From Active Duty to Student Life
Are you choosing to leave military service and pursue a college degree at a military-friendly college? Are you ready to get the education you need to change from a military career to a civilian one?
Moving from military service to a college classroom presents unique challenges. And for those who went to school while in uniform, paused their learning due to a deployment or permanent change of station, and returned to the classroom after being away for a while, there are complicating factors.
They include navigating “technology gaps”, changing classroom options, and different ways to approach traditional subjects that have typically required 4-year degrees but may now have additional pathways.
From Active Duty to Student Life
Do you need a four-year undergraduate degree? Would a shorter course of study resulting in certification be better? It all depends on the specific field of study, but in general, academic success for returning veterans requires some readjustment in terms of how to manage both evolving tech requirements and the civilian classroom environment.
If you’re heading back to school after a gap, consider the following advice as you research colleges and scholarship options.
Sharpening Skills, Getting Credit for Training
Use free resources like Veterans Upward Bound to refresh or relearn core subjects (mathematics and writing are good examples) before your first semester begins. Have a conversation with your academic advisor about your Joint Services Transcript and how it may apply to your degree.
Many institutions grant college credit for military training, which can reduce your required course load and the time you spend in the classroom.
One adjustment many veterans must make is how homework and exams are delivered, scored, and returned. Many universities use platforms like Canvas or Blackboard, and you’ll need to have a compatible computer or mobile device to use those platforms.
You may need to go through an orientation session to set up and use one of these platforms, and it pays to complete these orientations before classes start to ensure you can navigate assignments and discussions without technical delays.
Financial Aid, Student Loans, Grants, and Benefits
Military education benefits, scholarships for military members, and state financial aid are all options for many returning students, but these programs are always subject to change since you last used them. It’s not safe to assume past requirements still apply.
Don’t assume the GI Bill housing allowance you got in the past is the same today, for example, whether at the same school you attended in the past or another college. It pays to use CollegeRecon’s School Finder tool or or the VA’s similar GI Bill Comparison Tool to learn how your specific benefits, such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill or Montgomery GI Bill, apply to your chosen school in the current academic year.
And there may be other little changes to be aware of. If you have used the GI Bill in the past but not within the last year, you may not know that, starting in 2026, all VA education benefits require monthly enrollment verification via text, email, or online to receive housing allowances.
Other Advice for a Successful Return to School
- Are you still looking for a college? Look for schools that have a Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success that offers a single office to coordinate academic, financial, and social support.
- Communicate your academic goals to your family and employer. Clearly defining your study hours helps those around you understand when you are “on duty” for school.
- Do you need a more flexible academic schedule? Consider hybrid or online courses that let you a complete coursework around your professional and personal responsibilities.
- Use programs like inTransition, which offers free, confidential coaching for veterans who need access to mental health care options.
- If you have service-connected disabilities, including PTSD or TBI, contact your school’s disability services office as early as you can.
About the author
Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter/editor for Air Force Television News and the Pentagon Channel. His freelance work includes contract work for Motorola, VALoans.com, and Credit Karma. He is co-founder of Dim Art House in Springfield, Illinois, and spends his non-writing time as an abstract painter, independent publisher, and occasional filmmaker.
