5 Benefits that Military-friendly Colleges Have to Offer
Military-friendly colleges offer a high-quality educational experience that men and women who serve our nation deserve to experience. Whether you’re active-duty military personnel, reserve, National Guard or veteran, you can enjoy distinct military benefits. These perks can leave you with little to no out-of-pocket costs as you earn a top-quality degree. In this article, we’ll review the benefits of attending a military-friendly college, particularly Regent University.
Why should you attend a military-friendly school?
Veterans and service members have unique professional and real-world experiences. A military-friendly college can allow students to transition into an industry that needs their expertise. It also can provide resources and support for military and veteran students throughout college and beyond.
Regent University ranked among MilitaryFriendly.com’s top 10 military-friendly private colleges offering doctorates in 2022-23. In the 2021-22 school year, Regent made its list of Top 10 Military Friendly® Schools in the U.S.
What is a military-friendly university?
A military-friendly university recognizes the unique challenges that face military individuals and their families and works to meet their needs. Here’s how you can expect top military-friendly colleges to provide financial and educational benefits to military students, student veterans and their families.
1. Strong financial support for military students
Veteran financial aid and military tuition discounts are among the strongest signs that a college is military-friendly. Most colleges and universities offer aid through the voluntary Yellow Ribbon Program. This program provides qualified veterans financial assistance beyond the benefits of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will fully match a college’s contribution to the Yellow Ribbon Program.
Keep in mind that not all institutions participate in the program the same way. Some colleges make military tuition assistance available to only a handful of students. Others offer different amounts of aid depending on the degree program or school within the college.
Regent University participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, available to students with 100% eligibility under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. For students who are not eligible for VA benefits, Regent still offers discounts and scholarships for military students, both in undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
2. An active veteran resource center and veteran community
A college isn’t military-friendly just because it appears on a list of top schools for veterans. Many lists don’t go into depth about why one school is more military-friendly than another. One of the critical factors in determining military friendliness is the presence of an updated resource center for military and veteran services.
Regent’s dedicated military resource team is here to assist you from start to finish. We’ll help you identify, and walk you through, military benefits, enrollment, financial aid and how to reach your goals. Regent is committed to serving veterans with the same integrity they have demonstrated as faithful defenders of our nation.
Regent’s campus is in Virginia Beach, Virginia, centered-within a long-standing military community with a proud relationship with the United States military. Virginia Beach has several military facilities, including the Navy’s East Coast master jet base, Naval Air Station Oceana. The world’s largest naval base, Naval Station Norfolk, is only about 20 miles west of Oceana. The Department of Defense spends $14.853 billion annually in the Hampton Roads region.1
3. Military-specific academic assistance
Many prospective students with military experience entering or navigating higher education acquired college credits through military training. A military-friendly college can help current and prospective students apply their knowledge to an academic setting and beyond.
Regent University works with the military to provide special transfer credit agreements for certain service members, including Air University’s Associate to Baccalaureate Cooperative Program and Military Partner Schools for Advanced Standing. Students can transfer up to 90 credit hours. That’s the equivalent of 75% of a bachelor’s degree or 49% of a graduate degree. Regent University also offers a free evaluation of military training and experience for college credit. All academic credit for military training is given based on the American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations.
Apart from credit transfer opportunities, Regent offers:
- Military benefits advising.
- Academic advising and tutoring.
- Dedicated veteran collaboration.
- Career counseling and preparation.
4. Resources to prepare military students for life after graduation
One of the most significant challenges for any student is transitioning from academia to the workforce and broader community. Military-friendly colleges are sensitive to these challenges, particularly as they’re experienced by active military personnel, veterans and military dependents.
Regent University will prepare military service members and veterans with an academic action plan with objectives that will enable your professional advancement or transition to civilian life. Check out Regent’s resources for military programs and partnerships to learn more.
5. Religious support within the community
Members of the armed forces are entitled to the option of Christ-centered education, mental health services and free religious expression. Many public and private secular colleges offer counseling services and resources for military-affiliated students.
One benefit of attending Regent, whether through online programs or in-person, is experiencing the support of a religious academic community. Regent’s Christ-centered, free professional counseling and coaching are sensitive to the unique challenges military personnel and their families face.
Attend Regent University: one of the nation’s top military-friendly colleges
Regent University is one of the top military-friendly schools in the nation, with more than a dozen accolades substantiating our support of military service members and their families. To find out more, visit our military resource center. Representatives at Regent are ready to assist and support your journey as a military member through higher education and beyond. Still unsure? Schedule a visit or attend an admissions event to gain some clarity and guidance. Regent’s on-campus and online events can help you assess your goals and options and get answers to your questions about admissions, financial aid, military benefits and more.