Hey everyone, I'm considering joining the military and also thinking about college, so I'm currently looking for colleges that are generous in accepting a lot of military credits. Does anyone have a few colleges in mind that they could recommend? Thanks!
Definitely, it's worthwhile to research schools that value your military experience. Schools that are members of the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) Consortium are typically better at accepting military credits, as their mission is to help service members and their families get college degrees. Member institutions are dedicated to fair and transparent credit policies for military courses.
Arizona State University (ASU) is known for its generous acceptance of military credits. They even have a dedicated page on their website where you can check how your military training maps to course credits there.
Another college to consider is the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC), which has a strong tradition of serving military personnel. They have an extensive transfer policy for military training.
Additionally, Penn State World Campus has a Military Grant-in-Aid program which can lower the cost of enrolling there.
Every school has its own policy and it can vary widely, so it's going to be important to reach out to the colleges you're interested in and ask about their policy. They may ask you to have your Joint Services Transcript (JST) for Army, Navy, Marines, or Coast Guard servicemembers or Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) Transcript (for Air Force members) sent over which details your military coursework and occupational experiences. This will ensure you get the most accurate information.
One more thing you might want to look into is ACE credits (The American Council on Education). This organization helps veterans by making recommendations to colleges about what kinds of credit they should award for different kinds of military experiences.
Remember to also explore your options for using the G.I. Bill to aid your education journey, as that can determine how much financial assistance you get in addition to your credits.
Lastly, ensure the academic quality and reputation of the institutions you are considering align with your career ambitions. Being military-friendly doesn't always mean being academically rigorous, and vice versa. Keep a balance and choose a school that respects your service but also can offer you a solid education.
Hope that helps, and thank you for your service!
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