Planning for college can be a little overwhelming—especially when you're a military-connected student juggling adult responsibilities.
- How will you find the right college?
- Will there be support services on campus?
- Do all schools accept transfer credits?
- Can you reduce the time it takes to earn a degree?
- How will you pay for college?
The information on this page will help you find the answers to these questions and get you on your way to a college degree.
Finding the Right College
There are thousands of colleges and universities in the United States. How do you decide where to go? The first step is figuring out what's important to you. Do you want to stay close to home? Do want to live in a big city or a small town? What do you think you might major in?
For help finding schools that fit your preferences, use the College Search tool on BigFuture™. You can search for schools that offer specific programs geared toward adult students, as well as more general criteria, such as available majors and housing options.
Paying for College
If you're a veteran looking for financial assistance, check out the BigFuture website. It has information on education benefits you may qualify for through the Post-9/11 GI Bill, as well as a list of over 100 college scholarships specifically for veterans.
To make your education benefits go further, consider taking a CLEP exam. Each exam you take could earn you up to 3 credits at participating schools and costs a fraction of what you’d pay for a traditional college course. Some schools accept up to 60 hours, or two years, of CLEP credit.
Free CLEP Exam Prep
Brush up on your skills with free online CLEP courses through Modern States' Freshman Year for Free program. The courses are taught by highly qualified college professors and are designed to help you prepare for CLEP exams. You don't have to take a course to take an exam, but it could help you get ready for test day.
You'll find other free and affordable CLEP study resources, including official sample questions and the CLEP Official Study Guide, on the College Board website.
Earn Credit Faster with CLEP
CLEP exams are computer-based tests that cover college-level content similar to what you'd see in an intro-level college course.
Over 2,900 colleges and universities grant credit for qualifying CLEP exam score—allowing you to place out of introductory courses, which will save you time and money as you earn your degree.
And if you're currently serving in the military, you may be eligible for even more savings: The military's DANTES program will cover the cost of CLEP exams for service members.
Get In to College with the SAT
Taking the SAT can be an important step on the road to college. Active duty service members, including National Guard, Reserve component, and Coast Guard, are eligible for reimbursement of SAT exam fees when taken at an SAT test center, nationally or internationally. (Please note: some fees are not covered.)
To take advantage of these DANTES benefits, talk to your education counselor. You'll need to register for the test on paper—not online.
Free Online Practice for the SAT
Get ready to succeed on the SAT with Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy®. It's the only SAT study plan directly connected to the College Board—the maker of the SAT.
- It's free.
- It's accessible anywhere there's an internet connection.
- It provides personalized SAT study plans based on previous test scores or online quizzes.