Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story  Education

The Navy College Program (NCP) provides opportunities to Sailors to earn college degrees.  The program combines recommended academic credit from Navy training and work experience with credit earned through voluntary off-duty education. The NCP mission is to enable Sailors to obtain a college degree while on active duty. In support of the four R's- Recruiting, Readiness, Retention, and Respect, the NCP signals Navy's commitment to education by improving enlistment appeal, demonstrating Navy service and achieving a college degree are compatible, helping Sailors apply themselves to new situations and challenges and better preparing them for advancement, building up Sailors' self-image, and producing higher quality Sailors. The Navy College Program integrates the following components of Voluntary Education:  Academic advice provided by Education Specialists at the Navy College Center and local Navy College Office; Academic skills enhancement via instructor led courses and computer based programs at Navy College Learning Centers (NCLC); Testing services supported by the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES); College level courses and academic degree programs offered under the Navy College Program for Afloat College Education (NCPACE), the NCP Distance Learning Partnership, Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges Navy (SOCNAV), and on-base institutions; and Tuition Assistance.

Through local Navy College Offices and the Navy College Center, mobile Sailors are provided uncomplicated access to educational services and support while traveling the path to a degree regardless of their location or duty station. Participation is voluntary and can be utilized at the convenience of the member.  For additional information on the Navy College Program please visit their website.

On-Base College Counseling, Courses, and Degree Programs

Undergraduate courses and degree programs are offered onboard NAB Little Creek by Tidewater Community College and Saint Leo University.  Graduate courses and degree programs are offered onboard NAB Little Creek by Old Dominion University and Troy University.  These colleges have established office hours to provide enrollment services on-board NAB Little Creek. 

Additionally, the Virginia Tidewater Consortium’s Education Opportunity Center (VTC/EOC) Counselor provides information on local programs offered by Consortium schools to include:  Norfolk State University, Virginia Wesleyan College, Thomas Nelson Community College, Christopher Newport University, and others.  The representative also provides financial aid counseling to include federal aid programs and scholarships, grants, and loans.

For additional information and to schedule an appointment with an institutional or organizational representative call:

• Old Dominion University (ODU) – 757-363-3885
• Saint Leo University – 757-464-6449
• Troy State University – 757-460-2736
• Tidewater Community College (TCC) – 757-363-3939
• VTC/EOC - 757-363-3944

Representatives from several Navy College Program Distance Learning Partnership (NCPDLP) schools and other Institutions provide part time counseling and enrollment services at Little Creek.  Appointments with these representatives can be scheduled by calling the NCO at 757-462-8279.  The following colleges and universities are represented on a part-time basis:

• Coastline Community College
• ECPI College of Technology
• Empire State College
• Excelsior College
• Florida Institute of Technology
• Thomas Edison State College
• University of Maryland University College
• Vincennes University 

Navy College Office Little Creek

The Navy College Office at Little Creek is located in building 3016 and can be reached by calling 757-462-8279. The office is open Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. The following programs and services are offered:

The Navy College Learning Center

The Navy College Learning Center, located in building 1560, provides free computer based courses in English and math skills, science, advanced math, social science, and work and life skills. Day and evening classes are offered for ASVAB, SAT/ACT, CLEP/DSST, and college placement exam preparation.   The center’s resources can be utilized by active duty, active reservists, retirees, and adult family members and is open Monday to Thursday from 7:00 a.m - 8:00 p.m.; on Fridays the Center closes at 3:00 p.m.

Educational Counseling and Support

The Navy College Office’s professional Education Services Specialists and Education Technicians advise Navy members on all matters relating to the pursuit of continuing and higher education.  They assist Sailors in establishing their short and long term educational goals, evaluate military training for recommended credit, and develop a degree plan for the Sailor to obtain their goals.  Information and guidance on program and school selection, admissions criteria, course selection and scheduling, and the policies and procedures related to tuition assistance is provided.  A counselor is always available during office hours for immediate assistance for time sensitive matters and to address routine questions.  In-depth counseling involving educational advisement, degree planning, and transcript evaluation is provided by appointment.

Tuition Assistance

Tuition Assistance (TA) is the Navy's educational financial assistance program. It provides active duty personnel funding for tuition costs for courses taken in an off-duty status at a college, university, or vocational/technical institution that is accredited by a regional or national accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Navy TA pays for both classroom and independent study/distance learning courses, regardless of course length. Navy Tuition Assistance pays up-front, the tuition and selected fees charged by educational institutions for course enrollment. Navy TA pays 100% of tuition cost for courses applicable to the completion of a high school diploma or equivalency certificate. For all education levels TA is limited to16 Semester Hours, 24 Quarter Hours, or 240 Clock Hours per fiscal year.

Payment for tuition and fees will not exceed the following caps:

• $250.00 per semester hour
• $166.67 per quarter hour
• $16.67 per clock hour

In order to use TA a sailor must receive annual counseling on the policies and procedures concerning the application, approval, funding authorization, and use of tuition assistance.  The Little Creek Navy College Office conducts a TA Workshop each Thursday at 1:00 p.m. which fulfills this counseling requirement.  Seating for the workshop is limited and on a first come first serve basis.

The Little Creek Navy College Offices processes TA applications for all Navy and Marine Corps UICs at Little Creek and FT Story, and provides outreach services to Navy UICs in Richmond, VA, Wallops Island, and NSWC Dahlgren.  Once a tuition assistance application is approved by the command, sailors should deliver the approved application in person to the Navy College Office for funding authorization.  Sailors at outlying commands or deployed can submit the application via fax or email.  The NCO also processes TA applications completed and command approved utilizing WebTA.  The normal turnaround time on a TA application is 48 hours.

DANTES Testing

The Little Creek NCO Test Center provides routine testing services on each Tuesday and Thursday at 0730, additional testing dates are sometimes added to accommodate customer demand or national test schedules.  The following tests are administered:  SAT, GED, DLPT, DLAB, AFIADL (JPME), ASE, DSST (Public Speaking only), Excelsior College Exams (ECE), and paper-based exams to include placement exams, mid term exams, and final exams for Navy College Distance Learning Partnership schools. To schedule an exam call the Navy College Office at 757-462-8279.

Saint Leo University, under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), operates a National Testing Center onboard NAB Little Creek and administers the eCollege Level Examination Program (eCLEP) and Internet Based Testing DANTES Standardized Subject Test (IBTDSST).  There is no cost for military members (includes Reserve Components and Coast Guard personnel) to take these exams on-base and family members may test on a fee basis.  To schedule an exam at the Saint Leo test center call 757-464-6449.