Military Friendly Colleges

Whether you are a military veteran or are currently enlisted in the military, attending a military friendly college will help you to get the most out of your education benefits. In order to attain the best education you can find while finding a school that fits within your budget, it will pay off to do plenty of research in finding the most reputable military friendly colleges.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Military Friendly College

There are a number of factors that you should consider before making a final decision on which college you will attend. These factors include:

Does the school offer military tuition assistance?
What other financial aid programs does the school offer?
If you are still enlisted, how close is the college to the military base?
If needed, does the college offer online degree or distance learning programs?
Does the college offer education benefits for military dependents and spouses?
Does the college participate in MyCAA? MyCAA or Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts provides financial assistance to military spouses.
Does the college participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program? This program provides an extension of the benefits offered by the new GI Bill. The Post 9/11 GI Bill offers additional tuition assistance and financial aid to military students, but you will need to attend a participating school in order to take advantage of these benefits.
Is the school properly accredited by an academic association?

List of Military Friendly Colleges

To assist you in narrowing down your choices, we have made a list of several military friendly colleges and universities. This is a relatively short list of available military friendly schools but will give you an idea of what is out there.

University of Illinois at Chicago

UIC is an accredited university that offers a wide variety of degree programs. UIC has a reputation for meeting the educational goals of military service members and their families.

Texas A&M University

With a long tradition of offering support for those in the military and their dependents, Texas A&M University is one of the leading military schools. Texas A&M was founded in 1876 as a military academy and currently has the largest number of military members in its student body than any other U.S. post-secondary school.

Brandman University

If you are searching for an online military friendly university, Brandman University is an excellent option. The university is specifically geared toward offering a variety of online degree programs for service members and their dependents.

Drexel University

Philadelphia’s Drexel University offers a number of services to military service members and their families. The university participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. In addition, you may receive credit for your military experience at Drexel.

Colorado State University Global Campus

This university is another option for military personal seeking online degree programs. One of the greatest benefits of Colorado State University Global Campus is the low tuition rates. In most cases, GI Bill benefits cover the total cost of tuition.

Auburn University

Alabama’s Auburn University participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. The university also provides full-time educational counseling for military members in order to simplify the process of getting a post-secondary education. Distance learning programs are also available.

Robert Morris University

Military service members who enroll in a degree program at Robert Morris University will have their tuition completely covered via the Yellow Ribbon Program and additional financial assistance awarded by the university itself.

Hawaii Pacific University

HPU offers scholarships to qualifying military students. The university offers both traditional and online degree programs.

Jones International University

Jones International participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program and offers a variety of undergraduate, graduate and doctorate programs.

Other military friendly colleges to consider include Columbia College in Columbia, Missouri; American Military University in Manassas, Virginia; Central Texas College in Killeen, Texas; Excelsior College in Albany, New York; Kaplan University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Coastline Community College in Fountain Valley, California; Strayer University in Newington, Virginia; San Diego City College in San Diego, California; State University of New York Maritime College in Throggs Neck, New York; The University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma; Thomas Edison State College in Trenton, New Jersey; ECPI College of Technology in Virginia Beach, Virginia; University of Maryland University College in Adelphi, Maryland; TUI University in Cypress, California; Columbia Southern University in Orange Beach, Alabama; and American Sentinel University in Aurora, Colorado.

There are many additional colleges and universities that offer benefits to military service members and their dependents. The key is to find one that best suits your lifestyle, your budget, and your long-term education goals. Once you have narrowed down your choices, research each school’s website and talk with their admissions counselors until you have determined which one is best geared toward meeting your personal requirements.