100 Back-to-School Sites and Resources for Former Military Personnel

Going back to school can be a difficult transition for any mid-career professional, adult student or other type of nontraditional student. Military service members, though, have unique challenges facing them when they decide to earn a degree or complete a career training program after seeing combat or spending time abroad. From finding military-friendly schools that accept transfer credits for experience to maximizing the benefits of your G.I. Bill, we’ve found 100 of the best back-to-school sites and resources for former military personnel to get you back in class and on the road to a successful career.

Learning About Financial Aid

These resources have information about general financial aid and special military benefits that help you pay for school.

1. Financial Aid for Veterans and their Dependents: FinAid goes into detail about what financial aid and tuition assistance programs are available for veterans and their families.
2. Use Your Benefits to Pay for School: Learn how to work your military benefits so that you paying for school is much more affordable.
3. Military Student Financial Aid: The Financial Aid Finder lists information about eligibility, scholarships, tuition assistance federal and state grants and more for military students.
4. Military Student Aid: Learn about the recruiting benefits of the U.S. Armed Forces, as well as different scholarship and tuition assistance programs for military students here.
5. AIU Tuition and Financial Aid: When choosing a school, look for financial aid pages like this one at American InterContinental University that are specifically designed to help military students attend school.
6. Learn to Use Your GI Bill: Get information on GI Bill eligibility, National Guard users and more here.
7. NASFAA: The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators lists information for Reserve/Guard officers and veterans here.
8. Financial Aid for Military Service: Veterans and active military personnel can earn tuition assistance and college funds in exchange for their service. Learn about it in this article.
9. Financial Aid for Military Servicemembers and Veterans: The site WorldWideLearn outlines the financial aid options for veterans and military servicemembers here.
10. How to Pay for Career Training: CareerExplorer offers ideas for how military servicemembers can pay for career and vocational school by tapping into their benefits, going to military academies and more.

Finding the Right School

Here you’ll find tips and tools for finding military-friendly schools that can meet your unique needs.

11. The Military Student Bill of Rights: When looking for a school that matches your needs and education goals, consider these points.
12. Peterson’s: This popular educational resource allows an easy search so that students of all types can find distance ed programs, honors colleges, career schools, graduate schools and more.
13. Find the Right Military-Friendly School: Military.com reveals tips for finding colleges and other postsecondary institutions that are military friendly.
14. College-Bound Vets Say Campus Needs Often Unmet: Consider the drawbacks of campus programs when you read this article.
15. Ask the Right Questions: From understanding accreditation and tuition assistance to picking courses and programs, this guide will help you out during your school search.
16. Military Education: For help understanding professional military education programs, turn to this page.
17. Find the Right Technology School for Your Career: The Army Times’ article on picking technology schools and programs keeps in mind the specific experiences and needs of military servicemembers.
18. Nontraditional Students: Find the Right College: This article gives advice for students looking for flexible programs, special financial aid options, and more nontraditional benefits.
19. Choosing a School: The National Military Family Association outlines different types of American schools and universities for the benefit of military students and children of military servicemembers.
20. How to Pick the Right School for You: This article goes over the dos and don’ts of picking graduate schools and programs.

Navigating Transfer Credits

Learn about the different ways you can transfer credits so that you don’t have to waste time learning about concepts in a textbook when you’ve already practiced them in the field.

21. College Credit for Military Experience: Figure out how to match your experience in the military for college credit by reading this page.
22. SOC Principles and Criteria: SOC — which stands for Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges — discusses the ways in which it sets standards for postsecondary schools wanting to recruit military students.
23. Transferring Schools: The NMFA aims to solve the problem of military spouses and family members missing out on credits because of transfers and sudden moves.
24. Why Coastline is a Military Friendly School: View this manifesto as an example of what to look for when determining whether your school is military friendly and accepts transfer credits and experience.
25. Academia and the Armed Forces: Credit, Experience Credentials – Making the Right Connections: CollegeTransfer.net’s article discusses how different organizations and institutions are more or less receptive to accepting military credits and experience.
26. Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services: The American Council on Education lets students search courses and occupations to determine if and how their experience transfers to college credit.
27. Credit by Advanced Standing: The University of Oklahoma’s page on determining credit for military personnel and veterans serves as an example to prospective military students looking for similar benefits at other schools.
28. Vets Often Denied Academic Credits: This February 2008 article from Boston.com uncovers seemingly unfair credit denials for experienced veterans.
29. CollegeTransfer.net: Students can join this community to keep track of their courses and transfers.
30. Getting Credit for Your Military Experience: The Military Credits blog gives a basic outline of how military students and veterans can organize their credits.
31. DANTES and ACE: Learn about these two exams, which can reward military servicemembers for their experience by evaluating their credits.

Scholarships

This list includes resources and databases for searching through military-friendly scholarships.

31. Military School Loans: CollegeScholarships.com lists information about special loans and repayment options for military students.
32. Scholarships: Military.com’s Education portal reveals the truth behind common myths about military scholarships and going back to school.
33. ArmyROTC: Here, high school students can find information about ROTC scholarships that will carry them through four years of undergraduate study.
34. Tuition Support: Today’s Military explains different forms of tuition assistance and scholarships for military servicemembers here.
35. AFCEA Educational Foundation: Learn about AFCEA scholarships here, which award college funds and distance learning scholarships to active duty servicemembers, veterans and military family members.
36. Military Transition: From the Army College Program to the Navy Knowledge Online program, you’ll find scholarships and tuition assistance resources here.
37. Tuition Assistance Information Center: Search this page by active duty, reserves or spouse to find the right kind of marine, army, navy, air force or coast guard tuition assistance program.
38. Scholarship Search: Use this database of over 5,000 different scholarships, loans and other tuition assistance programs by state, award type, study level and more.
39. Military Scholarship Finder: This tool lets you customize your scholarship search by typing in your educational goal, class type, residence, type of financial aid and more.
40. Scholarship Programs for Veterans: Veterans seeking federal aid and other types of scholarships will benefit from this guide.

Helpful Articles and Guides

Read the stories of how more and more military personnel are going back to school in these articles, which serve to inspire and provide information.

41. Continuing Education…What’s In It For You?: MilitaryTA.com explains how AARTS transcripts " translate military education and job experience into civilian language by listing college-equivalent credit recommendations" to place you in the right career, professional training or education program.
42. Returning Heroes are Going Back to School: Learn why more and more military veterans are going back to school and reaping the benefits of the GI Bill.
43. Going Back to School After Military Service: This article proposes several questions to consider before going back to school after serving in the military.
44. Should You Go Back to School?: This guide lists eight different questions that anyone going back to school should consider.
45. What to consider before going back to university for an advanced degree: Consider all sides of your decision to pursue a graduate degree with the help of this article.
46. Thinking About Going Back to School?: From picking a program to completing the application process to setting goals for yourself, this guide can help you make sense of going back to school.
47. Back to College: This website is a great resource for adults going back to school. You can find information on career planning, financial aid, internships, admissions and more.
48. Military Education: Online Education Mythbusters: This blog post gets to the truth about how online education can help military personnel and veterans reach their career goals.
49. University Continuing Education Association: This association has resources for those wanting to go back to school. There’s even a community just for military education.
50. Gatlin Education Services: The GES Military Education Services features a tuition assistance office, certificate programs, support for going back to school and more.

Understanding Online Programs

Before you enroll in a traditional campus program, why not consider online programs? You’ll save time and probably even money during your military – civilian transition. First, though, you’ll need to determine whether or not online education would be a good fit.

51. Commit to College: The Army Times’ guide to online learning gives military students tips for picking the right school and program, and selecting the right technology.
52. How to Choose and Online Degree Program: Understand the pros and cons of online schools vs. traditional, campus-based schools here.
53. What to Consider When Choosing an Online Program for Graduate School: This article on About.com discusses self-motivation, technology, how to research instructors and accreditation, understanding how courses are administered, school reputation and other factors you should research when looking for an online school.
54. Online College Accreditation: Learn about college accreditation and how to evaluate an online school’s accreditation by reading this guide.
55. How to Choose Your Online Degree Program: From schedule flexibility to accreditation, this guide assists students who are thinking about earning an online degree.
56. Education: Evaluating an Online Degree Program: This guide keeps in mind the needs of military students when evaluating online degree programs.
57. 10 Myths of Online Distance Degrees Debunked: Get the facts about how distance degrees are considered in the workforce, how affordable online education really is, and how online credits can be transferred.
58. Is Online Learning For You?: Complete this questionnaire to find out if you have potential to succeed in an online learning format.
59. Distance Learning Resources and Articles: Get access to all kinds of tools and articles about distance learning on this page, to help you with your search and let you know what to expect when you start an online program.
60. Succeed in Distance Learning Programs: You’ll need to practice these tips if you want to successfully complete your online degree program.

Government Websites

From FAFSA to the official website for the GI Bill, here are your government websites that help with education.

61. FAFSA: Learn about federal student aid programs here.
62. GI Bill: Learn about the benefits of the GI Bill from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website.
63. Graduate School Resources: Learn about choosing graduate school programs and international education programs from the U.S. Department of Education website.
64. Non-traditional Student: ED.gov’s center for nontraditional students goes over GED certificates, student loans and federal financial aid, types of vocational and postsecondary schools and more.

Education Benefits for Your Family

If your spouse is also considering going back to school, check this list to find out what kinds of benefits he or she is entitled to through your service.

65. Military Spouse Education: If your husband or wife is in the military and you want to learn about the education benefits that you are entitled to, visit this resource to learn about the system.
66. Survivors’ and Dependents Educational Assistance Program: Learn about the programs’ eligibility requirements and benefits for survivors and dependents here.
67. Adult Education and Training: MILSpouse.org provides links to online education, free training courses, licensing and certificate programs and more for military spouses.
68. Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program: Learn about this program, which awards education assistance to spouses of veterans, active duty military personnel and widows/widowers of army personnel.
69. Military Family Scholarships: Look for scholarships that meet your needs and accept your status as a military family member here.
70. Military Spouse and Family Educational Assistance Programs: From the Department of Defense to Veterans Affairs, you’ll find links to helpful resources on this site.

Attending School Abroad and While on Active Duty

Learn what it’s like to study abroad or go to school at a foreign university. This list will help you watch out for diploma mills, international education scams, and more.

71. Cadet Makes Time to Study Abroad in Ferrera, Italy: Read the interview with this Richmond student and cadet who also managed to study abroad.
72. Learning Online While Serving in the Military: Even if you’re abroad, you can still get an American university education through an online program.
73. Active Duty Education and Training: Don’t wait until you achieve veteran status to start looking up tuition assistance and programs for active duty personnel.
74. Urban Bases Hold and Edge for Learning-Minded Troops: Though the cities and bases profiled in this article are on U.S. soil, the same idea holds true for those stationed abroad.
75. Choose the Right Foreign University: Before studying abroad or deciding to enroll in a school where you’re stationed, read this article to consider the perks and downfalls of getting a foreign degree.
76. Foreign Students Unearth Fake Degree Scam in Vancouver: Be watchful for foreign university scams like this one when studying abroad.
77. Whistleblower Warning on Degrees: This article from the BBC website focuses on a scam that awards degrees to "overseas students who speak almost no English." Watch out for schools that hand out degrees to almost anybody who applies.
78. Study Abroad: Check the U.S. Department of Education’s website on study abroad to make sure you’re qualified and know how to pick the right country, school and program.
79. Diploma Mills: Degrees of Deception: Understand how diploma mills hand out fraudulent degrees to escape being scammed.
80. Program Allows Active-Duty Airmen to Study Full Time: This article profiles a program that lets active duty airmen to enroll in college and graduate without losing their benefits or pay.

Tips for Acclimating Yourself to College Culture

After serving in the military, it may be a challenge for some servicemembers to sit in a classroom full of rowdy 18 year-olds. These articles give valuable tips for readjusting to civilian life and college culture.

81. Helping Military Students Adjust: This BusinessWeek article discusses how military students pursuing their MBA at Harvard adjust to a typical graduate school environment after serving abroad.
82. Transition to Civilian Life: This article focuses on how military personnel can transition to the traditional American work culture.
83. Program Helps Basic Trainees Transition Back to Civilian Life: This article details a program for those who have been sent home because of "medical, mental or discipline issues" and helps them readjust to civilian life.
84. Federal, Private Sectors Help Ease Transition from Military to Civilian Life: This article from the Washington Post goes over the different programs and systems in place that help military personnel get back to work and plan out their career goals.
85. Job Fair Helps Veterans Make Transition to Civilian Life: Look for programs and job fairs like this one that are set up to help the military find work and readjust to American work culture.
86. Course to help transition veterans into civilian life: This community college course at the Citrus College and the East Los Angeles Veterans Center is designed to help military personnel deal with post-traumatic stress and other issues affecting their transition.
87. From combat to college: local student struggles with loneliness on "The Long Road Home": Read the story of a college student who is trying to transition to normal American college life after serving in Iraq.
88. Vets Returning to Campus Life Seek Help Readjusting: Read how culture shock, tuition and school fees, paperwork, and emotional stress can affect veterans of all ages who want to return to school.
89. Life After the War Zone: This article reveals how to one veteran, everyday tasks and even celebrations can be stressful after serving in the military.
90. Free Program Helps Vets Transition from Military Life to College Life: Learn how "the shift from battlefield to classroom is an arduous one" and what one program is doing to make the transition easier.

Career Training and Placement

For help finding career services and placement resources after serving in the military, use this list.

91. Army Times Career Center: Access articles and resources to get you ready for interviews, the job search and your "second career" here.
92. Veteran Careers: Military.com’s job resource center lists some of the best military-friendly employers, provides a resume center, salary calculator, and other helpful resources.
93. Military to Civilian Career Transition: Job seekers can access the career center on this website to find jobs with military-friendly employers.
94. Post Military Career Training: Allied Schools offers tuition assistance and career training for former military personnel.
95. Career Education: Degrees and Training: ArmyStudyGuide.com’s career training resource center features a list of jobs that "use your military skills," tips for incorporating your military experience into interviews and your resume, and more.
96. DANTES Credit-by-Exam for Military Personnel: Here is another guide to understanding the DANTES credit-by-exam system that puts you on the fast-track to a career.
97. Jobs after the Military: Take a look at the kinds of jobs and careers that former military servicemembers may find intriguing.
98. How Job Training Can Lead to a Post-Military Career: This About.com article goes over the different skills and experiences that different branches of the armed services can afford its members.
99. GI Bill Apprenticeship and OJT Program: Get on-the-job training through this program which awards qualified individuals tax-exempt payments on top of their salaries.
100. Planning for Success After the Military: This guide goes over several different options for what you can do after the military, including civilian education options, career training in the military and more.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, July 31st, 2008 at 10:42 am and is filed under Campus Life, Features, Financial Aid & Scholarships, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.