Top Online Master’s Degrees for Veterans

If you’re currently serving in the U.S. military, getting a master’s degree can be a beneficial addition to your military career—and an immediate boost for a post-military career. By pursuing your advanced degree online, not only can you fit school into your schedule but you can also attend school from anywhere in the world if you have an Internet connection and a computer. With online learning, your educational journey doesn’t need to stop if you’re deployed.

A number of degrees fit seamlessly with the skills you’ve learned in the military. In this guide, we’ll break down some of the best online master’s degrees for veterans that build on your existing skills and that prepare you for new roles and new challenges.

Getting a master’s degree is not only a time-consuming process but also an expensive one as well. That said, there are many reasons why it’s beneficial to get an advanced degree.

For one, getting a master’s degree increases your knowledge base and makes you an expert. Having a master’s has other benefits too, including increasing your network of people who can be helpful when looking for a civilian job; increasing your earning potential, both while serving and after getting out of the military; and improving your employability post-military. Let’s look at a few benefits of online programs more in depth:

This is cited as the number-one reason military types—both active duty and veterans—decide to get their master’s degree online. Being able to work on studies as time permits means you aren’t tied to having to be in class at a set time. With the busy schedule that comes with being a spouse and/or parent and working either while still serving or as a veteran in the civilian workplace, getting an advanced degree online just makes the most sense.

For active-duty personnel, working on a master’s degree online means you can attend class regardless of your location. Even in the most remote locations where military personnel can be stationed or deployed, Internet access of some type is usually available. Instead of filling time playing video games or streaming Netflix, many military personnel choose to work on their advanced degrees while deployed. As a veteran, attending school from the comfort of your home can be a good fit because of a difference in age, values, or ideological views between yourself and traditional students; persistent medical issues, including PTSD; or simply as a way to avoid a long or expensive commute.

While serving in the military, you learned new skills. Some of the soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, and problem solving, transfer easily to a civilian job. Hard skills may or may not seem to apply. For example, the skills you’ve developed in learning to maintain aircraft electrical systems might help you see that a master’s in engineering is a good next step for you—and is a career path that you might otherwise never have considered.

Officers in the military need to have at least a bachelor’s degree. Having a master’s degree opens even more doors to advancement. In today’s military, you’re unlikely to advance past the rank of O3 without a master’s degree or at least progress toward one.

Pay in the military is driven by two factors: grade and time in service. Because a master’s degree can lead to promotion, it means a higher annual salary at the time of promotion and in the future as time-in-service pay increases kick in. As a veteran, having a master’s degree helps you garner higher starting salaries in the civilian workforce in whichever career field you choose.

Military service qualifies you for educational funding. By serving for at least three years, you then have at least 36 months of GI Bill entitlement you can use toward your education. If you are still serving and anticipate getting a master’s degree in the future, take advantage of any military education or funding like Tuition Assistance or Tuition Top-Up to preserve as much GI Bill entitlement as possible.

No doubt about it, getting accepted into a master’s degree program is difficult. You’ll want to ensure your application is well organized, complete, and accurately reflects your education, training, and experience in the best light.

The thoroughness of your application, along with the information it contains, will in large part determine if you get accepted or not. One of the first things to do before filling out an application is to know what tests and test scores your school requires. Most schools accept either the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). In rare cases a school will accept both, but that isn’t the norm.

If you send in the score for one test and the school only accepts the other one, then you not only have an incomplete application but you also have wasted a significant amount of time and money. Do your homework and know all you can about the school and its master’s program.

In addition to tests scores, you’ll be required to submit other information, such as undergraduate transcripts, military transcripts, letters of recommendation, and essays, just to name a few. Carefully read through what is required so you won’t have any surprises.

One of the requirements before filling out a master’s degree application is to know what field you want to pursue, as this affects the information required on your application. Undecided? Consider these ten degrees that many veterans pursue because the fields fit in well with military service experience:

If business is your focus, then a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) is a great choice. Most of these programs focus on business strategy. And while that is important, people at this level almost always also supervise other employees. This is where your military leadership and other training comes into play.

• Military Skills Required

  Working under pressure, leadership, decision making, and accountability.

• Potential Career Paths

  Financial officer, controller, accounting manager, analyst, or product manager.

• Program Highlight

  University of Phoenix Master of Business Administration

Whereas an MBA focuses on the administrative side of business, a leadership and management master’s degree focuses more on the people side of things. So if you relate well to people and find you can motivate a team, this may be a top option.

• Military Skills Required

  Team building/leading, coaching/mentoring, motivation, organizing, communication, and project management.

• Potential Career Paths

  Sales manager, school principal, corporate trainer, or human resources executive.

• Program Highlight

  Arizona State University Master of Applied Leadership and Management.

For those who like serving others as an extension of their military career, a Master’s in Public Administration or Policy is a good advanced degree to choose. This degree can take you in a variety of directions.

• Military Skills Required

  Communications, public affairs, planning, and team leadership.

• Potential Career Paths

  Government or community relations manager, program manager, consultant, city manager, or politician.

• Program Highlight

  Purdue University Global Master of Public Administration.

Many veterans choose education as a way to reach young people. Some get into teaching right away via the Troops to Teachers program but after a few years get their graduate degree and shift to Education Administration. A Master’s Degree in Education qualifies you for an entry level position in this career track. Some veterans go on to get their doctorate to progress even further in this field.

• Military Skills Required

  Leadership, training, management, and organization.

• Potential Career Paths

  Teacher/professor, principal, counselor, or department head.

• Program Highlight

  Purdue University Global Master of Science in Higher Education.

The computer science field has two parts: hardware and software. Those in the information technology/hardware side set up computer networks. Those in the computer science/software side set up the programs to make the hardware work. Cybersecurity is a specialized part of this fast-growing technical field.

• Military Skills Required

  Attention to detail, problem solving, and decision making.

• Potential Career Paths

  Information security analyst, digital forensics specialist, network administrator, cybersecurity specialist, or ethical (white hat) hacker.

• Program Highlight

  University of Southern California Online Master of Science in Computer Science (Computer Security).

The health field is growing—and is predicted to continue growing into the foreseeable future. As the aging population grows, so do their medical needs. However, if you don’t want to get into the patient side of healthcare, the administration side is a great alternative.

• Military Skills Required

  Communication, team building/leading, organization, and management.

• Potential Career Paths

  Administrator for a hospital, clinic, doctor’s office, or outpatient facility.

• Program Highlight

  Western Governors University MBA in Healthcare Management.

While a Master of Social Work may not seem like a fitting degree for a post-military career, it tracks well with many jobs. Most military members who have at least the grade of E-5 have the military skills required for this degree.

• Military Skills Required

  Coaching, mentoring, leading, and counseling.

• Potential Career Paths

  Family counseling, mental health services, crisis intervention, resource navigation, or advocacy for a particular group of people, including military and veterans’ families.

• Program Highlight

  University of Southern California Master of Social Work.

A Master’s in Engineering takes you to the next level in the engineering field. Having this degree usually leads to a higher-level supervisory position that could be in a production facility, engineering firm, or on the job in the field. Engineering management includes various specialties, including electrical, civil, and mechanical engineering.

• Military Skills Required

  Communication, team building/leading, attention to detail, and decision making.

• Potential Career Paths

  Project manager, engineering manager, or production manager.

• Program Highlight

  Ohio University Online Master of Engineering Management.

A Master of Science in Criminal Justice opens a lot of doors for a post-military career in law enforcement. This is one of the best fields that a person with military experience can choose. The military trains service members in most positions in the basic skills that are required to hold a post-military career in criminal justice; having a master’s degree in the field allows you to compete for higher-level jobs and at higher starting salaries. Because law enforcement has the feel of the military structure, generally military members and veterans feel comfortable serving in these positions. Plus, because many of these jobs are within the federal government system, military service applies to the tenure for the position.

• Military Skills Required

  Attention to detail, working under pressure, decision making, and accountability.

• Potential Career Paths

  Deputy sheriff, detective, police chief, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security, or private executive security.

• Program Highlight

  University of Cincinnati Online Master of Science in Criminal Justice.

Military History has two graduate degree options: Master of Arts and Master of Science. In a Master of Arts program, the topics cover more historical pedagogy, geography, anthropology, and research. In the Master of Science program, the topics lean more toward cartography, weaponry, and historical battle strategy.

• Military Skills Required

  Operational or strategic planning, training, and organizing.

• Potential Career Paths

  Teacher/professor, museum director, or defense contractor.

• Program Highlight

  Norwich University Online Master of Arts in Military History.

A master’s degree program can be expensive. Getting this degree costs twice as much or more than what an undergraduate degree costs, and you have to pay that bill in about half the time (or less). Fortunately, as a service member or veteran you have access to several financial aid programs available to help pay for your advanced degree. Below are five of the most popular funding options for military members and veterans:

While the Air Force/Space Force covers:

• $250 per semester hour
• $166 per quarter hour
• $4,500 per fiscal year

No doubt you still have questions about how military service and online master’s programs work together. Keep reading to get answers to the FAQs when it comes to graduate school for military vets.

Q: Can I get credit for my Military Service?

A: Yes, you can. One of the best ways to get military service credit is to have the Joint Services Transcript (JST) send a copy of your military training and experience to your school. Each school has access to the American Council on Education conversion of military training and experiences to upper- and lower-level credits. While these mainly apply at the undergraduate level, some will transfer to a master’s degree.

Q: How do school scholarships, Pell Grants, or other institutional aid affect VA educational benefits?

A: This aid is deducted first from the tuition and then the GI Bill is applied to the remaining amount. Keep in mind that Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits are deducted at the same rate regardless of how much the VA pays in tuition and fees. With the MGIB the aid is applied first and then the student pays the difference with funds from their MGIB, personal funds, or any other funding sources at their disposal.

Q: What are the eligibility requirements of the YRP?

A: As mentioned earlier, because the YRP is a feature of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, using that GI Bill is a must. The holder of the Post-9/11 GI Bill must be at the 100% tier to be eligible for the YRP. Remember, not all schools have YRP agreements with the VA. Schools establish the percentage they choose to waive, how many students can be in the program at any one time, the maximum amount waived per student, and which degree plans and degree levels will be included in their YRP. Dig into the details to make sure you understand the program.

Q: How much will I get for my monthly housing allowance?

A: The amount of your Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) is based on several factors. The primary one is the location of the school, since its zip code is a major factor in determining how much you get paid each month. Once the amount for a specific zip code is calculated, the student gets paid at the E-5 with dependents pay grade regardless of their pay grade when they got out of the military and if they have dependents or not. When looking up how much MHA you will get using the Basic Allowance for Housing calculator, first enter the zip code and then the pay grade of E-5 and use the E-5 Pay Grade with Dependents rate from the results. After that, your Post-9/11 GI Bill percentage tier applies to that rate.

For example, if you are attending the University of Arizona (zip code 85721) and are at the 100% tier, you would receive $1,674/month. However, if you are at the 70% tier, you would get $1,171.80/month. The amount of MHA is the same regardless of degree level; grad students get the same amount as undergraduates for the same zip code and tier percentage.

The other thing that affects MHA is if you are attending on campus or online. Online-only students get 50% of the national MHA average or about $800/month. One way for online students to get the full MHA is to take hybrid classes, which include a mix of online and on-campus learning.

Q: If I have two GI Bills, can I use both?

A: Yes, but right now you must use them in a certain order. To get the maximum benefit, first exhaust your MGIB and then switch over to the Post-9/11 GI Bill to get an additional year of benefits. If you do it the other way around, you’ll lose your remaining MGIB entitlement. If you have unused MGIB benefits and switch to the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you will only get the same number of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits that you had left under your MGIB.

Q: What drove your decision to pursue a master’s degree?

A: I wanted to teach part-time at the junior college that I graduated from, but I needed a master’s degree. I also felt it would help me to become a better administrator and qualify me to be in the running for an appointment as police chief, if I chose to apply.

Q: What decision making went into which school you chose?

A: Western Illinois University (WIU) had an extension master’s degree program that was in my area and the university was in the top five in the U.S. for their master’s degree program. The police department paid for my books and the GI Bill paid for the rest, plus I had a veteran’s scholarship from the state of Illinois. (Go Leathernecks at WIU!)

Q: What effect did getting a master’s degree have on your career?

A: It made me more qualified for promotion. I was at the top of the list for the next step up, but not for the Police Chief list, so I chose to stay in my position. It assisted me in getting to teach at the Police Academy for several years.

Q: If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?

A: I wouldn’t change a thing. But I do have the following advice: Do your homework. Choose your school carefully. Make sure the accreditation is recognized in the industry where you want to work. And know how much your degree will cost and where the money is coming from to avoid accumulation of a lot of student loan debt.

Q: How long did it take to get your master’s degree?

A: It took me three years of working on it part-time.

Q: Were you prepared for the challenges of getting your master’s degree?

A: It was harder than I thought. The thesis was very trying, but with my wife’s assistance—a very educated professional in the teaching profession—I made it. In fact, the university had it published and placed it in their research library.