Can I get college credit for military service?

Hey there, current military service member aiming for college. I've heard rumors that some universities give college credit for military service. Is this a thing? How does that process work and are these credits universally accepted?

Sure, let's shed some light on this. Yes, a number of colleges do indeed award credit for military service.

This is typically done by evaluating your military training and experience against the American Council on Education (ACE) guidelines. ACE collaborates with the Department of Defense (DoD) to review military training and experiences and recommend equivalent college credits for them. Your Military Occupational Specialties (MOS), courses taken through the military, and any standardized tests you've taken can all be considered for college credit.

Individual schools have the final say in accepting these credits and how they'll be applied to your degree requirements, so it's vital to discuss this with your prospective schools' admissions or registrar offices. They'll guide you on how to supply your Joint Services Transcript (JST) or your Community College of the Air Force transcript (CCAF) for evaluation.

It's important to note that not all credits earned from military service will directly fulfill course requirements for every degree program, but many times they can be used as elective credits. Moreover, some schools honor CLEP (College Level Examination Program) and DSST (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests) scores, which are free for military service members and can also earn you college credits.

Remember, every college and university has its unique policies regarding the transferring of credits, so it's a good idea to reach out directly to the institutions to which you're applying and inquire about their policies specifically related to military service credits.