Military members and veterans who already have achieved a bachelor's degree may be interested in furthering their education with a master's degree. There are a number of military-friendly schools that offer online graduate programs in fields that may be of particular interest to those with a military background. We will discuss five possible schools and programs in greater detail below.
Program Comparison
| School Name | Institution Type | Location | Tuition (in-state 2022-2023)* | Tuition Assistance/Military Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drexel University | 4-year, private | Philadelphia, PA | $36,234 | 10-30% tuition reduction, military spouse tuition reduction, Yellow Ribbon program |
| Norwich University | 4-year, private | Northfield, VT | $20,280 | Norwhich University Military Scholarship, Yellow Ribbon program |
| American Military University | 4-year, private | Charles Town, WV | $6,660 | Capped graduate tuition rates for military members, spouses, and dependents,military credit transfer |
| Pennsylvania State University - World Campus | 4-year, public | University Park, PA | $24,164 | Yellow Ribbon program, military credit transfer |
| Upper Iowa University | 4-year, private | Fayette, IA | $18,870 | 10% tuition grant to military personnel and family members, military credit transfer, self-paced degrees, military learning centers |
Source: *National Center for Education Statistics
Program Highlights
For military members who are interested in pursuing a master's degree or graduate certificate program online, there are a large number of schools that have very robust online programs. Some of these schools offer military members a reduction in tuition or offer programs that may be very applicable to military members.
Drexel University
Drexel University offers a large number of online graduate programs across all different fields, from education to medical to engineering. Some online programs that military members may find interesting include master's degrees in cybersecurity, applied behavior analysis, health administration, construction management, and engineering management, to name a few. Depending on the specific role an individual held in the military, they may easily meet the admission requirements for these degrees. Military members enrolled at Drexel qualify for a reduction in tuition anywhere from 10% to 30%, and Drexel also participates in the Yellow Ribbon program that enables them to qualify for further tuition reduction.
Norwich University
Military students enrolled in online master's programs at Norwich University can apply for the Norwich University Military Scholarship of $1,200. This amount is split over the course of the program and students do not have to be enrolled continuously to benefit from the scholarship, allowing for the possibility of being called away to active duty. The school also participates in the Yellow Ribbon program. Some examples of online master's degrees at Norwich include the master's degree in diplomacy, criminal justice, executive leadership, and information security and assurance.
American Military University
American Military University is a distance-learning institution designed for both active-duty military members and veterans. For individuals interested in earning online graduate degrees, graduate tuition is capped at $325 per credit hour. Both military members and their families can benefit from this reduction in tuition. The school also considers transferring credit for past military education. At the graduate level, both graduate certificates and master's degrees are offered. Some of the topics include logistics management, Middle Eastern studies, executive law enforcement leadership, emergency and disaster management, political science, counterterrorism studies, and criminal justice.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus
Military members who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree at Pennsylvania State University World campus may be disappointed to know that most of their grants and scholarships only apply to undergraduate programs. However, the school does participate in the Yellow Ribbon programs so it is possible military members could get tuition help, as well as the possibility to receive credit for their past military experience. Some of the master's degrees that Penn State offers online include business administration, data analytics, cybersecurity, and a number of Master of Professional Studies degrees in Homeland Security.
Upper Iowa University
Military students, as well as their spouses and dependents, who attend Upper Iowa University qualify for a 10% grant towards tuition reduction. Depending on where a military member is stationed, they may be able to complete their courses at one of the five military learning centers that the university has set up at military bases around the country. In addition to typical online programs, they also offer self-paced degrees that provide students with maximum flexibility and may be ideal for active-duty military members. Some of their degrees include public administration, education, and business administration.
