The Military in Higher Education

A new report from the US Department of Education looks at veterans and military members in higher education. Key findings:

• In 2007–08, about 4 percent of all undergraduates and about 4 per-cent of all graduate students were veterans or military service members. About two-fifths of military undergraduates and one-fifth of military graduate students used GI Bill education benefits.

• Unlike their nonmilitary counterparts, a majority of military undergraduates and military graduate students were male. Military students also were more likely than their nonmilitary peers to be married.

• Military undergraduates studied at private nonprofit 4-year institutions, pursued bachelor’s degrees, took a distance education course, and studied computer and information sciences more often than their nonmilitary peers. The percentage of military undergraduates who received financial aid (including GI Bill benefits) and the amount they received (including GI Bill benefits) generally exceeded or was not measurably different from those of nonmilitary independent undergraduates.

• A larger percentage of military graduate students than nonmilitary graduate students waited 7 or more years between completing their bachelor’s degree and starting graduate school, were enrolled in master’s degree programs, attended part time, and took a distance education course.