Best Military-Friendly Colleges of 2025

What Sets It Apart: 

One of four schools designated as preeminent research universities in the state, Florida International University is both a Hispanic-serving institution and a minority-serving institution. FIU's 56,000 students live across the globe and learn on the main Miami campus, online, or at one of 11 other campuses and learning centers.

Cost per Semester:
In State | $3,084
Out of State | $9,283

Why Military-Affiliated Students Choose FIU:

• Dedicated Success Coaching: FIU's 1,358 veteran and military-affiliated students receive personalized coaching to help them transition into college life and succeed after graduation. 
• Priority Registration: Veterans and military members can register for their courses before the official registration period opens.
• Florida National Guard Educational Dollars for Duty: Florida National Guard soldiers and Air National Guard members can receive state-based tuition assistance to attend FIU.

Know Before You Enroll:

• Rigorous Admission Standards: In 2016, incoming first-year FIU students had an average GPA of 3.83 and a record of community involvement. 
• Licensure Requirements May Vary: While FIU's pre-licensure programs in education, counseling, and psychology meet Florida's licensure standards, other states' requirements may differ.
• Out-of-State Tuition and Fees: Nonresidents may pay nearly three times the amount that Florida residents pay to attend FIU.

What Sets It Apart: 

Arizona State University draws 183,000 students from all 50 states and 180 countries. Around 42% of its undergraduate students are the first generation in their families to attend college. In fall 2024, more than 18,000 veteran and military-affiliated students enrolled at ASU, a record number for this fast-growing university.     

Cost per Credit:
In State | $574
Out of State | $574

Why Military-Affiliated Students Choose ASU:

• ASU Alumni Veterans Chapter: This group of veterans and ASU alums assist Phoenix-area veterans with post-graduation job searches and finding other support.
• Salute to Service: Salute to Service is a single-day event at ASU during which the entire community shows its support for veterans and military-affiliated students. 
• Many Majors Available: ASU offers more than 140 undergraduate programs and 100-plus graduate programs online. Popular majors for veterans include criminology, electrical engineering, and biological sciences.

Know Before You Enroll:

• Asynchronous Coursework: Military members stationed around the world can study while U.S.-based students sleep, as ASU courses do not require simultaneous online access.
• Accelerated Course Calendar: ASU schedules courses for online students in seven-and-a-half-week blocks during the spring and fall semesters and six-week blocks during the summer. Meanwhile, on-campus learners take classes in traditional 15-week semesters. 

What Sets It Apart: 

Purdue University Global, a school created to serve the unique needs of nontraditional learners, enrolls around 35,000 students in more than 175 online academic programs. The university caps tuition for members of the armed services and provides deep discounts for active-duty military and veterans.

Cost per Credit:

Active-Duty Service Members | $165
Veterans | $230

Why Military-Affiliated Students Choose Purdue Global:

• Nontraditional Student Body: Of Purdue Global's students, 27% are military-affiliated, and 83% work while enrolled.
• Military Discounts: Purdue Global caps tuition at $4,455 per year (27 quarter credits) for members of the U.S. Army and $4,500 for members of all other branches of the military.
• Spousal Support: Military spouses receive a 10% tuition reduction for graduate or undergraduate coursework.

Know Before You Enroll:

• Accelerated Education: Purdue Global divides courses into 10-week terms and offers start dates year-round.
• Admissions Interview: While the university does not require ACT or SAT scores, you must complete an interview for admission.
• Program Admission: You must meet the qualifications for both university admission and program admission.

What Sets It Apart: 

Designated as a Military Spouse-Friendly School, the University of West Florida has also been awarded the distinction of Purple Star Campus, one of the first three schools in the Florida State University System to receive this honor for demonstrating its commitment to military students and their families. 

Cost per Credit:
In State | $219
Out of State | $219

Why Military-Affiliated Students Choose UWF:

• Multiple Start Dates: UWF Online offers many start dates throughout the year, so you can begin classes shortly after enrolling.
• Academic Support: Online students can access the UWF library, writing lab, tutoring center, and other educational resources.
• Certificate Options: You can pursue an undergraduate certificate and finish your course of study in just one year.

Know Before You Enroll:

• Standardized Test Scores: UWF Online requires you to submit ACT or SAT scores and a $30 application fee.
• Out-of-State Tuition Waiver: Members of the armed forces who are not Florida residents and not stationed in Florida receive a 100% waiver of all nonresident tuition and fees, but you must apply for the waiver.
• Dedicated Support: UWF offers a dedicated support line for veterans and military members five days a week.

What Sets It Apart: 

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas is a public urban research university enrolling nearly 33,000 students, including more than 1,850 veterans and active-duty service members. More than half of the university's students are the first in their families to attend college, and around 70% of UNLV students identify as a member of a racial minority group. 

Cost per Semester:
In State | $4,878
Out of State | $13,949

Why Military-Affiliated Students Choose UNLV:

• Diverse Programs: UNLV offers almost 50 online programs, including a Ph.D. in nursing, a bachelor's degree in hospitality management, and a graduate certificate in medical family therapy.
• Military and Veteran Services Center: The center offers an array of resources for military-related students and is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., five days a week.
• State Residency: UNLV offers Nevada residency to all veterans not dishonorably discharged within five years of separation.

Know Before You Enroll:

• Application Fee: The Veterans Administration does not pay UNLV's $60 application fee, so you have to absorb that expense. 
• Asynchronous Coursework: UNLV offers 800 online courses you can complete on your schedule.

What Sets It Apart: 

The oldest public university in the state, Ohio University now enrolls around 28,000 online and on-campus students. Nearly 99% of these students receive financial aid, and the school has not seen a tuition increase for more than four years. It was among the first colleges in the U.S. to be designated as a Purple Star Campus.

Cost per Credit:
In State | $319
Out of State | $324

Why Military-Affiliated Students Choose OHIO:

• Student Veteran and Military Incentive Scholarship: OHIO offers scholarships to military students and participates in federal benefit programs.
• Veterans and Military Student Services Center: You can take advantage of all the center's resources to help you transition to college and complete your graduation requirements.
• No Application Fee: OHIO waives its application fee for veterans and military members.

Know Before You Enroll:

• Asynchronous Coursework: OHIO's online courses do not require you to attend virtual classes at specific times. 
• Some Hybrid Programs: While most degrees are 100% online, some graduate programs, such as the doctorate in nursing practice, require time on campus.

What Sets It Apart: 

Founded 140 years ago, Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, enrolls more than 21,000 learners, around 50% of whom are first-generation college students. The university has been federally designated as a Hispanic-serving institution.

Cost per Semester:
In State | $3,660
Out of State | $9,810

Why Military-Affiliated Students Choose SHSU:

• Diversity of Academic Programs: SHSU offers certificates, undergraduate degrees, and graduate programs in business, criminal justice, education, social science, art, agriculture, and more.
• Department of Veterans Affairs Counselor: SHSU is one of four Texas-based universities with a dedicated counselor to help you access VA benefits.
• Priority Registration: Veterans and military-affiliated students receive priority registration.

Know Before You Enroll:

• Distance Learning Fee: SHSU charges a $101 per-credit fee for online-only courses, raising the cost of a typical three-credit course by more than $300 over the published tuition price.
• Hybrid Requirements: In some programs, you must attend on-campus courses or in-person labs.

What Sets It Apart: 

Located in Boone, North Carolina, Appalachian State University enrolls 21,000 students on two campuses and through App State Online. The university offers 150 undergraduate majors, including 17 that are fully online, and 80 graduate degrees. Its online programs include the nation's only online bachelor of science in veterinary technology. 

Cost per Credit:
In State | $205
Out of State | $939

Why Military-Affiliated Students Choose App State:

• Low Debt After Graduation: The school has one of the lowest average student debt figures in North Carolina, and 25% of App State students graduate without student debt.
• High Job Placement Rate: Around 91% of App State graduates are employed or enrolled in graduate school within 12 months of graduation.
• Accelerated Programs: You can take advantage of several 4+1 programs that let you finish a joint bachelor's and master's program in five years.

Know Before You Enroll:

• Rigorous Admission Standards: The average SAT scores for new enrollees range from 1100-1270, and the average weighted GPA is 3.82-4.34.
• Two Annual Application Deadlines: App State offers two admission deadlines each year, allowing students to start classes in the spring, summer, or fall semesters.

What Sets It Apart: 

Southeast Missouri State University offers more than 170 academic programs to its 10,000-plus students, including 19 online bachelor's programs. More than half of SEMO's first-year students are the first in their families to go to college, and 75% of the university's enrollees are eligible for a portion of the $20 million that SEMO awards in scholarships every year. 

Cost per Credit:
In State | $330
Out of State | $330

Why Military-Affiliated Students Choose SEMO:

• High Employment Rates: The university reports that 98% of graduates are employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation.
• Prior Learning Assessment: SEMO accepts credits by exam, military-related credits, and other credits from life experience.
• Online Tutoring and Counseling: You can access SEMO's career counseling, tutoring, and mental health support as an online student.

Know Before You Enroll:

• Proctored Exams: Some courses require on-campus proctored exams, or you can set up a remote proctor.
• Easy Application: SEMO does not require an application fee, test scores, or essays for online students.