Gathering College Credits while Serving in Military

I'm thinking of joining the military before college, but I don't want to fall behind academically. How can I amass college credits while still fulfilling my military duties?

Enlisting in the military doesn't mean you have to press the pause button on your higher education. In fact, the military has numerous programs designed to provide active service members with opportunities to earn college credits.

1. Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) and affiliated schools: For individuals serving in the Air Force, the CCAF provides an avenue for airmen to earn associate degrees related directly to their career in the Air Force. Airmen can also earn credits from other services’ colleges—like the Army’s or the Navy's—and apply them toward their CCAF degree.

2. Military training as college credit: The military training you receive can directly translate to college credits. This conversion depends largely on your career path within the military, as well as the specific guidelines of the colleges or universities you're applying to. Organizations like the American Council on Education work with the DoD and higher education institutions to evaluate military training and experiences for academic credit.

3. Tuition Assistance (TA) Program: All branches of the military offer a TA program. While the criteria and benefits can vary, this program generally provides funds for tuition costs at accredited institutions, often covering up to 100% of tuition expenses for service members.

4. College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) & DSST exams: The CLEP and DSST are testing programs that allow you to earn college credits by passing tests in specific subject areas. Both CLEP and DSST exams are funded by the military via the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) at no cost to active duty military members.

Juggling service commitments and college coursework can be challenging, but with careful planning and utilization of these resources, it's indeed possible to amass college credits while serving in the military. Be sure to consult an education counselor within your service branch to develop a personalized course of action based on your ambitions and schedule.