Hi! I heard that one can boost their college credit rank with US Military College credits. Can anyone elaborate more on this? How does this work exactly?
The U.S. Military offers an array of programs that can earn members college credits. They are awarded for military training, coursework, and occupational experiences. The Department of Defense uses the American Council on Education (ACE) as a guide to determine how many college credits to award for each type of training or experience.
Each military branch handles the process a little differently, but the basic process is as follows:
1. Enlist in the military: Once you enlist, your military educational and training opportunities begin.
2. Complete your military training: All branches provide formal training to their personnel. For example, basic training or service schools might count for college credits.
3. Apply for a Joint Services Transcript (JST): The JST is an academically accepted document approved by the American Council on Education to validate a service member's military occupational experience and training along with the corresponding ACE college credit recommendations. This document will list out your training, experience, and recommended credits.
4. Submit your JST to your college: When you enroll in a college program (or if you're already in one), you can submit your JST to the institution. The college will review your JST to determine how your military training and experience transfers to college credits.
It's important to note that it can vary significantly from one school to the next in terms of how many credits they’ll award for the same military training or experience. Always check with your specific institution to see their policies on accepting military credits.
As for boosting college credit rank, your military training can boost your credit total, helping you advance more quickly in your program. Not only can it potentially save you time in completing your degree, but it can also save you money on tuition.
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.