Hey there, I'm currently deployed but I want to continue my education. Are there any well-regarded colleges that offer top-notch distance learning programs suitable for military personnel? It would be great to learn about your experiences or any suggestions you might have. Thanks!
Hello! It's wonderful that you're looking to continue your education while serving. There are quite a few universities that are highly-regarded for their programs specifically designed for military personnel focusing on flexibility and support. Here are some of them:
1. Penn State World Campus is the online campus of Pennsylvania State University and offers over 150 online programs. They have a robust military support system, including a military team that provides advice and guidance on tuition assistance, and they also have a Military Grant-in-Aid program to help lower the cost of undergraduate tuition.
2. Arizona State University (ASU) Online is one of the biggest online schools and offers over 200 online programs. ASU is recognized as a "Military Friendly School," and they have resources including a dedicated military admissions team and tuition assistance.
3. University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) was originally founded specifically to educate military personnel. They offer a huge variety of online programs and they have a strong commitment to providing flexible and affordable higher education. UMGC also doesn't charge out-of-state tuition or application fees, helps with textbook charges, and offers scholarships for military and veterans.
4. Columbia College is renowned for its commitment to serving military students and it offers discounted tuition rates for service members. They have been educating military service members for over 40 years and offer more than 800 online classes in more than 40 degree programs.
Remember that each of these schools has committed to support the unique needs of military students, so they would likely have online orientations, flexible course schedules to accommodate for deployments or trainings, and understanding policies towards absences due to military duties.
Whichever school you choose, just ensure it is accredited. Accreditation will ensure that your degree will be respected and recognized by other colleges and employers. Don't forget to use your military benefits to help cover the costs of your education. Good luck with your educational journey!
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