Why earn a college degree while you’re serving as a member of our armed forces? The answer is simple—because a college degree can lead to advancement opportunities today, and chart the course for a successful career when you transition to civilian life. With distance learning so prevalent today, active duty servicemembers have many flexible degree completion program options available to them, no matter where you serve.

Here are some answers to questions you might have regarding your educational goals:

1. How will a college degree help both my short- and long-term goals?

A degree can help you fulfill your short-term goals by bolstering your opportunities for promotion up through the military ranks by distinguishing you from non-degreed servicemen/women. In today’s highly competitive arena of military promotions (especially in the senior non-commissioned grades), a degree can help elevate candidates to the top in the selection process. When you choose a degree program, you also should consider how your degree will put you on the proper career track after you leave the armed forces.

2. Can I get credit for my training in the military?

Yes, and receiving college credit for accredited training could help shorten the path to your degree, not to mention save you money on tuition and expenses. Look for institutions that will apply accredited military training as credit toward your degree.

3. How can I make the most of my prior college credits?

If you’ve moved a number of times, you may have started and stopped several degree programs along the way. Each new institution may limit the number of credits that you can transfer into their degree programs and required you to repeat courses that you have already successfully completed. To make the most of the credits that you have already earned, you should consider institutions that allow for maximum credit transfer, preferably institutions that have no residency requirement.

4. How can I fit studying and course completion into my schedule?

Once you have decided to pursue a college degree, you should consider how much time you can commit to attend class or study for examinations. While you’re serving our country, you may not be able to commit to full-time study at a traditional learning institution. You may find college-level proficiency exams to be an appealing source of credit because you study independently and take exams whenever you are ready. Many credit-bearing exams that are fully funded by DANTES and free to active duty servicemembers.

5. How can I find an institution that’s right for me?

Discuss your educational goals with your ESO (Education Service Officer). He or she will be familiar with the options that are available and will more than likely be able to suggest a program that will meet your needs.

Excelsior College, world leader in distance education, proudly counts over 41,000 current and former military personnel amongst its more than 100,000 graduates worldwide, and can help you earn your associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree—no matter where you serve.

Excelsior College has no residency requirement so we accept most of the credits already earned and you can complete credits toward your degree through a variety of sources, traditional and nontraditional, from anywhere in the world. The College awards college credit for ACE-approved military training. Excelsior College Examinations are funded by DANTES and Excelsior College Distance courses are 100% paid by Military tuition assistance.

All 33 of Excelsior College degree programs (Liberal Arts, Nursing, Business & Technology) are available to Active Duty, National Guard, and Reserve Component personnel, and we have several degree programs that directly build upon your military education background. For more information, call an experienced Admissions Counselor toll free today at 888-647-2388 (press 2-7 at the prompt) or you can visit us on the Web at www.excelsior.edu.