Do you want to continue your education but don’t want to be away from your loved ones? Then online colleges may be the best choice for you.
With online colleges, military members can get their degrees from some of the best schools in the nation without leaving home or putting their families through the hardship of relocation.
There are many different benefits to choosing an online college; with the 5 best online colleges on this list, you’ll have no trouble finding one that fits your unique needs and preferences.
SEE: Best Online Banking Accounts: How to Choose the Right One for You
University of Maryland University College
You may not know it, but your military job could help you save on tuition at the University of Maryland University College.
Although the University of Maryland isn’t an official veteran’s college, it does offer veterans a substantial discount on tuition under certain circumstances.
It’s also ranked in Kiplinger’s top 25 best values among online colleges and its military-friendly policies include waiving application fees for servicemembers and providing a one-year test drive to see if online learning is right for you.
Unfortunately, there are no active scholarships specifically designed to benefit military students, but many are open to all students – including veterans – based on merit or financial need.
Florida Institute of Technology
The Florida Institute of Technology is a private, not-for-profit university located in Melbourne, Florida. It was founded in 1958 as Brevard Engineering College.
The school changed its name to Florida Technical College and became known as Florida Tech in 1987. In 1992, it became an independent institution with its own board of trustees, and in 1998 was renamed again to become Florida Institute of Technology.
Today it offers more than 60 undergraduate degrees and 9 graduate programs across 4 colleges – engineering, science & technology; business; global security & intelligence; arts & sciences.
Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University was founded in 1892 and today has an enrollment of more than 20,000 students across its multiple campuses.
CMU is considered a comprehensive university with both undergraduate and graduate programs, offering everything from aeronautical engineering to elementary education to media studies.
The school has an established history of serving military veterans – including reservists and active-duty personnel – who have been able to earn degrees without sacrificing their service obligations, which is ideal for members of the military.
What’s more, many programs are offered completely online or at night so that working adults can earn degrees without having to spend their days on campus.
Trident University International
Trident University International is one of several online institutions operated by Trident University System, a non-profit organization that serves more than 17,000 students.
With an emphasis on military training and education, TUI offers a wide range of associate’s and bachelor’s degrees.
While many of these programs can be completed online, some classes may require on-campus attendance.
Since class sizes are small and professors focus specifically on military members’ career paths, TUI is one of our top picks for colleges with military ties.
Liberty University
In our search for the best online colleges for military members, we found that one of our country’s largest online universities is also a great choice.
For a fraction of traditional tuition, Liberty offers over 150 degrees and programs on their high-tech campus and community.
They have an excellent support system in place specifically designed to help military students succeed.
In addition to top-notch financial aid packages, they offer special academic advising support, credit transfer options, accelerated degree plans, and flexible course scheduling options.
And although it’s run by a private university with religious affiliations (Christian), Liberty University is accredited by ACICS.
Tuition rates are comparable to in-state tuition at many public schools without sacrificing quality or flexibility.
SEE: The Best New Credit Cards for Earning Cash Back
