The best online military colleges

It always helps the online college degree when the school in question has a nationally recognized name, and Arizona State University in the Valley of the Sun qualifies as a major western university (and Pac 12 Conference member). Offering a fully-accredited online college division in addition to its traditional, in-class undergraduate and graduate programs, ASU will set up nicely for any young service member looking to rank up, or for a more advanced, older student looking to enhance his or her post-service life.

The military highlight for Arizona State is the Pat Tillman Veterans Center. Named after the ASU graduate and NFL star who gave his life after quitting football at the height of his career to serve following the 9/11 attacks, the center works “to ensure ASU’s military-connected learners and student veterans have the support they need to ensure a successful academic journey and beyond. We’re here to help every step of the way.” With an additional focus on other military members beyond veterans, ASU also provides advisors for active-duty personnel.

The Arizona State University online name recognition comes at a cost, as the per-cost online credit comes in at $541 (or about five times as high as the “budget” school on our list below). However, ASU online offers financial aid for military members and veterans.

Offering online program credits for only $111.92, the University of Florida Online offers a tremendous bargain for earning a degree from a major university name. Coming off a long history of cooperating with military members, the U of F Online offers multiple financial aid programs for service members, even with the low per-credit cost in place.

In addition to its special offerings for active-duty military, the University of Florida Online aids veterans now as it recently joined the Yellow Ribbon program for eligible Post 9/11 GI Bill recipients. To aid veterans in navigating the details of that program, the University of Florida maintains a site dedicated to those who served.

The online division doesn’t offer all of the same programs as in-person students, which can limit enrollment options. Also, unlike many online colleges that simply require the payment of fees to gain admission to course work, the online division within the University of Florida requires an academic record and a GPA of at least 2.0 for acceptance. That can make admissions trickier for would-be students not progressing from a traditional academic background.

Boasting a long relationship with the armed services, Liberty University maintains an Office of Military Affairs to guide servicemen and servicewomen through enrollment, financial aid, and benefit programs.

Liberty’s extensive list of benefits for active-duty military includes tuition discounts for eligible online programs, a technology fee waiver for actively serving military members, free evaluation of military training for transfer credit, and regular updates of military programs.

One quirk for Liberty is its transition process, from part-time online service members to full-time enrolled students. Once an online student enrolls for 12 credits, Liberty stops charging by the credit and applies a flat-rate block fee of $11,900. Still, military financial aid programs remain in effect.

Columbia College makes a special effort to extend its special online education benefits beyond just active-duty service people and veterans. Both the spouses of military members and their dependents enjoy special cost deals per credit hour. In fact, beyond these family members of those serving, Columbia College also extends special rates to military installation civilian employees (along with their spouses and dependents.

The college collects and shares all of its military benefits through its website, including data on tuition assistance, scholarships, and G.I. Bill applications. The college staff includes advisers who can provide additional information.

While the per-credit cost for military spouses and dependents is discounted from general students ($318.75 compared to $375), it is more expensive than the cost for the service member ($250).

Making a genuine push for service veterans as well as active-duty military, Park University discounts its cost per credit for both classifications ($250 down from $415). Fortunately, Park University doesn’t limit the active military financial help to just discounted per-credit costs. They also offer financial aid programs, while extending consideration to the families of veterans.

Park University maintains its online Global Warrior Center to guide veterans and active-duty to guide veterans through their options in degree programs, individual courses, and additional financial options no matter where they are in the world.

While Park University is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers an extensive list of degree programs for certification, BAs, and graduate degrees, the school’s name doesn’t carry the prestige of some online colleges and universities. Still, it’s what you do with the degree, not just where you earn it.

There is no college or university on this list with a longer and prouder military history than Texas A&M University – College Station. The school officially qualifies as a Senior Military College and remains one of only six American universities with a full-time, volunteer Cadet Corps.

Texas A&M scores well nationally for its MBA and Masters of Education programs, especially for veterans. Whether a military-affiliated or a civilian graduate student or undergraduate, students can get their admissions and financial aid questions answered through the Aggie One Stop Service. However, there are special advisors for military students.

Texas A&M does have a more complicated fee scale, with costs varying between undergraduates and graduates or in-state and out-of-state students. The differences can be significant, ranging from as little as $40 to as much as $550. Regardless of cost qualifications, there are special financial aid opportunities for undergrad and graduate military students, such as VA Chapter Benefits and the Texas Armed Services Scholarship.

Milwaukee Area Technical College traditionally serves working adult students seeking professional certification or associate degrees. Considering most of its students are working adults, and many with families, MATC got out ahead of the distance learning trend years ahead of the curve with its College of the Air program, offering broadcast lectures via public television.

Today, MATC still specializes in general education associate degrees and special certification in professional fields ranging from heating and air conditioning to culinary to auto repair to barbering. Its more traditional, in-class offerings are not as highly regarded as its trade courses, making top course options more limited for online students.

MATC positions itself as a strong online military college option by offering special, in-house assistance for active-duty and veteran students through its Military Education Support Office and Veterans Resource Center. Both programs help qualify students in seeking financial aid and transferring college credit.