Taking College Courses During Military Service

Hey everyone, I was wondering, can you take college courses while serving in the military? I want to serve my country but also don’t want to put my education completely on hold.

Hello! You're absolutely right in your line of thinking—military service and education can go hand in hand. Many members of the military successfully take college courses and earn degrees while serving, and the military offers a wide range of programs to facilitate this.

The military offers financial educational benefits for service members, including tuition assistance programs which may cover up to 100% of tuition expenses for college courses. The Post-9/11 GI Bill is another popular program which provides financial aid for school or job training to veterans.

Moreover, many colleges and universities offer online programs and flexible class schedules to accommodate the lives of active duty military members. These programs may contain both asynchronous and synchronous components, allowing you to complete coursework and attend lectures at times that work best for you.

You also have the opportunity to work towards a degree while stationed abroad. Many military bases have fully accredited education centers where you can take college courses.

One example is the Army's eArmyU program which provides soldiers access to more than 145 undergraduate degree programs via the Internet, regardless of their location. Many military branches have similar programs.

Do note that balancing a military career and education can be challenging due to deployments, job demands, and training exercises. It's not impossible though, with careful planning and good communication with your educational institution, it can be done successfully. The above options should provide ample opportunities to progress your education while serving.

Best of luck with your decision - your commitment to both your education and your country is commendable!