December 22, 2016, by Carrie Davidson – Our veterans are among the bravest and most revered citizens of the United States. Their sacrifice earns them rightful benefits and admiration when they return. Many of them are seeking to start a career when they return, but first they’re going to need an education that will open doors for their future.
Today we’re going to look at the pros and cons of online education for veterans, and what schools offer the best online degrees for our men and women in the armed forces.
The Pros and Cons of Online Education For Veterans
Veterans who are constantly on the move between their work in the military and their home life need something that is flexible. Online courses seem like a no-brainer, but they do have a few downsides.
A perfect example was Joe Bayron, 42, who worked as a part-time flight instructor for the Air Force Reserve. He needed something that would be flexible for his needs. In his interview with US News, he said “It’s just a convenience issue.”
In today’s world, the only two options veterans have for education includes on-campus or online courses. For many, their schedules wouldn’t allow for the former option, only the latter. While online courses absolutely offer flexibility and an easier way of getting back into life in the private sector, they also lack face-to-face interaction and the workloads can be intense.
For veterans who struggle with time management, online courses could pose a problem. That being said, for veterans with physical or mental wounds like PTSD, online courses represent a way for them to earn their education without putting pressure on themselves to face public scenarios with hundreds of people at once.
For veterans who struggle with certain subjects, there is a third option. Today’s home tuition services can offer convenient and personalized assistance that would otherwise be very difficult from a traditional university.
Overall, online courses represent a great way for veterans to make their way back into normal life, so long as they can handle the increased workload and the time management required to perform well in these classes.
Let’s take a look at some of the top programs offering online courses for veterans.
The Top Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs For Veterans
Veterans who choose online courses will have a high chance of connecting with other veterans and building a great network. In 2013-2014, for example, an average of 11.2% of students in 141 online programs were veterans, according to surveys.
On the other hand, 58 schools in the same survey reported that 5% or less of their student body was made up of veterans or active-duty service members. Even major schools like the for-profit University of Phoenix didn’t hit the top 10 schools for veterans.
Let’s take a look at the top 10 school where you’ll find the most veterans earning bachelor’s degrees online:
- Southwestern College (KS) – 81.5% veterans (1,471 total)
- Norwich University (VT) – 81% veterans (359 total)
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (FL) – 73.7% veterans (10,185 total)
- American Public University System (WV) – 73.5% veterans (45,461 total)
- University of the Incarnate Word (TX) – 47.8% veterans (1,241 total)
- Amridge University (AL) – 35.8% veterans (168 total)
- United States Sports Academy (AL) – 34.9% (111 total)
Final Thoughts
Veterans deserve a higher education when they come back from their time serving our country. These online programs offer a lot of benefits for those who are interested in pursuing a career through a bachelor’s program.
Which online programs would you recommend? Let us know in the comments!
About the Author: Carrie Davidson is a seasoned blogger who has helped launch numerous blogs in her online career. She is an expert in crafting excellent posts with great content and powerful headlines. You can find her online @carriedavidons1.