Preparing for Higher Education

Preparing for higher education includes considering and planning for a number of factors — selecting a course of study and understanding how that degree will affect your career options, preparing for college admission exams, choosing a school, knowing how much your educational options will cost and what financial aid is available to you, and more.

Use these tools and resources to help achieve your postsecondary education goals.

Deciding which college to attend is much easier when you have the right information. Compare schools and programs with these smart tools:

• College Navigator provides information on more than 7,000 postsecondary education institutions.
• TA DECIDE is designed for participants of the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Program and helps you compare schools and programs.
• GI Bill® Comparison Tool helps you compare benefits and estimate costs by school.

Get ready for some studying even before college begins. Most colleges and universities require admission exams with your application. The Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support, or DANTES, can help you prepare for enrollment and cover the cost of some of these academic tests. DANTES also offers college prep resources that can help you prepare for these admission exams, sharpen your study skills, and identify your interests and aptitudes to help you choose an area of study or career path.

The skills you’ve mastered during your military service can count just as much as quizzes in a classroom. The Joint Services Transcript converts your military experience into civilian college credit, providing documented evidence to colleges and universities of professional military education, training and occupation experiences. The Joint Services Transcript is a collaborative transcript program that replaces previous transcript programs, making it easier for colleges to read and recommend credits.

As a service member, you have several options that can help fund your schooling. Your service-specific Voluntary Education Program, listed below in the voluntary education contacts section, can help you identify grants and other kinds of assistance — like federal loans, tax credits and deductions, and military tuition assistance.

If you’re planning to pursue higher education, your service-specific Voluntary Education Program counselor can help you decide which programs are the best fit for your goals. Find service-specific program information and contact information for education professionals who can help provide information about financing and additional education support.