Once you have made up your mind to earn a college degree, there’s the daunting task of deciding which school is right for you. This is a difficult decision, especially because it’s such an important one.
There are an overwhelming number of options, mostly due to the explosion of online/distance learning. Gone are the days where your options for getting a college degree were limited to the schools near where you lived (or where you were willing to move) – now there are thousands of schools offering programs over the Internet for students to attend from anywhere in the world.
As a member of the military community, you have unique needs and should look for a school that really understands your lifestyle.
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Hello and welcome. We hope you’re here because you’re interested in pursuing a higher education. Your decision to work toward a college degree is personal. That’s why we offer our services the old school way: in person, helping service members and military spouses face-to-face at military events nationwide.
This website provides a basic overview of military higher education and how we can assist you. We encourage you to check it out. But we’d rather help you on a more personal level – talking one-on-one about how you can achieve your life and career goals. Contact one of our helpful, experience representatives today.
You should consider these things when selecting a school
- Learning modes | Online/distance learning, on campus or both
- Degrees offered | Degree programs and levels (undergraduate/graduate)
- Program Costs | Total cost of completing your chosen degree
- Military Support | Ability to support the needs of military students
- Providing credit | Recognition of military training/experience
Many schools are considered “military-friendly” – these institutions have people, programs and policies that are truly geared toward supporting students in the military community. But you need to be aware that many other schools simply refer to themselves in that way, regardless of their true ability to appropriately assist military students. It’s critical that you understand how to tell the difference.
We encourage you to print this page and use these questions
when you’re talking with the admissions representative from each school
you’re considering. Remember, there really aren’t any dumb questions
when it comes to something as important as selecting which college or university to
attend!
What is Accreditation?
Accreditation basically means a school is held accountable for the quality of its
education. Your school’s accreditation can affect your ability to transfer
credits to other schools, have a degree recognized (i.e. to enter grad school), or
in some cases get a job using your education.
So what type of accreditation should you look for? The two primary classifications
of institutional accreditation that are recognized by the U.S. Department of
Education are:
- Regional Accreditation
- National Accreditation
The appropriate accreditation for the school you choose
depends on several factors, most commonly the type of programs offered (i.e.
traditional college degrees or career/vocational training).
Bottom line: you want to make sure that your time and money – military
education benefits should be considered YOUR money to spend wisely – are put
to good use. You should always be aware of a school’s accreditation, and its
implications, before you enroll.
An additional type of accreditation that some schools choose to obtain for certain
programs is programmatic accreditation, which is different than institutional
accreditation. This is accreditation for specific programs offered by the school
(e.g. business, engineering, law, etc.). Depending on the type of program you want
to pursue, choosing a degree program with this specialized accreditation is
sometimes helpful in enhancing employment opportunities.
While the information above may not cover all the important details you need to
know for your unique situation, it’s a starting point to ensure you’re
appropriately evaluating your options.
