Guide to Military-Friendly Online Colleges
Key Takeaways
- Military-friendly online colleges participate in programs meant to support service members, veterans, and their families and typically offer flexible, asynchronous courses.
- These institutions participate in U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense initiatives like the GI Bill® and Yellow Ribbon Program, and may provide tuition discounts, academic credit for military experience, and tailored student support services.
- Accredited schools like SNHU, Fort Hays State, and Embry-Riddle offer military-focused programs with dedicated resources for veterans, service members, and their families.
As a military member, veteran, spouse, or dependent, you can access financial and personal support, among other benefits, during your higher education journey. Select institutions, often known as “military-friendly colleges,” have developed programs specifically to assist service members in taking advantage of these benefits.
Almost all military-friendly colleges offer online degrees. Discover more about what makes an online college military friendly and explore a list of colleges committed to educating U.S. military personnel with this in-depth guide.
The Benefits of Attending College Online
Online college is an increasingly popular way to earn valuable degrees or credentials that can help you transition into civilian life or advance in your military career.
For military personnel and veterans, the benefits of attending college online can include:
- Convenient Schedule: Many schools deliver online coursework asynchronously, allowing you to learn when and where you want to. This educational format lets you earn a degree while you work, spend time with your family, and fulfill your military duties.
- Location Independence: If you get restationed while in school, you don’t have to transfer to another college. You can continue learning online from anywhere in the world, provided you can access an internet connection.
- Easier Assimilation: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) projects that 29% of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom veterans will experience PTSD at some point in their lifetime. Learning outside the classroom may minimize the chances of PTSD episodes and allow veterans to transition to civilian life more easily.
What Makes an Online College Military-Friendly?
Military-friendly online colleges participate in programs that offer benefits to current or former members of the armed forces, their spouses, and their dependents. These benefits typically include career services assistance, financial aid packages, and military-specific resources and support.
The following list includes characteristics and actions of schools that are associated with military friendliness, but a college or university does not need to check off all these traits. Prioritize your unique needs as a military veteran or service member to find your ideal program.
Participates in the DoD’s Memorandum of Understanding program
The Department of Defense’s (DoD) Memorandum of Understanding program, called TA DECIDE, draws from databases across three federal agencies to help service members choose the right college. Almost 2,400 institutions participate in the program, and you can search the database using state, program, degree level, or other parameters.
Commits to the ED’s “8 Keys to Veterans’ Success”
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has established “8 Keys to Veterans’ Success,” a series of steps colleges and universities can take to help military-affiliated students transition into higher education and complete their programs with career-ready credentials.
More than 2,000 colleges and universities have committed to these steps and are listed on the initiative’s website. Not all schools follow or implement these eight steps in the same way or with the same commitment.
Is a member of the Service Members Opportunity Colleges (SOC)
Service Members Opportunity Colleges (SOC) help members maximize their military experience, successfully transition into civilian life, and meet vital skills gaps in the job market. The program focuses on building the credentials for a high-growth career. SOCs include two-year, four-year, career, and technical education colleges dedicated to the organization’s mission and model.
Adheres to the VA’s Principles of Excellence
To receive funding from the VA, schools must follow the guidelines established by the Principles of Excellence program. These principles include a clear course of study, an established point of contact for counseling and advice, and ending fraudulent and aggressive recruiting methods. Use the GI Bill Comparison Tool to discover which schools follow these principles.
Accepts the GI Bill
The GI Bill® has helped veterans pay for college since 1944. Later, the U.S. government created the Post-9/11 GI Bill to assist service members who served on active duty after September 10, 2001. Finally, the bill evolved to assist the spouses and dependents of veterans. Most schools can accept tuition payments from the GI Bill. However, institutions can lose their GI Bill enrollment status, making it crucial to research whether your school of choice qualifies for GI Bill funding before enrolling.
Participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program
The Yellow Ribbon Program is a VA initiative that helps cover the difference between the total cost of college and funding from the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Students attending private universities, foreign institutions, and out-of-state public schools often pay higher tuition and thus may find this program especially beneficial. To receive Yellow Ribbon benefits, the service member and the school must meet strict qualifications outlined on the VA’s website.
Offers financial aid for military/veteran students
Virtually all colleges and universities accept the GI Bill and other financial aid from the U.S. military. However, only military-friendly colleges extend additional financial support to veterans and service members.
These schools may offer tuition discounts, application fee waivers, military scholarships, or other forms of support. They also have knowledgeable counselors who can help students maximize their military benefits.
Has military/veteran student support services
The best colleges for military veterans provide comprehensive and easy-to-access student support services tailored to the unique needs of former and active service members. These services include career planning and placement, academic advising, financial aid counseling, mental health support, and school-to-military communication. Most military-friendly colleges operate a single office with resources for veterans.
Accepts military experience for academic credit
Universities may accept your military experience as academic credit, helping shorten your time to graduation and lower the cost of your education. However, not all universities approach military experience the same way.
Military-friendly schools typically rely on the American Council on Education’s recommendations for awarding credit for service. Creditable experiences could include Military Occupational Code training, your military job, or credits earned at the Community College of the Air Force.
Popular Online Colleges That Are Military-Friendly
The following list includes accredited nonprofit institutions that offer online bachelor’s and/or master’s degrees and meet several of the military-friendly traits outlined in the previous section. Schools are unranked and listed alphabetically by name.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- Private nonprofit institution in Arizona and Florida
- Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Created to train pilots for World War II, Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University now enrolls more than 31,300 students in 100-plus academic programs. Students can pursue degrees at every level in subjects such as aviation, business, technology, engineering, and space. Online learners can pursue over 65 academic programs.
Embry-Riddle has fostered a long relationship with the U.S. Military. The school supports on-site education at more than 100 bases and provides educational benefits for dependents and spouses. Its military tuition for undergraduate enrollees is $250 per credit.
Fort Hays State University
- Public institution in Kansas
- Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
Fort Hays State University (FHSU) launched its first learn-from-home program more than a century ago when it developed educational programming for teachers in rural schools. Now, the university offers 200-plus online degrees and certificates at all academic levels. Majors include education, nursing, criminal justice, and computer science.
Service members can take advantage of FHSU’s Student Veterans Association, military-friendly policies, and extensive scholarships. The school also offers resources and financial benefits for military spouses and dependents.
Hampton University
- Private nonprofit institution in Virginia
- Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
A historically Black college, Hampton University traces its history back to 1861. Today, the institution enrolls 3,649 students in more than 130 academic programs offered online or on its campus near the Virginia coast. Hampton’s online programs include certificate, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and specialist degrees in various subjects.
The university has established military-friendly transfer policies and generous tuition discounts for service members. Its Office of Military Affairs provides a one-stop resource for all academic, financial, and career services questions, and students stationed nearby can take advantage of the school’s veterans lounge.
Limestone University
- Private nonprofit institution in South Carolina
- Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Limestone University, a private Christian university founded as a women’s college, launched its virtual campus in 1996, making it a pioneer in online education. Today, the university offers online degrees in business administration, computer science, healthcare administration, and human resource management. Graduate students can pursue online MBAs and other master’s degrees.
Limestone maintains a generous transfer policy for military members and veterans. The university also provides a 50% tuition discount for qualifying service members studying at the undergraduate level and a $100 per-credit discount for graduate students.
Southern New Hampshire University
- Private nonprofit institution in New Hampshire.
- Accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) enrolls about 180,000 students in its 250 academic programs from the associate to the doctoral levels. Popular majors include business, psychology, nursing, computer science, and criminal justice.
SNHU offers up to a 30% discount for military members, reservists, and spouses of service members on active duty. The university also collaborates with Operation Homefront and United Service Organizations to support military students.
Why Accreditation Matters
Before applying to any college degree program, you must confirm that the school is accredited. In the U.S., accreditation is a voluntary process through which a school (or a program within the school) proves its academic, financial, and governance credibility to a private accrediting agency approved by ED or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Accreditation occurs at the institutional and program levels. Institutional accreditation means the entire school holds accreditation. This kind of accreditation is the gold standard because it legitimizes your degree, makes you eligible for federal financial aid, and helps ensure your credits will transfer.
Programmatic accreditation means a single major or department receives approval from a discipline-specific accrediting agency. For instance, nursing schools can pursue accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. In some fields, programmatic accreditation is critical to licensure; in others, it may mean little outside the college campus.
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What Is the Best College Major for Veterans?
There are typically two schools of thought for veterans choosing their careers: perform the same work they did while serving or pursue an entirely new area. Generally, those who perform more specialized work in the military are better suited to remain in that field after completing their service.
For example, students who worked in the healthcare field in the military can transfer credits toward their healthcare degrees and take advantage of the credentials they received from the military.
However, less-specialized service members may want to broaden their horizons and choose a new field to pursue. They will still get some credits for prior military learning, but they can learn new skills in an unfamiliar field.
Explore potential fields of study for service members and veterans below.
Criminal Justice
You can continue to serve your community after leaving the military by embarking on a criminal justice career. There are many jobs in this line of work, including local police officer, prison guard, and FBI agent. Your military experience can be a real asset when applying for your first criminal justice position.
Business
Business is the most popular major in the U.S., with more than 375,000 bachelor’s degrees awarded in the field in the 2021-2022 academic year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Besides its versatility and practicality, a business degree can position you to pursue a long-term military career as a facilities manager, management analyst, or acquisitions and contracts manager.
Education and Teaching
Earning an education degree can help you qualify as a K-12 teacher, instructional designer, school counselor, or corporate trainer. Once licensed as an educator, you could teach for a Department of Defense school, a nearby neighborhood school, or a private school. You might also want to explore teaching in an international school if your spouse is stationed abroad.
Computer Science and Technology
Computer science and technology majors include cybersecurity, data science, computer engineering, and artificial intelligence. The U.S. Military needs computer scientists to improve communications, conduct operations research, perform cyberwarfare initiatives, and expand national security and defense weaponry. The civilian world also places a premium on technology majors.
Healthcare
You can earn a healthcare degree and complete your licensure requirements to pursue work as a nurse, therapist, physician, technologist, or other medical professional. The U.S. Military and the VA employ thousands of healthcare workers to help 9.6 million active-duty personnel, military retirees, and their families stay in the best possible health.
Resources for Military Personnel and Veterans
Service members, veterans, and their families do not have to navigate higher education alone. Many organizations offer resources from career planning to mental health support that can help you succeed in higher education.
Talk to your college admissions officer or senior non-commissioned officer about accessing the support you need. You may also want to check out the organizations listed below:
- VetSuccess on Campus: This VA-sponsored program provides on-campus counseling and benefits assistance to help veterans transition to civilian life, succeed in school, and graduate with a career-ready degree. The program is available at 104 campuses across the country.
- Student Veterans of America: A nonprofit organization, SVA provides various services for veterans in higher education, including research, advocacy, and conferences. SVA maintains 1,600 chapters and represents 754,000 individual student veterans.
- Hiring Our Heroes: HoH is an initiative of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that connects the veteran student community with prospective employers. The organization holds more than 50 hiring events annually, including virtual events.
- Warrior-Scholar Project: WSP helps veterans majoring in business, humanities, or STEM fields to succeed in higher education. Students at 20 partner colleges can take advantage of WSP’s tutors, workshops, bootcamps, and other academic resources.
FAQ About Military-Friendly Online Colleges
As an active-duty military member, you can attend online college while serving our country. By studying online, you can take advantage of flexible, asynchronous courses that let you study when and where you find convenient. In addition, your education can help you meet the qualifications to advance in rank.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/.
