6 Military-friendly Colleges (Including Online Programs)

These colleges offer the support and flexibility that veterans and active duty servicemembers need. cheapbooks / Shutterstock

For service members and veterans, navigating college can feel like entering a different world. Fortunately, military-friendly colleges are designed to support military students with flexible programs, tuition assistance, and dedicated resources.

Here are institutions that make education accessible for the armed forces community.

Contents

Western Governors University (WGU)
University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC)
Arizona State University (ASU)
Liberty University
Columbia Southern University
San Diego State University (SDSU)

1. Western Governors University (WGU)

WGU has been recognized as a Military Friendly® School for 13 consecutive years and was ranked the #1 online school in the 2023–2024 Military Friendly listings.

Its self-paced online programs are ideal for active duty military, reserve service members, and military-affiliated students juggling unpredictable schedules.

WGU participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, accepts military training for college credit, and supports military education benefits like the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Montgomery GI Bill. With no set class times, WGU offers unmatched flexibility for military connected students.

2. University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC)

UMGC has ranked among the top military-friendly universities, enrolling more than 55,000 servicemembers, veterans, and other military‑affiliated students worldwide.

It offers online degree options, in-person classes at military installations, and generous credit transfers for military experience.

UMGC also helps eligible veterans navigate federal programs like the GI Bill, and offers financial assistance and academic support tailored to the military community.

3. Arizona State University (ASU)

ASU has a strong commitment to supporting military students. It offers over 300 online programs through ASU Online and is one of the Yellow Ribbon schools with extensive financial aid opportunities for eligible students.

ASU’s Pat Tillman Veterans Center helps military service members access benefits, career services, and academic resources. The school welcomes dependents educational assistance recipients and provides help navigating Veterans Affairs paperwork.

4. Liberty University

Liberty offers flexible online learning and one of the largest selections of online degree programs. Military tuition assistance, discounted rates, and credit for military training make Liberty a great fit for active duty students and dependents.

It participates in multiple federal programs and supports military education through personalized advisors and a military affairs office.

5. Columbia Southern University

Columbia Southern University offers branch-focused support for military students. For example, it participates in the Air University Associate-to-Baccalaureate Cooperative (AU-ABC) for Air Force members and provides guidance for Air National Guard tuition assistance.

As one of the more affordable online colleges, Columbia Southern University accepts military tuition assistance from all service branches and partners with private organizations (such as the Air Force Aid Society) to provide dedicated scholarships for servicemembers and spouses.

Its rolling admissions and generous credit transfer policy allow service members to start classes when it fits their schedules, making it one of the most military-friendly colleges for current service members.

6. San Diego State University (SDSU)

Located near major military bases, SDSU is known for its outreach to active duty military members and student veterans. It provides career services and academic support tailored to military students.

The Joan and Art Barron Veterans Center at SDSU helps students connect their military experience to college education and career goals.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.