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Military Resources

Military & Veteran Education Resources

As a military-friendly university, we understand that when you are in the process of finding the right university, you will have many questions. To help answer those questions, we created this military and Veteran education resources page.

You will find information about military benefits, scholarships, eligibility, and frequently asked questions here. If you can not find the answer to your question, please get in touch with our Veteran’s Affairs Office at (858) 541-7970 or Veteransaffairs@nu.edu.

Getting A Degree While in the Military

Our four-week course structure was created to make your military benefits accessible and achievable. Take advantage of getting a degree while in the military and move closer to the degree you always wanted, one month at a time.

Finding Military-Friendly Colleges Online and in Person

Advisors from military-friendly schools spend several hours a week advising students at various military installations. Providing students with options for courses and degrees that fit their needs and ambitions.

Learn more about transitioning out of the Military and finding military-friendly colleges online here.

Can I Be in the Military and College at the Same Time?

If you’re on active duty and thinking about pursuing further education, you might find yourself wondering, “Can I be in the military and college at the same time?” You’ll be interested to know that the answer to that question is a resounding, “Yes!” Thousands of Servicemembers enroll in college during their military careers to boost professional goals, accelerate personal development, and gain increases in rank and pay. Success in college has increased with the growth of military-friendly colleges online. Learn how you can be in the military and college at the same time.

The Yellow Ribbon Program

The Yellow Ribbon Program is a provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) in the United States that allows approved higher learning institutions (working in partnership with the VA) to partially or fully fund tuition and fee expenses that exceed the established thresholds under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The program was created to help U.S. Veterans, active-duty service members, and eligible dependents cover higher education costs that the base Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits may not fully cover. Learn more about the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Scholarships for Veterans

Below we have listed serval popular military scholarship opportunities. Please visit our complete scholarship offerings for information on National University’s scholarships. There you will find eligibility requirements, application instructions, and deadlines.

Military Dependent Eligibility Requirements

According to the U.S. Army, the term “military dependent” generally includes the spouses and children of military service members, excluding adult children age 21 or older. The parents, adult children, foster children, siblings, cousins, nieces, or nephews of Servicemembers also potentially qualify as military dependents, depending on the circumstances.

If you are a dependent of a Veteran or service member, such as a service member’s spouse or child, you may be eligible for various scholarships. There is an abundance of military scholarship opportunities that could help you save money on college tuition and related expenses.

Military Benefits and Funding Options

When making the decision to go back to school, many students have questions regarding how to pay for college. The good news is that military-affiliated students have more funding options available than most students. Most funding is dependent on your current military status and the specifics of your service. Check out the top ways military-affiliated students pay for college and their frequently asked questions.

Montgomery GI Bill checklist

Montgomery GI Bill can dramatically cut your out-of-pocket education costs. Here’s a handy step-by-step Montgomery GI Bill checklist to help you apply for your education benefits

Post 9/11 GI Bill® Checklist

Here’s a Post-9/11 GI Bill checklist that’s your step-by-step guide to receiving the financial support you deserve as you transition from military to civilian life.

Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31)

Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31) is a program that helps Veterans with service-connected disabilities prepare for, find, and maintain suitable employment or achieve independent living goals and is administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

How to transfer GI Bill benefits to your spouse

It’s possible to extend those well-deserved education benefits to those closest to you, your partner, and your children, through the Post-9/11 GI Bill® Program. Here’s how to transfer GI Bill benefits.

Scholarships for Military Dependents

Most scholarships for Veteran dependents are geared toward spouses or children. Though less common, there are also scholarships for the grandchildren of Veterans, which we’ll also cover later in this article. Some organizations even offer scholarships or financial aid for Veterans’ siblings, stepchildren, or adopted children. For now, let’s start with a closer look at some scholarship opportunities for the children and spouses of service members.

Check out our list of eight scholarship options for children and grandchildren of military Veterans.

Veteran-Founded, Military-Friendly: Discounted Tuition and Financial Aid for Children of Veterans at NU

At National University, we take pride in serving those who serve. As a Veteran-founded, military-friendly college, we are fully committed to supporting our service members, our military Veterans, and their families. We honor that commitment by offering tuition discounts and scholarships for Veterans, providing discounts for military family members, accepting the Post 9/11 GI Bill®, and helping families navigate VA benefits. The NU Veteran Center in San Diego offers additional services and resources to help support our military students, who can also access our Virtual Veteran Center online 24/7. Learn more about military grants and scholarships.

If you’re looking for a challenging, fast-paced, accredited degree program uniquely designed for Veterans and Servicemembers, you’ll find it at NU, which offers 190+ online and in-person programs. Apply today and find out what makes us one of the top military-friendly colleges in the country.

GI Bill Transfer Resources

How to Gift Your GI Benefits to Your Spouse

The Post-9/11 GI Bill has helped millions of Servicemembers pursue college degrees, vocational training, and coursework. The Bill has become even more valuable for military families with a recent addition. This new option permits Servicemembers to transfer the GI Bill to a spouse or family member, who can take advantage of the education benefits. Learn more about how to gift your GI benefits.

Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program (Chapter 35)

The Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program, also known as Chapter 35, provides financial aid for education and training to eligible dependents and survivors of Veterans with service-related disabilities or death. Administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, DEA supports beneficiaries in pursuing higher education, vocational training, or professional certification, helping them achieve their educational goals and build successful careers.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re on active duty and thinking about pursuing further education, you might find yourself wondering, “Can I be in the military and college at the same time?” You’ll be interested to know that the answer to that question is a resounding, “Yes!” Thousands of Servicemembers enroll in college during their military careers to boost professional goals, accelerate personal development, and gain increases in rank and pay. Success in college has increased with the growth of military-friendly colleges online. In addition to active military students, Veterans and their family members are among the thousands who benefit by earning online degrees.

Active-duty Servicemembers are eligible for Military Tuition Assistance, the most common form of military financial aid assistance. The program pays up to $4,500 each fiscal year for tuition and other school expenses, aid that can serve as an important motivator for students.

In 2016, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that, on average, about 18.6 percent of Veterans had a bachelor’s degree, compared to 19.9 percent of non-Veterans. That same year, higher average percentages of Veterans attained associate’s or master’s degrees than non-Veterans: 12.5 percent of Veterans compared to 9.4 percent of non-Veterans with associate’s degrees, and 8.9 percent of Veterans compared to 8.3 percent of non-Veterans with master’s degrees. The following year, the Postsecondary National Policy Institute reported that more than a quarter of all U.S. military Veterans age 26 or older — roughly 5.2 million students — had earned their college degree or credential.

Whether you can get college credit for serving in the military depends on where you enroll. Many institutions of higher learning offer military transfer credit for experience in the service, working with the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Department of Defense (DoD). Individual institutions work with these governing bodies to evaluate the military experience and how they may correspond with certain courses.

At National University, we work with military students to make sure they receive the maximum possible credit for their service or training, following ACE and DoD recommendations to ensure that military experience is accurately translated into course credit.