APSU to cover Military Tuition Assistance for students if government shutdown continues

By: Ethan Steinquest October 14, 2025

Military-affiliated students work in one of the Kimbrough Building’s classroom spaces at Austin Peay State University. | Photo by Sean McCully

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Peay State University announced today that it will cover tuition assistance for any active duty, reserve, and National Guard students enrolled in Fall B classes who would not receive funding from the Military Tuition Assistance (TA) program if the government shutdown continues past Wednesday, Oct. 15.

The TA program provides tuition assistance for service members enrolled in higher education programs, at $250 per credit hour with a cap of $4,500 per fiscal year. Funding is distributed through each recipient’s branch of service, but the government shutdown has suspended these payments.

“Austin Peay has a proud history of supporting our military and our military-affiliated students,” APSU President Mike Licari said. “This decision ensures that service members using Tuition Assistance at Austin Peay can stay focused on their educational goals and know that we are here to support them.”

The university will provide TA-equivalent assistance to eligible students who have enrolled in Fall B classes as of Oct. 15 and were expecting to use TA for that term.

“Our service members and their families deserve certainty when it comes to pursuing higher education,” said retired Army Maj. Gen. Walt Lord, APSU’s vice president for Military and Veterans Affairs. “Austin Peay has always championed our military community, and this assistance reflects our unwavering commitment to their success.”

For more information, students can visit https://www.apsu.edu/mva/apfc/index.php or call the Austin Peay Center at Fort Campbell at 931-221-1400.