EARN A DEGREE
Are you a Soldier, veteran, or military spouse who is thinking about earning a college or advanced degree? Here are some of the variables that you will need to consider as you put together your plan PLUS some resources that will help you along the way.
COLLEGE CHOICES
What Major Should You Choose?
- Deciding what to study is a tough one, because you may absolutely want to continue what you were doing when you were in the military or you may want to do something else.
- Think about what you love doing and what your career goals are as you get started.
If you are considering pursuing higher education, you need a plan. Here are some things that you need to consider when Preparing for Higher Education according to Military OneSource.
Here are some FAQ's that you need to think about when Choosing a College Major according to the College Board's BigFuture.
DoD Career Path DECIDE's Educational Programs Quick Match Tool can help you find details about careers/majors that you might be interested in and schools that could be good matches for your goals.
BestColleges Student’s Guide to Choosing a Major can help you choose a major that resonates with your personal mission, values, and passions.
What College Should You Choose?
- What you want to focus on will be one of the key factors that will help you decide where you want to go to school - along, of course, with logistical considerations like school size, preferred location, and the type of degree you want to get.
- The tools and resources included below can help you narrow down what your area of interest and school will be (keeping in mind that it's ok if you change course as your educational path evolves!).
How can service members compare college options and find the right institution for their education goals? Here is What Service Members Should Know When Choosing a College according to Military OneSource.
The DoD's TA DECIDE is a college comparison tool to help military students research, compare, and select the right school for their needs. It has information on tuition costs, fees, grants, the GI Bill, and other financial aid opportunities from over 2,500 schools that are eligible to receive military Tuition Assistance.
The free College Navigator tool from the National Center for Education Statistics gives an overview of general school information and provides a wide range of information for more than 7,000 postsecondary education institutions.
Are you looking for a big school? Or something close to home? Take the College Board BigFuture's College Quiz to help narrow down what schools are right for you.
How Can You Prepare for College Entrance Exams?
- If you need to take college entrance exams like the ACT or SAT, the DoD's DANTES website can help you figure out how to prepare.
How Do You Get Credit for What You Already Know?
- Your Joint Services Transcript converts your military experience into civilian college credit.
- DANTES can also help you get information about tests you can take to get credit for skills and knowledge you already have, like College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests.
The Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) website provides no-cost education and career-planning programs for active duty service members.
You’ve been tested before and have the determination it takes to study hard and be prepared. Doing so on Education Advancement Exams, which assess your skills, can help you earn your degree faster. Learn more about which tests to you need to take and how best to prepare in this article from Military OneSource.
Planning to further your education after you leave the Army? Don't forget to get a copy of your Joint Services Transcript! Your JST converts your military experience into civilian college credits, providing documented evidence to colleges and universities of professional military education, training, and occupational experience.
FEATURED PODCASTS
S14:E10 Pursuing Your Education with Service to School
Are you a Soldier or veteran who is interested in pursuing an education degree? Tune in to hear our discussion with Service to School CEO Alec Emmert about the free college and grad school application counseling, mentorship, and resources they offer to veterans and service members.
S3:E8 Warrior Scholar Project
The Warrior-Scholar Project hosts no-cost one and two-week college-prep academic summer boot camps for enlisted service members and veterans at top universities around the country and one-day workshops at community colleges across the country to help ease the transition from the military to higher education.