21 Best In-Person & Online Military Friendly Colleges – 2024
July 19, 2024
Military service members and veterans often experience challenges while navigating college admissions and college life. In addition to the challenges that come from switching careers and environments, military veteran college students are more likely to be married, working, and raising children than their non-veteran counterparts. For these reasons, it鈥檚 important to find institutions that offer the necessary support, which takes the form of financial aid opportunities, career mentorship, scheduling flexibility, and a general sense of community. While most accredited colleges and universities offer military tuition benefits, some are more military-friendly than others. Many military personnel and veterans also opt for military-friendly online colleges, which tend to be more flexible for those who already have jobs and families. Continue reading for a list of excellent in-person and online military-friendly colleges.
What makes college military-friendly?
As you consider an array of colleges, you should keep an eye out for these signs that the programs are military-friendly:
Presence of other military-affiliated students: An obvious sign of military-friendliness is the presence of other veterans and active-duty service members at the institution. While it鈥檚 not always a bad thing to be a trailblazer at an institution, it can ease the transition to have a community of students who share your experiences.
Accepted credit for military training: A number of colleges accept military training credits from Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and Air Force, as well as vocational specialties in accordance with the . While accepting military credits can save time and money, it鈥檚 important not to make this the only determining factor, since some institutions can offer long-term opportunities that override the importance of a few credits.
Accepted tuition benefits: Veterans have access to several tuition benefits depending on their service experience and the institution. For example, with the , certain veterans are qualified for coverage of tuition and fees (plus a stipend) at public, in-state universities. That said, rates are generally capped at private schools and foreign institutions. Many private schools, however, participate in the .
On-campus veteran and military office: As stated above, it can be challenging to adapt to college life after military service. For this reason, many colleges have military and veteran resource centers to ease this transition. For example, the provides a hub for study and camaraderie for student veterans and their family members, as well as specialized career skill development.
Applying to college as an active-duty service member or veteran
Since military bases have educational service officers, it鈥檚 important to use these officers as resources for bouncing ideas and considering next steps based on your academic and vocational strengths. If you have access to an organization that offers college admissions application support, this is all the better. Even former military members in college can be excellent resources. Having a plan, whether it involves a following vocational path, entering the business field, or pursuing a law degree or PhD, can help you to organize realistic next steps.
As service members and veterans research schools, they should pay attention to access to the signs of military-friendliness listed above, as well as graduation rates, post-graduation employment, and rankings. Other aspects to consider include acceptance rates, location, and school size.
Below, you can find some top military-friendly in-person and online colleges. These institutions are all certified for the GI Bill, and are either public or participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program. All with currently enrolled veterans and active-duty service members, these colleges offer a variety of specialties and acceptance rates that can suit future college students with a range of different academic strengths and goals. For each college, we鈥檝e linked a web page with useful information for military veterans and service members.
Top In-Person Military Friendly Colleges
To begin, here are 13 in-person programs, listed in alphabetical order. In this list you will find a wide range of excellent programs ranging from Ivy Leagues, to small liberal arts colleges, to state universities, to technical colleges.
1)听听American University
- Location: Washington, D.C.
- School type: private
- Annual tuition (before benefits): $56,544
- Undergrad enrollment: 7,917
- Undergrad acceptance rate: 41%
- Undergrad graduation rate: 74%
- Median starting salary of alumni: $47,279
- Academic specialties: international relations, business administration, political science, interdisciplinary studies, public relations
2)
- Location: Boone, North Carolina
- School type: public
- Annual tuition (before benefits): $8,081 (in-state)
- Undergrad enrollment: 18,558
- Undergrad acceptance rate: 83%
- Undergrad graduation rate: 58%
- Median starting salary of alumni: $34,827
- Academic specialties: psychology, kinesiology and exercise science, marketing, business administration, elementary education, nursing, social work
Best In-Person & Online Military Friendly Colleges (Continued)
3)
- Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
- School type: private
- Annual tuition (before benefits): $45,980
- Undergrad enrollment: 4,427
- Undergrad acceptance rate: 82%
- Undergrad graduation rate: 74%
- Median starting salary of alumni: $46,528
- Academic specialties: business management, marketing, communication, health, social sciences, education, visual and performing arts
4) California Polytechnic State University鈥擲an Luis Obispo
- Location: San Luis Obispo, California
- School type: public
- Annual tuition (before benefits): $12,924 (in-state)
- Undergrad enrollment: 20,963
- Undergrad acceptance rate: 30%
- Undergrad graduation rate: 60%
- Median starting salary of alumni: $59,889
- Academic specialties: business, mechanical engineering, animal sciences, computer science, electrical engineering, civil engineering
Best In-Person & Online Military Friendly Colleges (Continued)
5) Carnegie Mellon University
- Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- School type: private
- Annual tuition (before benefits): $63,829
- Undergrad enrollment: 7,509
- Undergrad acceptance rate: 11%
- Undergrad graduation rate: 76%
- Median starting salary of alumni: $86,423
- Academic specialties: computer science, electrical engineering, business administration, systems science, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, theatre arts
6)
- Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
- School type: private
- Annual tuition (before benefits): $43,304
- Undergrad enrollment: 7,177
- Undergrad acceptance rate: 65%
- Undergrad graduation rate: 36%
- Median starting salary of alumni: $62,466
- Academic specialties: aviation science and technology, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, homeland security, business administration
Best In-Person & Online Military Friendly Colleges (Continued)
7)
- Location: Lakeland, Florida
- School type: public
- Annual tuition (before benefits): $4,940 (in-state)
- Undergrad enrollment: 1,531
- Undergrad acceptance rate: 47%
- Undergrad graduation rate: 31%
- Median starting salary of alumni: $58,885
- Academic specialties: computer science, mechanical engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, business analytics, science and technology management
8)
- Location: Baltimore, Maryland
- School type: Private
- Annual tuition (before benefits): $55,480
- Undergrad enrollment: 3,977
- Undergrad acceptance rate: 83%
- Undergrad graduation rate: 75%
- Median starting salary of alumni: $51,682
- Academic specialties: communication, journalism, social sciences, psychology, biological sciences
Best In-Person & Online Military Friendly Colleges (Continued)
9)
- Location: Castine, Maine
- School type: public
- Annual tuition (before benefits): $14,746 (in-state)
- Undergrad enrollment: 878
- Undergrad acceptance rate: 62%
- Undergrad graduation rate: 52%
- Median starting salary of alumni: $89,025
- Academic specialties: naval architecture and marine engineering, marine science, international business, power plant technology, systems engineering, marine biology
10)
- Location: Towson, Maryland
- School type: public
- Annual tuition (before benefits): $11,306 (in-state)
- Undergrad enrollment: 16,861
- Undergrad acceptance rate: 79%
- Undergrad graduation rate: 48%
- Median starting salary of alumni: $45,600
- Academic specialties: business management, health, social sciences, communication, computer science, education, psychology, parks/recreation/leisure/fitness/kinesiology, biological sciences, visual and performing arts
Best In-Person & Online Military Friendly Colleges (Continued)
11)听University of Chicago
- Location: Chicago, Illinois
- School type: private
- Annual tuition (before benefits): $65,619
- Undergrad enrollment: 7,470
- Undergrad acceptance rate: 5%
- Undergrad graduation rate: 89%
- Median starting salary of alumni: $69,911
- Academic specialties: economics, mathematics, biological sciences, computer science, public policy analysis, political science, philosophy
12)听Wesleyan University
- Location: Middletown, Connecticut
- School type: private
- Annual tuition (before benefits): $67,016
- Undergrad enrollment: 3,069
- Undergrad acceptance rate: 14%
- Undergrad graduation rate: 89%
- Median starting salary of alumni: $39,556
- Academic specialties: psychology, economics, government, English literature
Best In-Person & Online Military Friendly Colleges (Continued)
13)听Yale University
- Location: New Haven, Connecticut
- School type: private
- Annual tuition (before benefits): $64,700
- Undergrad enrollment: 6,645
- Undergrad acceptance rate: 5%
- Undergrad graduation rate: 88%
- Median starting salary of alumni: $60,511
- Academic specialties: drama, music, social sciences, biological sciences, computer and information sciences, mathematics, interdisciplinary studies
Top Online Military Friendly Colleges
Continue reading for 8 excellent online and military friendly options. Tuition for these programs is often calculated by credit hour, since schools often provide online students with full-time and part-time options, with degrees completed in different amounts of time.
1)
- Location: Tempe, Arizona
- School type: public
- Annual tuition (before benefits): $563/credit (in-state)
- Undergrad enrollment: 66,175
- Undergrad acceptance rate: 82%
- Undergrad graduation rate: 52%
- Median starting salary of alumni: $44,456
- Academic specialties: business administration, psychology, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, education, art (digital photography), registered nursing
2)
- Location: Danville, Virginia
- School type: private
- Annual tuition (before benefits): $480/credit
- Undergrad enrollment: 1,122
- Undergrad acceptance rate: 76%
- Undergrad graduation rate: 33%
- Median starting salary of alumni: $41,299
- Academic specialties: business, data analytics, education, leadership, criminal justice, nursing, psychology
Best In-Person & Online Military Friendly Colleges (Continued)
3) 听
- Location: Manchester, New Hampshire
- School type: private
- Tuition (before benefits): $330/credit
- Undergrad enrollment: 2,601
- Undergrad acceptance rate: 89%
- Undergrad graduation rate: 31%
- Median starting salary of alumni: $51,340
- Academic specialties: business administration, psychology, education, social sciences, communication
4)
- Location: Syracuse, New York
- School type: private
- Annual tuition (before benefits): $722/credit
- Undergrad enrollment: 323
- Undergrad acceptance rate: 68%
- Undergrad graduation rate: 82%
- Median starting salary of alumni: $47,113
- Academic specialties: computer programming, interdisciplinary studies, project management, business management, healthcare administration, cybersecurity administration
Best In-Person & Online Military Friendly Colleges (Continued)
5)
- Location: Trenton, New Jersey
- School type: public
- Annual tuition (before benefits): $427/credit (in-state)
- Undergrad enrollment: 8,754
- Undergrad acceptance rate: not available
- Undergrad graduation rate: 39.5%
- Median starting salary of alumni: $65,678
- Academic specialties: information technology, communications, psychology, liberal studies, accounting, marketing, healthcare management, human resources, nursing
6)
- Location: Orlando, Florida
- School type: public
- Annual tuition (before benefits): $716/credit
- Undergrad enrollment: 12,790
- Undergrad acceptance rate: 48%
- Undergrad graduation rate: 72%
- Median starting salary of alumni: $39,293
- Academic specialties: psychology, criminal justice, anthropology, business, health, political science, English language
Best In-Person & Online Military Friendly Colleges (Continued)
7)
- Location: Adelphi, Maryland
- School type: public
- Annual tuition (before benefits): $318/credit (in-state)
- Undergrad enrollment: 45,100
- Undergrad acceptance rate: 93%
- Undergrad graduation rate: 27.8%
- Median starting salary of alumni: $61,623
- Academic specialties: business administration, political science, data science, marketing, communication, psychology, health services management, social work
8)
- Location: Irvine, California
- School type: private
- Annual tuition (before benefits): $500
- Undergrad enrollment: 4,745
- Undergrad acceptance rate: 100%
- Undergrad graduation rate: 74%
- Median starting salary of alumni: $41,500
- Academic specialties: business administration and management, social work, psychology, liberal arts, interdisciplinary studies
Best In-Person & Online Military Friendly Colleges – Final thoughts
Hopefully, this list has been helpful if you鈥檙e considering possibilities for pursuing a college degree during or after military service. For more on military education, we recommend reading about the top 15 military colleges and the 15 best ROTC colleges.
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