What Are Benefits of Going to College After Military Service

You have served your country patriotically and made sacrifices along the way. You have learned how to lead and how to support and how to push through when the going gets tough. But now your military career is coming to a close and you are faced with taking on a new and possibly unfamiliar challenge-civilian life.

How do you prepare for life after the military? The transition from service member to civilian is not necessarily an easy one, but there are steps you can take to potentially ease the transition-and pursuing a degree is one of them. There are numerous possible benefits of going to college after the military, and we discuss some of them below.

1. Access to More Career Path Opportunities

One of the benefits of a college degree is that having one could potentially help unlock doors to new opportunities. Depending on your chosen career path, many positions or employers may require job candidates to hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Here are just a few examples of occupations that typically require a bachelor's degree for entry, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:¹

• Computer and Information Systems Managers
• Logisticians
• Marketing Managers
• Medical and Health Services Managers
• Network and Computer Systems Administrators
• Software Developers

2. Higher Earning Potential

Another benefit of going to college and earning a degree is that doing so could lead to higher earnings. Those who hold a bachelor's degree report higher median weekly earnings than those who do not. And those who hold a graduate degree report higher median weekly earnings than those who hold a less advanced degree or no degree at all. Relatedly, the higher the degree one holds, the lower the average unemployment rate.²

3. Skills and Knowledge Development

The military offers numerous opportunities to develop new skills and knowledge, particularly with regard to your military occupational specialty (MOS). But there is always room to learn more and grow, and pursuing a college degree after leaving the military, whether or not the degree is related to your MOS, is a way to build upon that foundation. (Trident University International offers veterans the opportunity to receive transfer credit for military experience that can be applied to their degree program, thus potentially reducing their overall time to degree and tuition costs.^*) Through college coursework, veterans have an opportunity to continue to build transferable soft skills, such as critical-thinking, problem-solving and communication skills, as well as specialized knowledge and "hard skills" related to their chosen field of study.

^* Transfer credit is evaluated on an individual basis. Not all credits are eligible to transfer. See the Trident University Catalog for transfer credit policies.

4. Networking and Professional Development

Another benefit of going to college-whether online or in person-is the opportunity it can provide in terms of developing a veteran's personal and professional network. In a traditional college setting, networks are likely to be developed through face-to-face interactions. But in an online program, ample opportunities to engage with others and build lasting relationships occur through a combination of live chats, discussion boards, email threads and video conferences. After graduation, alumni associations serve to help former students stay connected with one another and with their alma mater, often by hosting networking events, encouraging mentorship opportunities, or offering continued career services assistance.

On top of network building, colleges may offer various career search resources-résumé review, interview prep, job search resources, etc. The Trident Student Career Center department offers resources to assist students in matching their skills, interests and values with potential career paths, and can help them determine which degree programs may align with their career path goals.

5. Personal Growth and Confidence

Your military experience likely changed you in many ways and contributed to your personal growth. Pursuing college after the military could help you to continue this growth. At times, your studies may challenge or reinforce your pre-existing ideas, reveal new perspectives and ways of thinking, or test your resolve to keep going when the academic subject matter gets tough. Your academic journey may help to shape your personal character and reinforce your self-confidence-culminating in the sense of accomplishment you may feel upon successfully completing your studies and earning your degree. As a veteran, you have already demonstrated that you possess dedication and can commit to long-term goals, and earning an academic credential in the civilian world is another testament to your possession of these qualities.

6. GI Bill^® Benefits for Education Expenses

Veterans and current service members may be eligible to receive financial assistance to fund their post-secondary education under the GI Bill^®, and these benefits can be significant.

GI Bill^® benefits are administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and can be used to pay for college, graduate school and training programs. Veterans and their dependents may qualify for benefits through the following programs:³

• Post-9/11 GI Bill^®: Those who served on active duty after September 10, 2001, may qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill^® benefits. Many applicants are eligible for 36 months of benefits, but others may be eligible for 48 months. Benefits may be applied to tuition and fees, housing, books and supplies, and moving expenses to attend school in a rural area (defined here as six or fewer people per square mile).
• Montgomery GI Bill^® Active Duty: The MGIB-AD program is a different option to help pay for education and training. Those who served at least two years on active duty may qualify. The amount received depends on length of service; the type of education or training program; the service member's category; whether the service member qualifies for a college fund or kicker; how much the service member has paid into the Buy-Up program; and the service member's length of service.
• Montgomery GI Bill^® Selected Reserve: This GI Bill^® benefits program offers up to 36 months of benefits, with the amount a service member receives being dependent on the type of education or training being pursued, how many courses are being taken, and how far along in the education or training program the service member is.

Eligibility requirements differ for each of these programs, and you can determine your eligibility on the VA website. After confirming your eligibility, you will need to gather the following:³

• Social Security number (required)
• Military history (required)
• Basic information about the school or training facility you plan to attend (required)
• Bank account direct deposit information
• Education history

After collecting the necessary documents, you have the option to apply for GI Bill^® benefits online, by mail or in-person at a VA Regional Office.³

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Trident: A Military-Supportive Online University

As you can see, there are various potential benefits of going to college after military service has ended. Pursuing a degree program can help to make the transition from military life to civilian life smoother, whether by helping to unlock new opportunities, by making it easier to expand your network, or by allowing you the opportunity to develop new skills and more confidence.

Trident is an affordable, military-supportive online university that aims to serve current and former service members and their families. We are approved by the State Approving Agency to administer VA education benefits. We offer military grants that reduce tuition for eligible veterans and active-duty service members,^* as well as their immediate families.^** And we grant undergraduate credit for military education in accordance with our transfer credit policies.^*** Visit the Trident Military Assistance Center for a more extensive list of resources for active-duty military members and veterans.

Explore Trident's 100% online degree programs today, or reach out to an Admissions Advisor for more information.

^* University grants or scholarships are based on established criteria as published in the Trident University Catalog or on its website and are awarded after verification that the conditions of eligibility have been met.

^** Immediate family members include: spouse, domestic partner, life partner or dependent (natural/adopted/stepchild) children only. Siblings, cousins, etc. are not considered an immediate family member.

^*** Transfer credit is evaluated on an individual basis. Not all credits are eligible to transfer. See the Trident University Catalog for transfer credit policies.

Trident University International cannot guarantee employment, salary, or career advancement. Not all programs are available to residents of all states. REQ2219221 5/2026

[1] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Projections, "Education and training assignments by detailed occupation," https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/education-and-training-by-occupation.htm (last visited Apr. 22, 2026).

2 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Projections, "Education Pays," https://www.bls.gov/emp/chart-unemployment-earnings-education.htm (last visited Apr. 22, 2026).

3 Military OneSource, "About GI Bill Education Benefits," https://www.militaryonesource.mil/benefits/gi-bill-education-benefits/ (last visited Apr. 22, 2026).