Military-Friendly Colleges and Programs for Nursing Students
Credit: Courtney Hale / E+ / Getty ImagesKey Takeaways
- Nursing is a strong career path for veterans and transitioning military personnel.
- Military-friendly schools accept the GI Bill®, and many offer additional education benefits and support services.
- Roughly 1,900 institutions participate in the Servicemember Opportunity Colleges (SOC) program, offering flexible and transferable options for active-duty military students.
Whether you’re an active-duty member or a veteran, earning a nursing degree can help you advance into an in-demand field focused on helping others.
Military-friendly nursing schools make it easier to use your education benefits and find classes that fit your schedule. Our guide can help you find the best fit for your unique needs.
Military-Friendly Nursing Schools
Active-duty military personnel and veterans can use their education benefits at countless nursing schools.
More than 1,900 institutions belong to the Servicemember Opportunity Colleges (SOC) program, which allows active-duty service members to transfer or move to online classes when they are reassigned. Schools part of the Yellow Ribbon Program help cover tuition costs beyond what the GI Bill covers.
Our list of 10 military-friendly nursing schools introduces some of the best places for military students to earn a nursing degree.
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
A federal health professions academy, USU hosts The Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing.
American Military University
AMU’s nursing programs include associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. The private institution also offers extensive military student resources.
California State University, San Marcos
This public institution offers a veteran-to-BSN pathway and awards credit for military education and service.
Duke University
The school of nursing at Duke offers military and veteran programs that provide flexibility and support.
Duquesne University
The school of nursing at Duquesne offers undergraduate and graduate nursing programs for military personnel and veterans.
The George Washington University
The veteran’s option BSN at the school of nursing creates a customized roadmap to maximize military service and experience.
Old Dominion University
Enlisted sailors can earn a nursing degree and become officers at the Ellmer School of Nursing.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Military students and veterans can benefit from financial resources such as Texas’s Hazlewood Act while pursuing their nursing degree at TTUHSC.
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
In addition to extensive veterans’ benefits, this public research university offers a unique online master’s of nursing in veteran and military healthcare.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The school of nursing offers a BSN military pathway for veterans and active duty military.
Government Benefits for Military Students
The federal government issues education benefits through the Post-9/11 GI Bill® and the Montgomery GI Bill® to students who are active-duty service members or were discharged under certain circumstances. Many higher learning institutions have programs specifically for current and former service members to meet the needs of those using GI Bill benefits.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill®
The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides education benefits for new service members and those who served after 2001. Qualifying service members can receive free tuition to a public, in-state school for 36 months. This unique GI Bill also offers the Yellow Ribbon Program to cover additional fees and the option to transfer benefits to an eligible family member.
The Montgomery GI Bill®
The Montgomery GI Bill supports active-duty service members and reservists with up to 36 months of education and training benefits. The Active Duty program is for currently serving members with at least two years of service. The Selected Reserve program requires a six-year commitment and completion of initial active duty training.
Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship
Nursing students qualify for the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM scholarship, which allows veterans and dependents to receive additional benefits. Recipients receive up to nine months of benefits to train in a high-demand field such as nursing.
What Does It Mean for a School to Be Military-Friendly?
Students looking for a military nursing college benefit from flexible scheduling, lower tuition rates, and military-focused programs. Here are some factors that distinguish military-friendly nursing schools:
- Tuition Discounts for Military: GI Bill benefits often cover up to 36 months, while a bachelor’s degree can take longer. Military-friendly schools offer tuition discounts for active-duty military and veterans, which can help students complete a nursing program.
- Credit Opportunities: Service members learn a lot on the job, and many military-friendly colleges recognize that with school credit. Furthermore, some schools make it easier for military members and their immediate family to transfer and keep the credits they earned. Certain schools even waive admissions requirements for military transfer students.
- Financial Aid: Military-friendly colleges may offer additional scholarships or grants to veterans and active-duty military members. Prospective nursing students should also check whether schools offer veteran services to apply VA benefits to tuition.
- On-Campus Benefits: Students attending college on campus can reap many additional benefits. Some institutions offer discounts for on-campus housing and board. These schools may also give veterans free access to healthcare and counseling. Furthermore, many colleges support recent graduates in finding a job in their fields.
- Academic Programs: Military-friendly nursing programs may offer tracks for veterans or active-duty service members. These programs often provide additional flexibility. Prospective students can also look for nursing programs that focus on military healthcare.
- Flexibility: Transfers in the military can come unexpectedly and rapidly for families. As such, it’s important for colleges to offer flexibility for military students, such as self-paced courses, forgiveness for dropping a class, and alternative scheduling formats.
Military-Friendly Nursing Schools: FAQ
Yes, you can attend nursing school while in the military. Active-duty members and reservists can use the Montgomery GI Bill to pay for nursing school. ROTC nursing programs also allow nurses to begin their service as commissioned officers. Many military-friendly nursing programs offer flexible schedules and veteran services.
* GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
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