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.:MCCS Lifelong Learning & Education Center:.

Bldg. 1524 N
760-830-6881
760-830-7243 [Fax]
Mon - Thurs: 7:30am - 5pm
Fri: 7:30am - 4:30pm

Welcome to the 29 Palms Education Center. We provide a variety of education services and programs to Marines, Sailors and their family members.

Attention all Military Service Members!

Ashford University will be at the MCCS Lifelong Learning Center, Bldg 1524N, EVERY Wednesday from 10am to 2pm. You can make an appointment, or walk-ins are also welcome. Come down for more information on what Ashford University can offer you!

For more information or to make an appointment please call Cody Coleman at [858] 722-1944, or the Lifelong Learning Center at [760] 830-6881.

.:MCCS Education Center Staff:.

Education counselors are available to help you with your education needs. Call or stop by the Education Center to speak with one of our counselors, or you can e-mail us with your questions.

Lifelong Learning Branch Head - [760] 830-4702
Education Center Admin - [760] 830-6881
Military Classification Testing - [760] 830-6085
College Transition Programs - [760]8304703

.:Tuition Assistance:.

Tuition Assistance [TA] funds are authorized up to 100% of tuition, instructional fees, laboratory fees, computer fees and mandatory course enrollment fees combined, not to exceed $250 per semester hour equivalent and $4,500 per individual per fiscal year for Marines [$4,000 for Sailors].

All Marines and Sailors on regular active duty, enlisted reservists on continuous active duty and other reservists ordered to active duty for more than two consecutive years are eligible. TA funds are authorized for vocational-technical, undergraduate, graduate, undergraduate developmental, independent study and distance learning programs.

    ¬ Courses must be offered by institutions holding regional or national accreditation.
    ¬ Before using TA, servicemembers must attend a TA informational brief offered at the Education Center every Wednesday at 1pm and Friday at 11am.
    ¬ In addition, Marines need a GT score of 100 or above OR score a 10.2 or higher on the TABE test offered on Wednesdays at 2pm and Fridays at 8am.

.:GI Bill:.

.:Top-Up:.

Servicemembers who take classes exceeding their TA benefits can use "Top-Up", or part of their GI Bill to cover the difference. They need to activate their GI Bill by filling out the VA Form 22-1990 and submitting this form to the Veterans' Administration. Also, members using Top-Up need to submit their TA Voucher [printed off at the Education Center] to the VA.

.:Buy-Up:.

Also called the "Booster", servicemembers can elect to contribute additional education monies into their GI Bill benefit, thus, receive greater monthly benefits. While still on active duty, servicemembers can contribute an additional $600 towards their GI Bill benefits and receive in return $5,400 from the Veterans' Administration. For those who contribute the additional $600, they will receive an additional $150 a month for each month of remaining benefit. The paperwork for the Buy-Up may be picked up at the Education Center.