Tips for Going to College as a Military Veteran

Starting or returning to college after serving in the military can be daunting for some veterans. Assimilating back into an educational environment after years in military service is a hurdle of its own, and additional logistical and social barriers that come with being a nontraditional student can make the process more of a challenge, experts say.

But nonprofit programs like the Warrior-Scholar Project, Service to School and the Posse Foundation help veterans go through the college application process, familiarize them with campus culture, and introduce or reintroduce them to what it's like to be a student.

Some colleges operate independent veteran support programs that work with nonprofits to help veterans feel at ease and stay connected within a community when they return to school, whether that's for an associate, undergraduate or graduate degree. The University of Chicago in Illinois launched its Veteran Scholars Program in 2019 and nearly 100 students have gone through the program, says Beau Butts, the university's executive director of veterans initiatives, programs and services.