Navy tuition assistance, military tuition assistance, G.I. Bill, military friendly colleges - Navy Times

Fast-track your associate degree

Are you looking for the fastest route to a college degree? Speed and a quality education haven’t always gone hand in hand, but they do now.

It’s easy to fast-track your education and earn an associate degree in less than two years.

Most accredited colleges and universities make you earn 60 college credits before they hand over an associate degree. In a bricks-and-mortar environment, that takes about two years.

But online schools are becoming more flexible, with condensed courses and more ways to earn credits — all of which can streamline your college experience.

In the process, online students may even get a better education.

“A number of academics and professors say that research shows that adults learn better when focusing on one or two areas, as opposed to studying a broad set of courses,” said Mike Foley of Career Education Corp., a group of more than 80 online and campus-based colleges and universities.

“Online courses can be compressed into 5½ weeks rather than a typical 16-week course in a semester. You’re still getting the same course, but you’re doing it in a shorter, more flexible time frame.”

Stick with what you know

One way to speed up college is to choose a degree that matches your military background.

“Depending on your rank and your military occupational specialty, you may be able to reduce the time it takes to earn a two-year degree by 25 to 50 percent,” said Ransel Salgado, Kaplan University’s director of military admissions.

“If, for example, you come in as an E-7 or E-8 and you enter a management degree program, your training may have knocked out some of your preliminary requirements. That could mean up to four or five courses,” Salgado said.

“Right now, associate degree plans in information technology and criminal justice tend to offer the best opportunities for testing out of classes or receiving credits,” he said.

“Health care is another good example. If you’ve been in nursing, you’re more likely to get more credits in a health care field than if you chose to enter management or a completely new field of study.”

Get credit for your service

The American Council on Education makes it possible for you to receive college credits for your military education and training.

In most cases, ACE credits fulfill only elective hours — but they definitely speed up the degree-earning process. Students should ask their schools about ACE credits as well as whether it’s possible to receive additional credit for military service.

That’s what Burdette Shields did before enrolling in Kaplan University. Shields, a California Army National Guard command sergeant major, enrolled in August and is taking courses toward an associate in applied sciences degree in information technology.

Before he enrolled, Shields talked to one of the school’s military advisers and learned he could receive college credit for his noncommissioned officer training.

“I received five credits for being a sergeant major,” Shields said. “I’ve also seen that there’s more flexibility in an online degree program and more ways to take courses in a shorter amount of time.”

Most schools evaluate experiential learning on a case-by-case basis rather than through a pre-established policy. Volunteer work, civilian work experience, military training and professional development courses can all add up to college credit.

To ensure you get the most possible credit for your military experience, take documentation when you meet with an admissions adviser.

Look for flexible scheduling

Ronny King served 20 years in the Army, worked as a telecommunications chief and earned the rank of master sergeant. He now works full time as a network analyst and has a family. Education is important to him, and he’s seen both sides of the classroom experience — online and on campus.

“I earned my associate degree in liberal arts by physically attending classes,” King said. “I’m now finishing my bachelor’s degree online at Colorado Technical University. I wouldn’t go to school any other way now. Going online is all about time management. Whether your goal is speed or to be able to work full time, support your family and still work on your education goals, online is the only way to do it.”

Schools such as CTU offer flexible class schedules and condensed courses that can be taken in a matter of weeks rather than spread out over a traditional semester.

“If you’ve got education goals, the only possible course of action for attaining them quickly is to go to school online,” King said.

So what should you look for? Ask campus military advisers about the flexibility of their colleges’ online programs, including whether they offer condensed courses.

For example, some schools offer one-month semesters in the spring. These “May-mesters” and other similar programs provide single courses condensed into one month.

“If you want to get your degree quickly, you’ll need an aggressive curriculum,” King said. “That way, you don’t have to put your life on hold.”

Test out of required courses

Most students know about CLEP — the College Level Examination Program — but they might not know how extensive these options are. CLEP tests offer students the chance to demonstrate prior knowledge and in doing so, earn college credit and eliminate courses.

CLEP exams are free for eligible military personnel and can be taken at college campuses, military installations and DANTES — Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support — education centers. There are 34 CLEP exams in everything from English, math and history to computer applications and management.