Marine Corps tuition assistance, military tuition assistance, G.I. Bill, military friendly college

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The G.I. Bill is among the benefits most often mentioned as a reason for joining the service. But beyond the G.I. Bill, the services each offer a tuition assistance program to service members interested in pursuing higher education while on active duty. Learn more about those programs here.

Financial strategies for studying abroad
For years, rising numbers of U.S. college students have been packing their bags and flying overseas, typically to Europe, for a semester or year abroad and a wealth of irreplaceable memories. Lately,...
Bill aims to remove roadblocks to college
A wide-ranging higher education bill designed to protect college students from aggressive lenders and rein in soaring tuitions won approval in the House of Representatives on July 31.
Get your life on course
Denver native Jonathan McMaster was a high school freshman in 1999 when he witnessed two friends and a teacher killed in the Columbine High School cafeteria.
GI Bill money to spare
Missouri’s colleges and universities will begin implementing a cap on college tuition for veterans this fall thanks to a new law intended to help with costs.
College-bound vets say campus needs often unmet
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Nothing Derek Blumke saw during three Air Force tours in Afghanistan prepared him for college life.
Nursing schools forced to turn away some students
As the shortage of nurses threatens to reach crisis proportions, more people are willing to enter the demanding but recession-proof career. So why are nursing schools turning away record numbers?
Law school lowdown
To hear many students tell it, law school is a guaranteed ticket to a well-paying career. So a recent milestone must have sounded like good news.
Fitness diploma mills
If a certification program sounds too good to be true, then proceed with extra caution, said Richard Cotton, exercise physiologist and the national director of certification for the American College...
Commit to college
Forget the “three Rs.” When it comes to getting an online education, it’s the “three Cs” — computer, connection and commitment — that make the difference.
What military-friendly really means
When Texas Army National Guard Maj. Michael Liesmann decided in 2006 to pursue a master’s degree, finding a school that was military-friendly was key in his college choice.
School of racing
You need more than ingenuity to get a job in the auto industry these days — especially in racing.
Order your military transcripts
You’ll need your military education transcripts to get the most possible credit for your previous work during the college application process.
Applying to college: The first step
Try these online resources to rev up your search for a college and get the application process off the ground.
COLLEGE NOTES
American Military University has launched four new online degree programs in information technology — two associate degrees and two bachelor’s...
The rocky road from combat to college
STARKVILLE, Miss. — By the time he completed his four-year stint in the military three summers ago, Frank Wills had gotten used to taking orders, carrying a rifle and taking pictures of dead...
5 steps to get accepted
Want to attend college but afraid you’ll need an advanced degree just to get through the application? Relax. The good news is, the Internet has made applying to college easier than ever before.
Fast-track your associate degree
Are you looking for the fastest route to a college degree? Speed and a quality education haven’t always gone hand in hand, but they do now.
Online college’s faculty intact with sale
Touro University International’s faculty and staff remain intact with today’s announcement of its sale to Summit Partners, a private equity firm that invests in growing companies.
General studies — a degree designed with you in mind
Michael Bradford’s life is full of drama — and he couldn’t be happier.
At Colorado College, students learn one class at a time
LAKE GEORGE, Colo. (AP) — It’s a silly old expression, but Professor Eric Leonard says it’s true: The best geologist is the one who’s seen the most rocks.
Young entrepreneurs make the grade
Like many Americans, Aaron Lifford and Jessica Keckhaver dreamed of running their own business.
College costs keep rising
The cost of attending college continues to climb: In-state tuition and fees at public four-year schools averaged $6,185 this year, up 6.6 percent from last year, says the College Board, which tracks...
Guide to your online MBA
Capt. Kenneth Asahan is a full-time military technician in the Hawaii Army National Guard, but he’s earning his master’s degree in business administration from the University of...
Schools take action against textbook theft
CHICAGO — Colleges and universities are intensifying efforts to reduce the growing problem of textbook thefts by marking books with invisible ink, requiring used bookstores to keep logs of...
International studies key to overseas work
McKinley Bailey served on more than 120 combat missions in Afghanistan and Iraq as a paratrooper with the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division.
Student borrowers find loan decisions costing plenty
Michael Haynes had lots of decisions to make during his freshman year at Eastern Michigan University — which classes to take, where to live, what books to buy.
Domination by some student lenders raises concerns
WASHINGTON — College students trying to cover the soaring cost of a post-secondary education have more than 3,000 federally qualified lenders to choose from — at least in theory.
Budget cuts threaten future of space science recruiting
WASHINGTON — Ongoing cuts into NASA-oriented science programs could wipe out the next generation of rocket scientists, a former researcher for the agency warned lawmakers Thursday.
Senate passes bill to ease financial aid process
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate sought Tuesday to simplify the financial aid process for students and to cut down on conflicts of interest of interest in the student loan industry.
Group aims for better education tax breaks
WASHINGTON — Millions of poor college students and their families get few tax breaks for higher education costs despite studies that show needy high school graduates are less likely to attend...
Black college enrollment in South passes milestone
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — For the first time ever in the South, blacks are as well represented on college campuses as they are in the region’s population as a whole — something not yet...
Students from military face challenges
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Students returning to the University of Missouri-Columbia from military service can find their efforts to resume their studies hampered by bureaucracy.
Tips for first-time college students
First-time college students can save time and stress if they plan ahead for college this summer.
Get the most for your GI Bill dollar
In terms of funding their higher education, W.G. “Guy” Singletary and David Willett consider themselves fortunate.
Navy announces new tuition assistance rules
Navy officials announced new, strict rules as to who gets coveted college cash, earmarking limited tuition assistance for hot-running sailors.
Scholarship deadline approaches for service members, families
Lincoln Educational Services Corp. and the nonprofit Hire a Hero program have broadened the eligibility for 144 college scholarships to include service members’ dependents.
Reforms? Not for rates on private student loans
For weeks, an investigation of the student loan business has been scrutinizing whether close ties between lenders and colleges have enriched them at the expense of debt-laden students.
Colleges expand degrees in security
Don Panarello leads a busy life. He works full time as a correctional officer, is a member of the Rhode Island Air National Guard and has three kids who are active in sports. But every night, he...
Get IT certified from home
What if someone said you could work from home to earn the computer certifications necessary to get started in one of the nation’s fastest-growing industries — all without having to earn a...
Tap into free training
There are plenty of low-cost ways to train for technical certification. Look hard enough and you might be surprised to find some no-cost ways as well.
Student debt on the rise
When Ryan Kath proposed to Carla Corban, on Oct. 30, 2004, she blurted: “You want to marry me and my student loans?”
3 lenders offer discounts on student loans
With the student loan industry under scrutiny, at least three lenders are sweetening their discounts on loans, potentially cutting costs for millions of students.
Choosing your master’s program
Follow your bliss.
More adults are heading back to the classroom
Gaze into your crystal ball and imagine that you can see the second half of your life.
Military training often counts toward degree
During his five years in the Marine Corps, Ed Lawson completed several military training courses to advance his knowledge as an aircraft mechanic and climb the enlisted ranks.
E-learning tips to give you an edge
Navy Lt. Ken Froberg is taking classes to further his education and advance his career, but he has not sat in a classroom since he earned a bachelor’s degree in marine engineering from the U.S....
Boost your business-degree savvy
You need the right tools to make it in the business world, and one of the most important tools, experts say, is a good education.
Scholarships available for student entrepreneurs
A new scholarship is available for veterans enrolled or planning to enroll in college-level studies in franchising or entrepreneurship.
Free nursing, teaching degrees for veterans
Head start on your MBA
Earning a college degree in any subject will boost your job prospects and, likely, your starting salary. But furthering your education with a master’s degree in business can deliver even...
Most Valuable Software
When it comes to which software applications you should know, most employment experts agree that the popular Microsoft Office suite is a must for any job that requires basic computer skills....
Don’t be fooled by ‘degree mills’
Many degree and diploma mills maintain impressive Web sites and advertise heavily online. Take the time to verify accreditation by an agency that is recognized by the Council on Higher Education...
More students turn to online colleges for degree programs
Residential universities have historically dismissed online education, but as society becomes more high-tech, the option of pursuing an education outside a traditional university has been gaining...
Giant Campus on the Web
For more information about the Giant Campus programs or services referenced in this article, go to one of the following Web sites:
Free computer, software training
No access to the free services provided by Giant Campus on certain military installations? No problem. Other free resources may help you acquire — or enhance — computer skills.
Free courses teach essential computer skills
Getting ready to exit the military and wondering if your computer skills are up to speed for the civilian job world? There’s a reason to make sure you’re prepared: Workers who use...
4 simple steps to start your GI Bill benefits
Patience is the key. If you’re about to enroll in college using your Montgomery GI Bill benefits, only a few steps are involved in the process. But getting the ball rolling means a lesson in...
GI Bill genius: Know your education benefits, use them to the fullest
Making sense of the Montgomery GI Bill may seem as intimidating as attempting to take a final exam for a class you have just begun. In reality, though, taking full advantage of this important...
The value of 2-year degrees
For retired Sgt. 1st Class Phillip Burns, earning his associate degree in applied science technology was a long time coming.
Guide to military-friendly colleges
Find more information on military-friendly colleges at these Web sites:
Tuition assistance: Navy
The Navy will pay 100 percent of a sailor's college tuition and fees for up to 16 semester hours per year -- a four-semester-hour hike from previous limits which officially are capped at 12 by...
Tuition assistance: Air Force
The Air Force has made it easy for airmen to pursue a college degree.
Tuition assistance: Marine Corps
The Marine Corps provides up to 100 percent tuition assistance to all active-duty and Reserve enlisted Marines on continuous active duty attending accredited colleges and universities, according to...
Tuition assistance: Army
Soldiers who plan to get an education by tapping into the Army Tuition Assistance program need only go to one Web site for practically all the information they’ll need on money, schools and...
Financial aid resources
Consider the following resources when researching how to pay for the portion of your college education the GI Bill won’t cover.
‘Hot’ majors can help shape students’ futures
Look to the job market when choosing a college major, some experts say.
ACCREDITATION
The Council for Higher Education Accreditation recognizes only two organizations that accredit online MBA programs. The council, made up of 3,000 degree-granting institutions, recommends checking to...
GMAT TEST PREP
Most business schools require the Graduate Management Admission Test. The exam measures students’ basic verbal, math and analytical writing skills. No specific business knowledge is tested. To...
Higher education costs rise in 5 states
Even as tuition increases at public universities are expected to slow, on average, this year, schools in several states are raising tuition by 10 percent to more than 15 percent, adding hundreds of...
Find the right technology school for your career
Firefighters use it. So do mechanics, city planners, Web site builders and nurses. Technology has changed the way American workers do business, and a technology degree can take you anywhere.
Choosing a high-tech degree program
The first step toward a technology degree is to find an accredited school.
Assumption offers rehab counseling master’s online
Massachusetts’ Assumption College announced in July that it will offer its Master of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling degree online.
Woo admissions officers with CollegeSupplement.com
CollegeSupplement.com thinks it can give you an edge in the college application process.
Sharpen beauty skills through ModernSalonLearning.com
Beauty education provider ModernSalonLearning.com has added three new courses to its online career development offerings. Beauty professionals now...
Check for accreditation
To ensure you get the education you’re after, it’s important to confirm that your chosen degree program is accredited — especially in the case of online institutions you’re...
Women feed jump in college enrollment
Colleges and universities these days are seeing a surge in enrollment, and it’s increasingly driven by young women, according to new U.S. Census data.
Your GI Bill pays for more than just college
Terrance Farrare works in the White House as a security agent for the Office of National Drug Control Policy and once served as a wartime readiness logistics specialist in the Air Force.
15 steps to studying under the GI Bill
Whether you’re planning for four long years of college or eight intense weeks of high-tech training, you should start the process of claiming your GI Bill benefits about a year before you leave...
College Notes
Web analytics is the focus of a new certificate program by the University of California Irvine Extension.
Hit the ground learning
Once you’ve committed to getting a degree, you can do a few more things to ensure a successful college experience. Here’s what University of Maryland University College recommends:
Application checklist
Colleges have done a lot to simplify the application process thanks to the Internet. In some cases, one application works for a number of schools. But you still should approach the applications...

Contests and Promotions

Service Members of the Year

And the Winners Are...
The 2008 winners have been announced. Read about what makes these men and women so exemplary.

Win the "Beyond the Basics" tool kit

The "Beyond The Basics" Tool Kit
These six specialty tools are worth more than $300 and come with a Craftsman tool bag.

Special Feature

Meet the USA's Best
Check out video profiles and show your support for the elite military Olympians and Paralympians with Team USA, courtesy of TriWest Healthcare Alliance.