Active duty friendly colleges

Hi there, I'm in the military, currently active duty. I'm looking at colleges but I need ones that are 'active duty friendly'. Have any personal recommendations or resources where I can look up these types of colleges?

Certainly, it's important to find a college that meets your needs as an active duty military member. There are several institutions recognized for their efforts to be hospitable to military personnel and many programs designed specifically for people in your situation.

One such program is Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support, or DANTES. It supports Servicemembers pursuing their educational goals and aims to make quality education more accessible. This program focuses on higher education level studies while also giving you an opportunity to earn high school equivalency, college subject exam program (CLEP) credit, among others.

Consider colleges that are part of the Service members Opportunity Colleges (SOC) Consortium. This group is dedicated to helping servicemen and women work on their postsecondary degrees even with the inconstant lifestyle the military can bring. Schools that are associated with this consortium agree to accept credits transferred from other SOC schools, which could be beneficial if your location changes frequently.

Online colleges are another great option for someone in the military, as they offer flexibility and convenience that brick-and-mortar schools may not. These schools often have specific programs or departments dedicated to military students. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide and Columbia Southern University are two noteworthy mentions.

For a personalized list, you can visit CollegeRecon’s search tool. It lets you search based on your unique situation, such as being "active duty," your intended area of study, and colleges that offer Yellow Ribbon (an extension of the Post-9/11 GI Bill).Finally, it's always good to look for colleges that accept the GI Bill and tuition assistance. The Post-9/11 GI Bill is particularly helpful since it provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11,2001, or those discharged with a service-related disability.Remember, before coming to any decision, check with a military education counselor or education services officer (ESO) to ensure the college and the program you choose will be a good fit for you.