How to Get College Credit for Military Service
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Posted By: Anica Oaks on May 12, 2020 Assistance with college tuition is a major selling point for enlisting in the military. While the free money for college is a great benefit, there is another lesser-known benefit when it comes to one’s post-military education: earning college credit for your time served in the military. Just because you left the military, that does not mean your training was for nothing. There is a way you can maximize your benefits and turn all of your hard-spent hours learning and training while serving your country into future college credits. What are the benefits? While the government will cover all of your public university tuition, they will only cover around $24,000 per year for private universities. This unfortunately leaves many service members who opt to go to a private college with student loan debt after graduation. Turning your service time and training into college credit means less time spent enrolled in both public and private colleges and less debt overall for those who chose to go the private college route. How does it work? The American Council on Education (ACE) works with the Department of Defense to review the military’s training programs and determine which college classes and credits best correspond to the training program. Everyone who has enlisted in the Army, Navy, Marines, or Coast Guard has a Joint Services Transcript (JST) that documents their military occupation and the training they received. The JST also suggests which college classes were most likely fulfilled in conjunction with ACE’s work with the DoD. Every member of the above branches of the military are entitled to a copy of their JST and can use it to their benefit. What to do next? Over 2,300 public and private colleges and universities work with ACE and can look at a veteran’s JST to determine if they can receive credits. It is important to note that colleges and universities are not legally required to offer credit based on a JST report. It is on a school by school basis. To get the most out of your training and experience, before enrolling in any school and starting classes, speak to an admissions counselor and talk with them about your training and time in the armed services and they can determine which college credits you may have already earned. This may seem like a hassle but in the long run it will save you time and money paying for credits that another school may give you credit for. What about online classes? Colleges and universities that offer online classes and degrees can absolutely also use a JST report and offer credits. It is the same as attending any physical college. Do your research and talk with an online admissions counselor to determine what online colleges for military personnel are best for you. When your time in the military comes to an end, all the long, hard hours spent in training, classes, and certification processes are not left at the door. They are yours to use to help shorten the time it takes to get your college degree and start the next chapter of your life. If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Anica Oaks
Freelance Writer, Freelance University of San Francisco class of 2012 Member Since November 2016 |
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