The Ins and Outs of Earning a Degree Online While Serving in the Military

Military veterans and active duty personnel often look toward careers beyond their service to the country. Thankfully, options for online study continue to expand year after year. Many colleges offer military-friendly online programs that make earning a degree even more convenient. Even if you have a full-time, year-round commitment, there’s a way for you to enhance your career prospects while you serve your country.

There are a few simple ways to identify military-friendly online colleges. Perhaps the best thing to look for is whether or not a school offers credit for military training. The American Council of Education (ACE) will evaluate your military jobs and training and then suggest how many credits they’re worth and in which areas. Schools that accept more of these credits are ideal for servicemembers.

It’s also important to find schools that take part in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Principles of Excellence program. Meeting these principles means that a school provides personalized cost reports to students, creates custom educational plans, guards against deceptive practices, and offers protections for servicemembers who are deployed during their studies. The GI Bill Comparison Tool is the best way to check if a school aligns with these principles.

Of course, schools also need to have a veterans’ affairs office or a chapter of a veterans’ organization on campus. Student Veterans of America and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America are two good examples. These resources can provide military students with counseling and help them connect with other veterans who are going through similar experiences. 

When it comes to financial aid, veterans and active duty servicemembers have some great potential sources. Students can receive up to 48 months of education assistance through both the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Specific branches of the military offer scholarships of their own, as well as tuition assistance programs that pay on a per-credit basis.

Flexibility may be the best benefit online degree programs offer to active duty servicemembers. As long as they have an internet connection, military students can continue their education wherever their service might take them. 

That’s not to say there aren’t some challenges for those who want to earn a degree as they serve their country. Completing coursework on their own schedule might not be very comfortable for those who are accustomed to military structure. That’s why it’s important for military students to create daily routines. Weekly and monthly goals tend to be the best ways for servicemembers to stay on top of their studies.

If you’re serving in the military or recently discharged, it’s a great time to explore your online college options. Set yourself up for a lifetime of success by earning your degree from a school that respects your service.