When it comes to sacrifices, men and women of the Armed Forces are well-acquainted. From long deployments to pay issues to family separations, the hardships that those individuals endure each day are countless in number. Even educational opportunities can be limited for individuals in the military due to the fact that they are constantly moving and training. Fortunately, many American organizations recognize the price that those individuals pay as protectors and enforcers of the “American Dream.” Some of the best of those organizations are colleges and universities, which often offer service members reduced tuition rates and accredited, master’s-level degree programs that are convenient and self-paced. The list below entails twenty of the best online and campus-based schools that offer flexible master’s degree programs to military graduate students.
The Top 20 Colleges for Military Graduate Students
1. Concord University of West Virginia-
Accreditation: Concord University is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Degree Offerings: This university offers military students a Master of Education Degree program, a Master of Arts in Health Promotion Degree program, and a Master of Arts in Teaching Degree program.
Tuition Cost: The tuition cost for each master’s degree program is $238 per credit hour for residents of West Virginia. The tuition cost for non-residents is $529 per credit hour.
Attributes: Concord University is ranked as the number-one school for veterans by Military Times EDGE. This university accepts the Yellow Ribbon Program, ACE credits, and Veterans Upward Bound. It also entails its own Office of Veteran Affairs.
2. Eastern Kentucky University-
Accreditation: Eastern Kentucky University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Degree Offerings: Eastern Kentucky University includes 30 online and campus-based master’s degree programs in fields such as education and counseling.
Tuition Cost: The tuition cost for online master’s degree programs is $450 per credit hour, and the tuition cost for campus-based master’s degree programs is $450 per credit hour.
Attributes: Eastern Kentucky University is ranked as the second-best college for veterans by Military Times EDGE. This university’s military students qualify to receive the same tuition rates that residents of Kentucky receive.
3. The State University of New Jersey-Rutgers-
Accreditation: The State University of New Jersey-Rutgers possesses regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Degree Offerings: The State University of New Jersey-Rutgers entails three campuses that offer a total of 180 different master’s-level degree programs.
Tuition Cost: The cost of each master’s degree program varies between $7,512 and $10,500 per semester.
Attributes: The State University of New Jersey-Rutgers is ranked as the third-best college for veterans by Military Times EDGE. This university accepts the Yellow Ribbon Program, ACE credits, and Veterans Upward Bound.
4. California University of Pennsylvania-
Accreditation: California University of Pennsylvania is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Degree Offerings: California University of Pennsylvania offers both web-based and campus-style master’s degree programs in the fields of education, science, social work, nursing, teaching, and the arts.
Tuition Cost: The tuition cost for each master’s degree program is $429 per credit hour.
Attributes: California University of Pennsylvania is ranked as the fourth-best school for veterans by Military Times Edge. This university entails its own Office for Veterans, and it accepts ACE credits.
5. University of South Florida-
Accreditation: The University of South Florida is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Degree Offerings: Approximately 139 different degree programs are offered for master’s-level education.
Tuition Cost: The tuition cost for each master’s degree program ranges between $417 and $430 per credit hour.
Attributes: The University of South Florida is ranked as the fifth-best college for veterans by Military Times EDGE. This university is also one of the country’s best private institutions for research.
6. Arizona State University-
Accreditation: Arizona State University is regionally accredited through the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Degree Offerings: Arizona State University offers students over 13 different fields of study for their master’s degree programs, which include law, computing and mathematics, construction and design, health and wellness, and business.
Tuition Cost: The tuition cost for each master’s degree program is about $463 per credit hour.
Attributes: Arizona State University is ranked as the sixth-best school for veterans by Military Times EDGE. This educational facility accepts both the Yellow Ribbon Program and Veterans Upward Bound.
7. University of Kentucky-
Accreditation: The University of Kentucky entails accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Degree Offerings: The University of Kentucky offers over 120 specialty areas for its master’s degree programs.
Tuition Cost: Each master’s degree program costs $5,229 per semester.
Attributes: The University of Kentucky is ranked as one of the best schools for veterans by Military Times EDGE. This university is Kentucky’s only land-grant institution for research, and it accepts both the Yellow Ribbon Program and ACE credits.
8. University of Nebraska at Omaha-
Accreditation: The University of Nebraska at Omaha is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Degree Offerings: The University of Nebraska at Omaha offers 45 different master’s degree programs. In addition, five dual degree programs for master’s education are offered.
Tuition Cost: The tuition cost for each master’s degree program varies between $196 and $394 per credit hour.
Attributes: The University of Nebraska is ranked as the ninth-best college for veterans by Military Times EDGE. The Yellow Ribbon Program and ACE credits are accepted.
9. D’Youville College-
Accreditation: D’Youville College possesses accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Degree Offerings: D’Youville College offers 8 different master’s degree programs in areas such as nursing and education.
Tuition Cost: The tuition cost for each master’s degree program is $810 per credit hour. Military students are eligible to receive a tuition discount of up to 50 percent.
Attributes: D’Youville College is ranked as one of the top schools for veterans by Military Times EDGE. This college accepts both ACE credits and the Yellow Ribbon Program.
10. Ohio State University-
Accreditation: Ohio State University entails accreditation through the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Degree Offerings: Ohio State University offers over 100 master’s degree programs in fields that range from dance to physics.
Tuition Cost: The tuition cost for each master’s degree program is $12,200 per year.
Attributes: Ohio State University is ranked as the eleventh-best college for veterans by Military Times EDGE. The Yellow Ribbon Program and ACE credits are accepted.
11. Texas A&M University-
Accreditation: Texas A&M University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Degree Offerings: Texas A&M University entails over 130 online and campus-based master’s degree programs.
Tuition Cost: Each master’s degree program costs $6,348 per year.
Attributes: Texas A&M University is ranked as one of the best schools for veterans by Military Times EDGE. This public university accepts ACE credits and the Yellow Ribbon Program.
12. University of Pittsburgh-
Accreditation: The University of Pittsburgh is fully accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Degree Offerings: Roughly 200 master’s degree programs are offered by 14 different schools within this university.
Tuition Cost: The tuition cost for each master’s degree program varies between $19,281 and $43,212 per year.
Attributes: The University of Pittsburgh is ranked as the fifteenth-best school for veterans by Military Times EDGE. This university possesses a Veterans Office that helps military students apply for benefits through the Yellow Ribbon Program.
13. Evergreen State College of Washington-
Accreditation: Evergreen State College of Washington is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Degree Offerings: This college offers master’s degrees in environmental studies, education, public administration, and teaching.
Tuition Cost: The tuition cost for each master’s degree program is $2,643 per semester.
Attributes: Evergreen State College of Washington is ranked as one of the top schools for veterans by Military Times EDGE. This college’s tuition rates are below the GI Bill cap.
14. George Washington University-
Accreditation: George Washington University is fully accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Degree Offerings: Over 200 master’s degree programs are included in this university’s academic profile.
Tuition Cost: The tuition cost for each master’s degree program is approximately $1,340 per credit hour.
Attributes: George Washington University is ranked as the sixteenth-best college for veterans by Military Times EDGE. This university entails a special office for military students, and it accepts the Yellow Ribbon Program.
15. Valdosta State University-
Accreditation: Valdosta State University entails accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Degree Offerings: Valdosta State University offers over 40 master’s degree programs in areas that include: education, music, social work, accounting, and public administration.
Tuition Cost: The tuition cost for each master’s degree program is about $223 per credit hour.
Attributes: Valdosta State University is ranked as one of the top colleges for veterans by Military Times EDGE. This university entails tuition rates that fall below the GI Bill cap, and it accepts ACE credits.
16. Chadron State College-
Accreditation: Chadron State College is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Degree Offerings: Chadron State College offers approximately 24 master’s degree programs, and eight of those degree programs can be completed partially online.
Tuition Cost: The tuition cost for all of the master’s degree programs is about $250 per credit hour.
Attributes: Chadron State College is listed among the best schools for veterans by Military Times EDGE. This college accepts both the Yellow Ribbon Program and ACE credits.
17. University of Missouri at Columbia-
Accreditation: The University of Missouri at Columbia is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Degree Offerings: The University of Missouri at Columbia offers its students 95 graduate-level degree programs.
Tuition Cost: Most of this university’s graduate programs cost $336.50 per credit hour.
Attributes: The University of Missouri at Columbia is ranked as one of the top 50 schools for veterans by Military Times EDGE. This university possesses a Veterans Office, and its tuition rates are lower than the GI Bill cap.
18. Bowling Green State University-
Accreditation: Bowling Green State University is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Degree Offerings: This university offers master’s degree programs in 52 different fields, which include chemistry, teaching, history, geology, and construction management.
Tuition Cost: The tuition cost for each master’s degree program is $200 per credit hour for full-time students.
Attributes: Bowling Green State University possesses the distinction of being one of the best universities for veterans according to Military Times EDGE. This university possesses some of the lowest tuition rates available for master’s education, and it accepts ACE credits.
19. Colorado State University-
Accreditation: Colorado State University entails regional accreditation through the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Degree Offerings: Colorado State University offers its students over 50 areas of study for its online and campus-based master’s degree programs.
Tuition Cost: Each graduate degree program costs $555.42 per credit hour.
Attributes: Colorado State University is ranked as one of the top 50 schools for veterans by Military Times EDGE. This university accepts ACE credits and the Yellow Ribbon Program.
20. Fordham University-
Accreditation: Fordham University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Degree Offerings: Fordham University entails exceptional programs for its master’s degrees, which are provided in the fields of business administration, religion, education, arts, sciences, law, and social service.
Tuition Cost: The tuition cost for each master’s degree program varies between $760 and $1,367 per credit hour.
Attributes: Fordham University is ranked as one of the best universities for veterans by Military Times EDGE. This university entails one of the highest graduation rates. Approximately 79 percent of Fordham University’s students complete their degree programs on-time and successfully.