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Military

Welcome, Military Students

Today, you can serve your country and earn your degree at the same time from an educational institution with the reputation of Penn State.

We offer an extensive selection of online courses. No matter where you're stationed, you can start or continue your studies with Penn State. We are a regionally-accredited university, offering over 60 degree and certificates programs at the associate, bachelor's, and master's levels through the convenience of distance education.

Credits earned through distance education are identical to those earned at our traditional campuses. As a member of the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges, Penn State makes it easier to obtain a college degree, as opposed to simply accumulating course credit, by:

  • limiting the amount of course work at Penn State to no more than 30 percent of degree requirements
  • utilizing transfer practices that minimize the loss of credit and avoid duplication of course work
  • awarding credit for military experience and for tests such as CLEP, DANTES, DANTES Subject Standardized Tests, and U.S. Armed Forces Institute (USAFI) courses

Penn State even has policies to help active military students who may be deployed and unable to continue with their studies while enrolled, so you can put your education on hold during deployment and then return to your education.

How to Get Started

You can download PDF brochures of the programs you're interested in, or have them mailed to you, by making an information request. 

If you've already chosen a program and want to get started, begin a program application. To get assistance with the admissions process or a financial-aid referral, or to learn how your military experience translates into academic credit, contact our military admissions and advising team.

Penn State World Campus Military Admissions and Advising Team
Joey Stewart, Admissions Counselor
814-865-9847
jlf42@psu.edu

Or

800-252-3592 (within the United States)
814-863-3283 (international)
psuwd@psu.edu

Credit for Military Experience

Each of Penn State's online degrees and certificates have specific requirements. Through your military experience and training, previous academic course credits and College Level Exam Program (CLEP) exams, you can fulfill some of these requirements.

Credit for Military Experience and Academic Courses
A veteran or member of the active armed services or the selected reserves who is a student may be granted academic credit for Military Occupational Specialties (MOSs) held in the armed services in accordance with University policy.

A student who is a veteran or member of the active armed services or reserves may be granted credit for educational experiences in the armed services. Students interested in receiving credit for their educational experience should submit any applicable SMART, AARTS, or CC of the Air Force transcripts, along with transcripts from any other academic institution attended to Penn State's Undergraduate Admissions Office at the time of application. Any credits received for educational experience in the armed services will appear on a Penn State transcript as transfer credits.

Students who have completed basic training may be awarded credit in health education or exercise and sport activities. General credit may be awarded for other types of service school courses. Limited credits may be awarded for advanced training for military specialization duties.

Credit by Exams
Penn State awards credit for CLEP exams at the level recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE). For detailed information on the exams accepted and the credit awarded please visit Penn State's Credit Awarded for CLEP Web site.

To be awarded credit for DANTES courses, DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST), and U.S. Armed Forces Institute (USAFI) courses, contact us.

Financial Aid Options

Depending on your particular set of circumstances, you may apply your GI Bill, Tuition Assistance, or a combination of the two toward any World Campus course or program. Penn State's Office of Veterans Programs can guide you through the funding process appropriate to your specific situation.

If you are a veteran and have questions about how to use your benefits to pay for courses, contact Dr. Brian Clark in the Office of Veterans Programs. He will guide you through the funding process appropriate to your specific situation and provide you with appropriate forms and instructions for their completion.

New Tuition Assistance Option

A new grant-in-aid program is being piloted on a limited basis to active duty military professionals.

The new tuition assistance option is offered to all members of the United States Armed Forces, including Guard and Reservists, while serving on active duty (excluding active duty for training and education) for all branches of the Department of Defense and the United States Coast Guard under the Department of Homeland Security.

For more information:

Available Scholarship Resources

Government
Other

DANTES

Special circumstances often prevent service personnel from continuing their education in the traditional classroom setting. Through World Campus, the Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education Support (DANTES) extends educational opportunities to all servicemen and servicewomen in or outside the United States.

Most of our courses are listed in the DANTES Independent Study Catalog. This listing authorizes reimbursement for a course in accordance with each branch's educational support program. Service personnel should contact their base, post, or shipboard education service officer for information.

G.I. Bill-Eligible Programs

We're proud to announce that you can use the G.I. Bill towards tuition for the following World Campus online and mixed media distance learning programs.

Graduate

Undergraduate

Penn State's Military Partnerships

Air Force Academic Institutional Portal
GoArmyEd
eArmyU
CCME
ConAP
DANTES
Pennsylvania National Guard Education Assistance
Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC)
SOCAD
SOCGuard
SOCMAR
SOCCOAST

Education Center Literature Requests and Group Enrollment Information

For literature requests and information on Penn State programs and to learn the benefits of group enrollments, contact our military services representative:

Client Services, Military Services Representative
814-865-6016
gan1@psu.edu

 
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