, the Army will not allow you to use TA until a year after you've graduated initial entry training. Finally, once you've earned a Bachelor's, you cannot pursue a graduate degree until you've served at least 10 years. The Air Force also caps TA to $250 a semester hour, but its cap is $4500 a year, which for the school I go to allows me to take 7 classes for free each year. Also, once you finish your bachelors, you can immediately use the TA for a graduate degree. Same rules apply with the caps. However, you do not have to wait until you've served 10 years like in the Army. So join Air Force if it's money for college that you want, because not all branches are create equal.

There are three main ways the military pays for college - go to college and do ROTC, and apply for a scholarship. Not everyone who applies for it gets one. Or, enlist and serve 4 years on active duty and go to college afterwards, paid for by the GI Bill. Or enlist in the National Guard or Reserves and go to college while serving.