Military Credit Transfer

Hi, I'm in a bit of a crunch. I'm looking to transition from the military to college, but I'm not sure which schools accept all of my military credits. Any guidance on this?

Sure, transferring your military credits to a college or university can potentially save you a significant amount of time and money. However, it's important to note that each institution has its own policies concerning the transfer of credits, including military credits.

Firstly, get a copy of your Joint Services Transcript (JST), which documents your military coursework and occupational experience in terms of civilian course equivalencies and college credits. All members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard can request their JST online.

Next, contact the admissions offices of the schools you're interested in attending to ask about their policies on transferring military credits. Provide them with your JST so they can evaluate your credits. Keep in mind that the number of credits they accept can vary widely, not all credits may apply towards your intended degree program, and some schools may use military credit for elective credits alone.

Some schools are part of the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) Consortium, which is committed to easing the transfer of relevant course credits, granting extra credit for military training and experience, and recognizing non-traditional learning methods, such as CLEP exams.

Keep in mind that public institutions often accept more transfer credits than their private counterparts. Also, some schools offer special degree programs for military students that better align with your military training and experience.

Take the time to do your research and don't hesitate to reach out to schools directly for the most accurate information. Good luck with your transition to college!