Category: Veterans Education

Veterans returning to school want to make sure their GI Bill can go as far as possible. Senior Academic Adviser, Dalynda Evans, shares three EASY and AFFORDABLE ways to Veterans can earn university credit.

ADVANCED STANDING

Many four-year, degree-granting universities offer some form of Advanced Standing credit.  This process allows a student to take an exam to prove competency in a particular subject rather than enrolling in a class for a full term.  Advanced placement is similar to CLEP, except it applies to upper-division or junior/senior level coursework.

Often, military experience translates well into Advance Placement credits.  As an example, if a student Veteran gained management and supervision experience in the military, he or she can get college credit for this experience by advanced standing examination.  To get this credit, he/she would simply buy a book, study, and then take a multiple-choice test to prove aptitude in that subject (in this case, management).

At the University of Oklahoma (OU), advanced placement is called ‘advanced standing’ and is offered through the Center for Independent & Distance Learning.  Many different types of credits can be earned through CIDL.  Using the management example mentioned above, go to the link, click “Test Center,” then click “Management 3013.”  Note the book is inexpensive (less than $10 including shipping,) and the test is $75.  Just be sure before you enroll that the advanced placement courses will apply towards degree credits required for your graduation.

ONLINE COURSEWORK

Today, many accredited undergraduate institutions have online and distance-learning programs.  While advanced online coursework can sometimes be expensive, there are state programs that offer affordable options to earn upper-division credits.  For student Veterans who have family or work obligations, online courses have the added benefits of time flexibility and convenience of access.

An example of a program that combines affordability with accessibility is Louisiana State University’s Independent and Distance Learning Online Program. To use our same example from above, the Principles of Management online course is only $403.  This includes tuition and fees.  As with Advanced Standing credits, be sure the courses equate to something your institution will use to reduce the number of credit required for your degree program.

INTERNSHIPS OR VOLUNTEERING/SERVICE LEARNING CREDITS

Internships (paid or unpaid) greatly increase the likelihood of job placement.  Most Universities offer some method of earning Internship credit.  For student Veterans, earning credit for working often allows him or her to reduce the number of hours required to graduation while also earning a paycheck.

If you are student Veteran at the University of Oklahoma, for example, there are many ways to get credit depending on your specific degree program.  Career Services’ Assistant Director, Mary Delaney specializes in this (405.325.1974). Volunteering/Service Learning credits can also be earned at OU through the Department of Human Relations (405.325.1756). If you are not an OU student, please consult the appropriate advisor for your program at your institution.  Student career services are offered to every student at no additional charge to you.

For a college to earn the distinction of being Veteran-friendly, they need more than a marketing campaign. Schools need programs in place that offer Veterans financial, academic and social support.

Here are tips for discovering if your local colleges are truly Veteran-friendly:

Financially Feasible

— Make sure you examine several financial factors when choosing a college, including the cost per-credit-hour and the overall cost of the program. The GI Bill outlines various caps that can affect the amount of money that is covered in tuition expenses. The cost per-credit-hour needs to be under $250. In addition, the program cost for full, out-of-state tuition at public schools, and all private and foreign schools, needs to be below $17,500.

Veteran Support Programs

Find out if the school participates in scholarships available through the Yellow Ribbon Program for out-of-state and private institutions. Find out if they are currently participating in the Department of Education program called Veterans Upward Bound. It’s critical to get in touch with any Veterans’ offices, departments or representatives to find out how robust the support for Veterans is. Choose a school that has invested resources in providing Veterans with the most services.

Academic Support

Ask about any program designed to give extra academic support to Veterans such as tutoring, mentoring programs or Veteran-only classes.

Veteran Student Organizations

Ask school representatives about any Veteran Student Organizations that exist on campus. Consider how active these groups are and how many members they have. Before applying, arrange a meeting with a few other Veterans currently enrolled to find out tips and tricks when navigating the enrollment process.

Veteran-Friendly Policies

Consider whether your ACE credits will transfer into college credit. Also, look into any special provisions in the in-state residency policies to accommodate Vets who may have to move.

Track Record

One of the most important pieces of information to obtain is the school’s accreditation status. You want to look for accreditation by an agency that is recognized by the US Department of Education. Attending schools that are not properly accredited can affect the kinds of government loans available to students. Also, ask school representatives about retention and graduation rates, as well as career resources and job placement programs.