For military members, veterans, or future military members who are interested in the nursing field, there are several nursing programs around the country that offer special programs and benefits to students with a military connection. These students may be able to take advantage of accelerated programs, benefit from reduced tuition, or be able to put their past military service towards earning credit for a degree. Below, we will look at five different schools that have nursing programs and special military benefits.
School Comparison
| School Name | Institution Type | Location | Tuition (in-state, 2019-2020)* | Tuition Assistance/Military Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Washington University | 4-year, private | Washington D.C. and Ashburn, VA | $56,935 | Veterans BSN Program, military experience credit transfer, Yellow Ribbon program |
| Shenandoah University | 4-year, private | Winchester, VA | $33,180 | Veteran to BSN Program, Yellow Ribbon program |
| Chamberlain University | 4-year, private | Arlington, VA and Jacksonville, FL | $19,375 | Military to BSN Program, waived application fee, Yellow Ribbon program |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center | 4 year, public | Lubbock, TX | $9,773 | Veteran to BSN, online courses, available in locations throughout Texas |
| University of Alabama - Birmingham | 4 year, public | Birmingham, AL | $8,568 | ROTC nursing scholarship, Green to Gold Program, Yellow Ribbon program |
Source: *National Center for Education Statistics
School Highlights
Undergraduate nursing degrees are offered as associate's and bachelor's degrees. The following schools each offer their own unique set of benefits to veterans, currently enlisted students, or future military members. Some schools offer general benefits to military students, regardless of the program they are enrolled in, while others have military-specific nursing programs. We will take a closer look at each school below.
George Washington University
George Washington University is a military-friendly school located in Washington, D.C. However, for veterans, it offers a Veterans BSN program that's located at its campus in Ashford, VA. This program is specifically designed for students who have previously served in the military. GW looks at each applicant's prior educational background, length of military service, and the nature of their job in the military in order to transfer over as much educational credit as possible to be applied towards the BSN degree. The program is accelerated and can be completed in only 15 months of full-time course work. GW also participates in the Yellow Ribbon program, which provides scholarship money for veterans. GW also has an Office of Military and Veterans Affairs and a Veteran Student Services Center to provide veterans with the utmost attention, guidance, and counseling.
Shenandoah University
Located in Winchester, VA, Shenandoah University offers a unique Veteran to BSN program designed specifically for students who have served in the military. The directors of the program carefully look at each veteran's training records and past transcripts to determine what qualifies for academic credit. The school also offers a number of advanced nursing degrees, like nurse practitioner, nurse-midwifery, and a DNP degree for students who are interested in pursuing further education after obtaining their BSN. Veterans can also qualify for the Yellow Ribbon program to receive tuition assistance.
Chamberlain University
Chamberlain University has many campuses throughout the country, including several Yellow Ribbon program members, and two of its campuses offer a military to BSN option. Veterans in Arlington, VA, and Jacksonville, FL, can take advantage of this nursing degree that is specifically designed for military members. The application fee for this program is waived for military members, and the degree can be completed in as few as three years. The program includes three military-specific courses that have been designed to help veterans transition from their service career to the world of nursing education. To qualify for this program, you must be a veteran, have a healthcare specialist rating classification for at least two years, and complete a number of prerequisite courses.
Texas Tech University
At the Health Sciences Center at Texas Tech University, veterans may be interested in the Veteran to BSN program, which is open to veterans from all branches of the military. This program is accelerated and can be completed in only 12 months. While the main Texas Tech campus is located in Lubbock, Texas, thanks to the program's semi-online format and the school's other campuses, veterans can complete the program from other cities in Texas, like Abilene, San Antonio, Dallas, and Amarillo. To gain admittance into the program, students will need to complete a list of prerequisites as set by Texas Core Curriculum.
University of Alabama - Birmingham
At the University of Alabama - Birmingham, students who have the goal of becoming a nurse as well as enlisting the Army will be happy to find a scholarship program designed specifically for them. Students who agree to enlist in the Army upon graduation and have a desire to be a nurse qualify for and can apply for a nursing scholarship through UAB's ROTC program. This scholarship covers 100% of tuition, offers an annual book allowance, a monthly stipend, and access to materials to study for the NCLEX. UAB also offers the Green to Gold program, which helps enlisted soldiers figure out how to pursue a baccalaureate degree. UAB also participates in the Yellow Ribbon program.
