Military veterans and service members are often confronted with unique challenges when it comes to pursuing higher education. They may have to juggle the demands of a job, family, and military duties, making it tough to attend traditional brick-and-mortar institutions. For this reason, many veterans and active-duty personnel are turning to military-friendly colleges online.
Military-friendly colleges are institutions that go above and beyond to cater to the needs of their military-affiliated students. In recent years, many traditional colleges and universities have developed programs and services geared towards military veterans and active-duty service members. Today, there’s an abundance of online colleges that cater to military students. These schools are designed to help veterans and service members navigate the complex process of transitioning to civilian life and achieve academic success. Their programs and services may include online courses, flexible scheduling, credit transfer policies, and dedicated support staff. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of attending a military-friendly college online and the top institutions that cater to the unique needs of military veterans and service members.
Military Friendly Colleges Online
Many colleges and universities offer online programs that cater to the needs of military students.
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Benefits of Military Friendly Colleges Online
Online colleges offer more flexibility compared to traditional colleges and can accommodate the unique demands of military life such as deployment.
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Top Military Friendly Colleges Online
There are several military friendly online colleges such as American Military University, University of Maryland Global Campus, and Liberty University that provide quality education to military students.
What Makes a College Military-Friendly?
A military-friendly college is one that has made significant efforts to cater to veteran and active-duty military personnel. These institutions understand the unique needs and challenges that military students face and work towards providing them with a seamless transition into college life.
Some of the features that make a college military-friendly include:
- A dedicated office for veterans affairs
- Flexible and accommodating academic programs
- Waivers or discounts on tuition fees
- Transfer credit for military training and experience
- Support groups for military students
- Networking opportunities with other veterans
- Career services catering to veteran job seekers
- Provision of mental and academic support services
Colleges that offer such features provide an excellent learning environment for veterans seeking to complete their higher education and transition into civilian life.
1. University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC)
The University of Maryland Global Campus has a long-standing reputation for being one of the best military-friendly colleges in the country. With its comprehensive array of resources geared towards military students, UMGC provides a welcoming and supportive environment for veterans.
The school offers a wide range of degree and certificate programs that cater to the unique needs of military personnel, including online programs that can be accessed from anywhere in the world. The university also offers reduced tuition fees and flexible transfer credit policies for military experience and training.
The Office of Veteran Affairs features a team of staff members dedicated to helping military students utilize their educational benefits while offering career services and academic counseling. Additionally, the university has an active student veterans association that helps connect veterans with other students with shared experiences and provides a support system on campus.
2. University of South Florida (USF)
USF has been recognized as one of the country’s top military-friendly schools, offering numerous resources to support military students’ transition into college life. USF has a long history of relationship with the military, tracing back to its roots as a World War II-era flight training program.
The Office of Veteran Success features experienced advisors who work with each veteran individually to ensure their academic success, career goals, and successful transition to civilian life. The university offers a wide range of academic programs, including robust online programs, and job placement assistance.
Furthermore, the University of South Florida is a recognized veteran-friendly employer, providing job opportunities for veterans and family members through its career center.
3. Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University has consistently been ranked highly for its military-friendly programs and support services. The school offers myriad degree programs to service members, veterans, and their families.
The Veteran Resource & Support Center at Texas A&M University serves as a “one-stop-shop” for veterans. This includes admissions, education benefits information, career counseling, and mentoring-assistance in navigating the university’s academic policies. Texas A&M University also has a dedicated Military Appreciation Group, which is composed of faculty staff, students, and community members who work to support veterans and their families and to raise awareness of veterans’ issues within the wider campus community.
The university also offers several veteran-specific scholarships and tuition exemptions to ease the financial burden on veteran students and their families.
4. Syracuse University
Syracuse University has a long history of supporting military-connected individuals and is recognized as one of the top military-friendly institutions in the United States. The school offers an array of flexible and accommodating academic programs that cater specifically to veterans.
The Office of Veteran and Military Affairs provides an all-encompassing approach designed to assist the transition from military service to academic success and, ultimately, a rewarding civilian career. The office provides resources such as career services, veteran-specific financial aid awards, and peer to peer mentorship.
Syracuse University is also home to the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), a leading national center of research and programming that helps veterans and military-connected families create careers and communities that are both successful and fulfilling.
5. University of Arizona (UA)
UA is a public research university that prides itself on being a pioneer in supporting military students. The university has been consistently recognized by Military Times for its strong academic programs and supportive environment for veterans and their families.
The Student Veteran Affairs office at UA offers a dedicated point of contact for veterans and active service members in order for them to navigate the admissions process, explore academic programs, obtain veteran education benefits, and access on-campus veteran resources.
UA also participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, a provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, to provide additional funds on top of the benefits under the GI Bill, eliminating any out-of-pocket tuition rack rate costs for veterans.
Conclusion
With the benefits and support that military-friendly schools offer to veterans and active service members, these colleges should be at the top of their lists when considering furthering their education.
FAQ – Military-Friendly Colleges Online
Question 1: What are Military-Friendly Colleges Online?
Military-friendly colleges online are educational institutions that provide various resources and services that are beneficial to military personnel, veterans, and their families. These colleges have programs that allow military and veteran students to access higher education in a way that is flexible, affordable, and responsive to their unique needs. They also offer resources such as academic and career counseling, flexible course loads, and credit for military training and experience, among others.
Question 2: What are the Advantages of Military-Friendly Colleges Online?
The advantages of military-friendly colleges online include flexible scheduling to accommodate military personnel’s busy lifestyles, affordable tuition rates and access to financial aid, credit for military training and experience, and academic and career counseling services that cater to the unique needs of military students and veterans. Whether you are an active duty service member, a veteran, or a family member of a military member, these online colleges provide an accessible and supportive path to higher education.
Question 3: What are the Requirements for Military Personnel to Attend College Online?
The requirements for military personnel to attend college online will vary depending on the institution and the program in question. However, most colleges will require proof of a high school diploma or GED, and some may require transcripts from any previous college coursework. Additionally, military personnel must meet the eligibility requirements for their particular education benefit, such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which will cover tuition, housing, and other expenses.
Question 4: Can Military Members Access Financial Aid to Pay for College Online?
Yes, military members can access financial aid to pay for college online. The Department of Education and the Department of Veterans Affairs provide various forms of financial aid and education benefits to military personnel and their families who want to attend colleges online. Some examples of these benefits include the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Montgomery GI Bill, and the Tuition Assistance Program, to name a few.
Question 5: Are All Military-Friendly Colleges Online Accredited?
No, not all military-friendly colleges online are accredited. It is essential to ensure that the online college you choose is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency. Accreditation is an important factor in determining the quality of an institution’s academic programs and ensures that the institution meets a set of rigorous academic standards set by regional accrediting bodies.
Question 6: What Type of Credits Can Military Members Earn for Their Service?
Most online military-friendly colleges provide military personnel with transfer credit for previous college coursework and for military training and experience. The amount of credit you receive for military training and experience will vary depending on the institution and the program in question. However, most colleges follow the American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations when determining credit for military training and experience.
Question 7: Can Military Personnel Study Any Course Online?
Yes, military personnel can study any course online, provided they meet the necessary admission guidelines and academic requirements for the chosen program or course. However, some programs may not be available to military personnel due to the nature of military personnel schedules, such as clinical or lab-intensive programs.
Question 8: Is the College Application Process Different for Military Personnel?
The college application process for military personnel is very similar to that of civilian applicants. However, military personnel may have access to unique resources, guidance, and support services through the institution’s military education office. Military personnel must provide documentation of their service and eligibility for education benefits, such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill or Tuition Assistance Program.
Question 9: Do Military-Friendly Colleges Online Offer Career Services to Graduates?
Yes, Military-friendly colleges online offer career services to graduates. They provide job placement assistance, resume writing, interview coaching, and networking opportunities to help military members and veterans transition to the civilian workforce. The online career services may also offer job listings through a web-based job board, job fairs, and other virtual recruitment events.
Question 10: Are Online Military-Friendly Colleges the Right Choice for Everyone?
No, online military-friendly colleges may not be the right choice for everyone. However, military-friendly colleges online are an excellent option for military personnel and veterans who cannot attend traditional face-to-face courses due to their military obligations or geographical locations. Military personnel and veterans are encouraged to research online military-friendly colleges fully and determine whether they can meet their academic goals, schedules, and unique needs.