Acquired Military Training into College Credits

Hi there, I have been in the military for a while now and I'm considering returning to academia. I've done some extensive training and I'm curious if anyone knows roughly how many college credits is my military training worth? Thanks for your help!

Hello! The number of college credits that your military training could be translated into will largely depend on the particular institution you plan to attend, as some schools may accept more military training credits than others.

Colleges and universities often refer to the recommendations made by the American Council on Education (ACE) to decide how many credits should be awarded for military training. These recommendations are based on the ACE's evaluation of military training courses and occupational rating, and the credits range from a few to potentially dozens, depending on the training. You can review these recommendations by accessing your Joint Services Transcript (JST), which documents all of your military training and experiences.

Once you've gained admission to a college or university, you’ll want to work with the admissions office or registrar's office to have your military training evaluated for credits. Remember also to reach out to the school's Veterans’ Affairs Office, as they can provide additional advice and resources.

Keep in mind that even if your military training gets evaluated for a generous number of credits, there might be a limit on how many of these credits can be applied towards your degree. This "transfer cap" varies from school to school, and even from program to program within the same institution.

For example, at a certain institution, 30 semester credit hours might be the maximum number of credits you can transfer for your military training. However, in another institution or another degree program, this cap could be higher or even limitless.

It's essential that you research the institutions you're interested in and engage them early about this topic to optimize your chances of getting the maximum number of credits towards your degree. Best of luck with your transition to academia!