Developing Your Career

What To Look For In An Online College Program As A Military Member

24 June 2018 by Cory Diaz

Being in the military means you have access to some pretty great benefits that are offered to you because of your service, and one of those benefits is help to pay for college if you want to further your education. There are many schools out there that have some special discounts and availabilities for those in the military, but not all of them are exactly the same or have the same advantages to offer. Online college programs are typically preferred, but even these programs can vary. Check out this short list of things to look for in an online college program as a military member. 

The school offers a long list of degree options online.

While there are some pretty great schools out there that offer online colleges for military members, some of them only offer a handful of degree options. To make sure you have access to the largest list of career-path opportunities, look for schools that offer a comprehensive list of degree choices that can be obtained entirely online. Pay close attention to those schools that have "hybrid" course offerings because these courses will allow you to complete work partially online but will require you to attend the college for some parts of your education.

The school offers flexibility to accommodate your lifestyle. 

Flexibility is going to be one of the number one things you need from an educational institution. Even though online programs are convenient, they are not always as flexible as you may expect. Some online courses require you to be logged in or present at a certain time of day, for example. Look for a military-friendly school that offers superior flexibility so it works best with your schedule. If you still have duties that are expected of you from the military, the flexibility will prevent your college work from interfering with your responsibilities. 

The school offers credit for military experience. 

Some things you learn while in the military should be valued when it comes to determining your strengths and weaknesses in education. But, even further, some experience could be counted as college credit, especially if you are working with the best military-friendly college or university. Those that do offer this service will look at your records and background information and determine if any of that will stand good as college credit. If there are things listed that can be counted as credit, it can save you quite a bit of money and time.   

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