Can you get a college degree while on active duty?

Makhai Minor — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 21:06:49 -0500

Response by SGT Chris Stephens made Feb 13 at 2019 9:45 PM

SGT Chris Stephens — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 21:45:47 -0500

Go through tuition assistance and take classes that are offered by the base. It'll take some time, but if that's what you focus some of your free time on, you'll be well on your way to earning a college degree. Then, if you get off active duty and you still have classes to take for a bachelors or masters or PhD, then you use GI Bill money towards that. My GI Bill paid for the rest of my bachelors and all of my masters after I took a bunch of classes while on active duty.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Feb 13 at 2019 9:55 PM

LtCol Robert Quinter — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 21:55:24 -0500

I did. Many universities and colleges have courses available on or near bases which can be paid for using tuition assistance. The biggest obstacle is a lack of will.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Feb 13 at 2019 10:38 PM

SSG Brian G. — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 22:38:23 -0500

Yes. It is rather easy to do so. In fact, we used to do them all the time. I got my Masters while on active duty. Took a while, and a lot of dedication but I got it done. I took a combination of online courses and courses offered through Post education assistance.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 14 at 2019 12:02 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 00:02:47 -0500

Yes. You're an idiot if you don't take advantage of the free TA

Response by MSgt Michael Smith made Feb 14 at 2019 7:41 AM

MSgt Michael Smith — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 07:41:56 -0500

I did. It's a lot of work and you have to be committed. You are going to give up some weeknights.

Response by SFC Marc W. made Feb 15 at 2019 6:06 PM

SFC Marc W. — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 18:06:51 -0500

I did. I completed all my upper division for my BA on active duty. It was a pain in the ass, but totally worth it.
Arizona State University

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2019 3:35 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 15:35:17 -0500

Depends on your MOS and where you stationed, and most important your major. If you go for any science major then I wish you luck. Because most likely you won't be able to do classes with advanced labs in them. Especially if you not stationed in the US.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2019 3:42 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 15:42:10 -0500

Very doable. Bachelors and soon a masters all on active duty and during 3 deployments, 3 duty station changes, and never once steeping into a physical classroom. Just need to have the drive and not pick a major that has weird requirements or is just useless like early British literature