Air Force Menu

Step 1: Advising

Contact the Peterson AFB Education Center at 21mss.dphe@peterson.af.mil or the USAFA Education Center at lauralyn.collins@us.af.mil to meet with an Air Force Guidance Counselor to plan your Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) degree or for general education information.  Be sure that you understand your degree plan and what tuition charges and fees the Air Force will approve and support with military Tuition Assistance (TA) dollars.  If you are interested in a PPCC associate’s degree, please contact the Peterson PPCC office at (719) 502-4300 to make an appointment with the PPCC academic advisor or send an email to mil.programs@ppcc.edu.

Step 2: Apply

Apply to PPCC before you request TA through the Air Force Portal.  It’s simple and it’s free!  Complete an online application.  This process takes about 24- to 48-hours for review and approval.

Step 3: Take the Placement Test

This is a Colorado state requirement and is one test that everybody aces. The Accuplacer placement test is available at the Peterson AFB and Fort Carson offices.  Please see Our Locations for specific days and times for testing services.  You can also contact our office to request online study guides to assist in preparing for the placement test.

Step 4: Credit for Military Service

To learn how your military service may apply to a PPCC Associates Degree, please choose 
Credit for Prior Learning.  You can request a CCAF transcript be sent directly to PPCC for evaluation and possible degree credit.  If you have any questions concerning this area, you can send an email to a DMVP Advisor at mil.programs@ppcc.edu.  They know all the ins and outs of registration, proper course sequencing, and the prerequisites you’ll need to graduate in any given major.

Step 5: Transfer Courses

You may already be well on the way to getting a degree from PPCC! You should tell the DMVP advisor of any college-level courses that you have already successfully completed from an accredited college or university.  Additionally, you should request an official transcript be sent from your former college(s) to PPCC at:

   Pikes Peak Community College
   Campus Box 8
   5675 South Academy Blvd.
   Colorado Springs, CO  80906

We can accept hand-carried transcripts only if they are in their original, sealed envelopes from the granting college/university. To order a CCAF Transcript click here and follow the instructions on the new screen.

Step 6: Turn in a Green Form

Submitting the Tuition Classification Certification form or Green Form enables you and your family members to receive the PPCC in-state tuition rate.  This form must be submitted every semester/term in which the student enrolls.  The Green Form is available at your servicing education center.  For convenience the completed form can be turned in at the Enrollment Services Center at the PPCC Rampart Range Campus or at the PPCC office, room 112 at the Peterson AFB Education Center.

IMPORTANT:  Military members permanently assigned (PCS) to Colorado and their family members must have the Green Form completed and signed by an Education Services official at your servicing education center.  Failure to submit a Green Form by the published drop (or census) date of the semester/term in which the student is enrolled will result in the student being charged the PPCC non-resident tuition rate. Military members not  on PCS orders to Colorado and their dependents are not eligible to receive the Green Form.  As a result, the student will be charged the non-resident tuition rate.

Step 7: Apply for the College Opportunity Fund (COF)

Military members permanently assigned (PCS) to an installation in Colorado and their dependents must register for the College Opportunity Fund (COF). You only need to register once but if you don’t you will be personally responsible for paying the tuition portion that COF would have paid. Remember, you must always authorize the use of your COF funds for your classes each semester/term when you register.  Military TA will not pay the COF amount of the tuition bill.  If you do not have a Colorado Drivers License or if you have had a Colorado Drivers License for less than one year, please visit the PPCC Office at the Peterson AFB Education Center to complete a paper copy of the COF application.  If you have had a Colorado Drivers License longer than one year, you may complete and submit the COF application form online at https://cof.college-assist.org/.  If you have any questions about COF registration, please send us an email at mil.programs@ppcc.edu.

Military members not on PCS orders to Colorado and their dependents are not eligible to receive the Green Form.  As a result, they will be charged the non-resident tuition rate.

Step 8: Register for Classes

Check out the latest class offerings by reviewing the current class schedule.  If you need assistance, send us an e-mail at mil.programs@ppcc.edu or come to the Peterson AFB Education Center, room 112 to register for the class(es) you are interested in.

Note: To be eligible to receive TA, you must attend a TA briefing held at your servicing education center.  TA cannot be requested earlier than 60-days prior to the class start date.  Because PPCC has numerous class start dates be sure you are aware of the start date for your particular class.  Otherwise your requested TA will not be approved.  To apply for TA, choose.  Register with PPCC first to ensure you have a seat in the classes you want and are eligible to take.  If you decide not to take the class, be sure to contact PPCC and drop the course prior to the published drop or census date.  You must also contact your servicing education center staff so your TA will be de-obligated.  If you fail to do so you could be held responsible for paying all associated tuition and fees.

Step 9: Books and Course Materials

You can order your books and materials through the on-line PPCC Bookstore.  Of course you can visit any one of the campus bookstores to purchase textbooks, course materials and the latest outerwear and PPCC accessories.

Step 10: Apply for Financial Aid

To request Tuition Assistance after attending a TA briefing at the PAFB Education Center, choose.  Besides military TA, you might be eligible for financial aid to defray some of the costs not covered by  TA.  Getting help is easier than you think. The earlier you submit your financial aid application the better your chances to be considered for all available sources of financial assistance. Apply online at fafsa.ed.gov.

Step 11: Changing Your Schedule

Classes can be added, changed, or dropped only up until the last day of registration. If you need to add, change or drop a class,  do so on or before the drop (census) in the PPCC Portal. Make sure to also contact your servicing education center staff so your TA will be de-obligated.  Once the semester/term begins and the drop period passes, classes cannot be changed.

Step 12: Withdraw After a Class Has Begun

If a class cannot be completed due to military reasons (duty, deployment, etc.) your servicing education center staff must be notified or you will be held responsible for paying the TA dollars. Be sure to also comply with the PPCC published withdraw deadlines.  If you need to drop or withdraw from a class, log into the PPCC Portal, click the "Add or Drop Classes" link found under the Student tab, in the Registration Tools channel.  PPCC rules regarding drop and withdraw deadlines, grades, fees, and appeal and waiver requirements by reviewing the current PPCC college catalog.

General Education Mobile (GEM)

The Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) has partnered with civilian academic institutions to form the General Education Mobile or GEM Program.  Through GEM airmen can register for classes that are delivered via the online classroom thus providing anytime, anywhere course availability.  This type of delivery system can also decrease the affects that deployments, TDYs, changing work schedules and family activities may have on completing your education goal.  The GEM Progam is designed to help airmen complete the 15-hour CCAF General Education Course requirement with the same academic institution thus providing education continuity and quicker course completion.

For more information on this exciting partnership program, please click on the GEM icon below.

Beyond the Associates Degree

Pikes Peak Community College classes are easily transferable to other community colleges as well as four year institutions across the country.  The challenges of military duty, family activities and a busy life style in general do not make it easy to attend a classroom.  That's when the PPCC Degrees at Ease Online Campus becomes an excellent option for continuing or completing an associates degree.  If you have Internet access, then this program is for you.  This degree option makes it easy for you to achieve your educational goal in quick time.  How does the Degrees at Ease Online Campus work?  To get that information and to find degree transfer options beyond the associates degree program, please choose Degrees at Ease Online Campus.