These community colleges offer veterans and other military-related students good educational opportunities, as well as benefits that can help ensure success. Below are 5 colleges that are well-suited for military students and veterans.
School Comparison
| School Name | Institution Type | Location | In-State Tuition (2017-2018)* | Tuition Assistance/Military Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Georgia Technical College | Public 2-year | Warner Robins, GA | $2,774 | Student Veterans Organization (SVO), military training credit, tuition assistance |
| Citrus College | Public 2-year | Glendora, CA | $1,183 | Veterans Success Center, Veteran Network |
| Fayetteville Technical Community College | Public 2-year | Fayetteville, NC | $2,528 | Waived administration fees, college credit for military training |
| Montgomery County Community College | Public 2-year | Blue Bell, PA | $5,730 | SVO, college credit for military training |
| Pierce College - Fort Steilacoom | Public 4-year (primarily 2-year) | Lakewood, WA | $3,783 | Veterans Resource Center, college credit for military training |
Source: *National Center for Education Statistics
Community Colleges for Veteran and Military Students
These colleges offer a range of services for veterans and active-duty students, including Veterans Resource Centers, veterans clubs, and a variety of support networks to help service members transition or advance. These schools are located all around the country to serve the needs of every military student searching for a two-year institution.
Central Georgia Technical College
This community college packs a lot into the package for veterans. It has a student veteran organization, the CGTC Student Veterans of America, which provides a welcoming social group for veteran students. It also has staff dedicated to helping veterans with enrollment, benefits, and other college matters. Tuition assistance is available for veterans and active military members on a case by case basis. The college provides some technical vocational programs for active military as well, such as a credentialing program for Air Force members.
Central Georgia Technical College offers degree and certificate programs in the following areas: aerospace, business and computer technologies, health sciences, public safety and professional services, as well as general studies. The school offers distance learning programs for added flexibility, and it enrolls just under 8,000 students.
Citrus College
Citrus College provides veterans with a good deal of personal support and networking opportunities. It begins with a program that honors veterans' military training and experience, granting them college credits for active duty that is relevant to their education. The college provides an orientation session to incoming veterans and military students, as well as support counseling. This school hosts a Veterans Success Center, a Veterans Student Ambassador, and a Veterans Network.
This college offers a wide range of subjects and skills for majors and certificates. There are 55 disciplines covered at the school. Citrus College also offers distance learning programs, which can be useful to military students who may have to relocate on short notice.
Fayetteville Technical Community College
This college works hard to ensure the success of veterans and military students. It has a student veterans organization, offers college credit for relevant military experience, and has a designated staff to help veterans. It also offers programs for spouses of veterans and military students, as well as waived administration fees. The college also offers an active ROTC program and the All American Veterans Center.
Fayetteville Technical Community College has more than 250 programs of study in 8 divisions. It offers online flex courses, which can be completed on the students' own schedule, as well as a Military Certificate program and University Partnerships that make it easier to transfer to a four-year school.
Montgomery County Community College
Montgomery County Community College may be a good choice for many veterans and military students due to its VA work-study programs, student veteran organization and veterans' center with a lounge and a computer area. It also has a Veteran Service Team, which holds regular meetings for team and community building events. Once a week, the school offers free on-site tutoring as well. Veterans can rent textbooks, and the college will help them arrange for services through the VA, such as counseling, assistance with benefits, and other information. As of 2018, Montgomery County Community College reported that it supported 400 veterans in their education endeavors.
The college offers distance learning opportunities, as well as evening and weekend courses, to provide the best opportunities for graduation. Students can also get college credit for relevant military training and experience. In addition to the strictly academic and procedural, Montco (as it is known to students) provides a free annual retreat on the Appalachian Trail for veterans and military students. For Veterans Day, these students are treated to breakfast on campus.
Pierce College - Fort Steilacoom
Pierce College offers veterans a number of benefits and advantages. They may be granted college credit for military training and experience, based on relevance. In addition, the school offers a Veterans Resource Center, as well as a Student Veteran Organization. The college has tutoring centers as well as textbook rentals.
With just over 6,000 students, Pierce College offers a number of programs for associate's degrees as well as vocational and professional certificates. The school offers weekend and evening courses, as well as distance learning options.
