Colleges Must Recommit to Serving Those Who Served

Each year, more 200,000 service members transition out of the military and back to communities across the country, often turning to higher education to launch the next phase of their lives. But the journey for veterans in college is far from simple, and institutions need to be ready to welcome and support them—not only as veterans but as multidimensional individuals balancing complex roles.

First and foremost, it’s important to remember that veterans and military-affiliated students wear many hats. When Americans serve in the military, they’re more than just soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, guardians or coastguardsmen. They’re also sons and daughters, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, volunteers and active citizens of their communities back home.

When they return to the civilian world and enroll in higher education, they are, in a sense, a microcosm of an increasingly diverse student population—students who do not fit the mold of traditional undergraduates. They are students and veterans, students and parents, students and employees. Colleges and universities seeking to serve returning veterans must recognize their status as and-ers—individuals who are balancing multiple competing demands on their time, attention and finances.

The statistics are undeniable that student veterans reflect the vast diversity of students in higher education today.

According to the latest census taken by Student Veterans of America, nearly 90 percent of student veterans are over the age of 25, one-third are from underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds, over half are first-generation students, and about 55 percent are working, many in full-time roles. Moreover, 60 percent of student veterans are parents, and two-thirds have a service-connected disability, which impacts their education, employment and finances.

Make no mistake: Student veterans are highly motivated, disciplined, capable. Yet they face barriers that many of their peers do not. If colleges and universities are serious about supporting veterans, they must adopt a holistic approach that respects veterans’ military background while easing the transition to civilian and student life.

Programs to Consider

Some universities are leading the way in veteran-centered programs. The University of Michigan’s Veteran and Military Services program, for example, provides individualized advising, mental health support and career resources specifically designed for veterans, recognizing that their transition to civilian and academic life can be uniquely challenging. By connecting veterans with dedicated advisers and counselors who understand the military experience, the program ensures veterans receive support beyond traditional academic advising.

Similarly, at Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families, military-affiliated students benefit from initiatives like the Onward to Opportunity program, which offers career training and direct job placement support to veterans, spouses and transitioning service members.

Veteran students are more likely to succeed when they feel a strong sense of community and belonging. Purdue University, for example, has established a veterans’ community center that fosters peer connections and social support, creating a dedicated space where veterans can connect, share experiences and form bonds with others who understand the challenges of transition. Research consistently shows that veterans who feel socially and academically supported are more likely to persist and complete their degrees.

Institutions should support spouses as well—because student veterans are also husbands and wives, military spouses face similar, and sometimes more difficult, transition issues as their partners. They must find a new place to live, new schools for their children and, often, new jobs.

At National University, we’re one of the first 13 organizations awarded a grant from the Veteran and Spouse Transitional Assistance Program, recently launched by the Department of Veterans Affairs. This program provides veterans and their spouses with access to employment-based and educational resources, ensuring that the transition to civilian life is as smooth as possible for the entire family.

Financial Help

The financial pressures faced by student veterans call for increased institutional support. While many veterans use the Post–9/11 GI Bill, some exhaust their benefits or encounter eligibility restrictions. In these cases, institutions like Georgetown University offer military-specific scholarships and participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program, reducing tuition for veterans, spouses and dependents. By providing additional financial aid and advising to help veterans access external sources, Georgetown and others ensure veterans can pursue their education without excessive financial burdens.

Supporting veterans also means meeting their need for flexible learning options and degree pathways that acknowledge their previous experiences. Institutions like Thomas Edison State University and other adult-serving universities offer credit for prior military training and flexible online programs, allowing veterans to transfer military experience into academic credits and pursue degrees at their own pace, saving them time and money.

Federal policymakers can help support student veterans’ transitions as well. The Department of Defense’s Tuition Assistance program for active-duty service members is capped at $250 per credit hour and $4,500 per year. Raising these caps could help more service members start their college journey while they’re still in the military and give them the momentum to continue and finish once they return to civilian life.

According to a 2021 survey by the RAND Corporation, one in five veterans lacks awareness of education benefits available to them, and only a small portion use the VA’s Tuition Assistance. By actively helping veterans understand their benefits and options, colleges can help veterans maximize the value of these benefits and other resources available to them.

Time to Recognize and Invest in Veterans

There are moments in our history when the contributions of veterans are celebrated—and other times when they go unrecognized. This Veterans Day, the Department of Defense, colleges and universities have an opportunity to do more than simply honor veterans. They can help veterans fulfill their education and career aspirations by making resources accessible and providing the support systems necessary for a successful transition from service to student to civic asset.

Because veterans are prepared to invest in their futures—and they need a higher education system that’s equally prepared to invest in them.