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Navy Voluntary Education Support Programs
The U.S. Navy provides a wide variety of educational support programs to help each and every member get the opportunity to attain a college degree. Some of these programs are informational, designed to help a sailor learn about his or her options, while others provide free testing and financial assistance for college courses. All told, the Navy tries to put higher education within reach of every sailor who is willing to do the work.
Virtual Education Center
The Navy's Virtual Education Center is a good starting point for personnel who are just beginning their journey toward getting an education. The Navy's Virtual Education Center is a service that provides answers to any questions Navy personnel may have about educational opportunities. Servicemembers may access the Virtual Education System through email, conventional mail, fax or telephone. The toll-free number for the Navy's Virtual Education Center is 1-877-838-1659. It is open 15 hours a day, 7 days a week, year round. The Virtual Education Center is closed for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and Independence Day.
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Navy College Offices
Each major, on-shore Navy installation is equipped with a Navy College Office. Navy College Offices are one example of real-time, navy voluntary education support programs that offer educational assistance to serve the men and women stationed at Navy installations around the world. Such offices frequently offer educational counseling, on-base college courses, and official examinations, such as CLEP and college placement tests.
Navy College Program For Afloat College Education (NCPACE)
The Navy College Program for Afloat College Education is a Navy voluntary education support program that specializes in bringing college education opportunities to sailors stationed at sea. College courses are held on board the ship, if demand is high enough to warrant it. This program can be used by Marines and sailors. In addition, NCPACE may assist Navy personnel with online and distance-learning courses.
Sailor/Marine American Council On Education Registry Transcript (SMART)
Military training and experience counts for a lot, and many colleges recognize that. The Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript is a document that details a sailor or Marine's military experience and training in terms of college course equivalency. SMART assists colleges in granting credits for transfer purposes. A SMART transcript may be obtained through your installation's Navy College Office.
Servicemembers' Opportunity College (SOCNAV)
One important feature of Navy voluntary education support programs is the organization known as the Servicemembers' Opportunity College, or SOCNAV, if you prefer military acronyms. SOCNAV is an arrangement between the five military branches, and a network of public and private colleges. SOCNAV ensures that each member institution accepts the transfer credits of military personnel from other member institutions. This means that a service member who is going to college at one installation and undergoes a permanent change of station (PCS) to another base can usually continue his or her college degree without losing credits during the transition.
Navy Tuition Assistance
Tuition assistance, or TA, is the most frequently used educational assistance program across all military branches. The Navy TA program provides servicemembers with funding to go to college, while they are in the service, taking courses on their off-duty hours. For active-duty servicemembers, tuition assistance provides up to 100 percent tuition with a maximum of $250 per semester hour or $166.67 per quarter hour. Students may not take more than 16 semester hours of courses, or 24 quarter hours, per fiscal year. TA funding also has an annual cap of $4,500 per fiscal year.
Tuition assistance allows Navy servicemembers to pursue the college degree of their choice, and many only end up having to pay for books and supplies. If college tuition and fees are higher than the annual maximum allowed by tuition assistance, a servicemember may tap into his or her GI Bill through the Tuition Assistance Top-Up program.
Regardless of your rank or education level today, the Navy's voluntary education support program can help you pursue a better tomorrow. Make the most of your benefits, now.
This list does not include all schools that accept GI Bill funding. For a more complete list of schools, click here.
Campus Schools
You deserve a better career and a better life. Rasmussen College in Minnesota can help you get both.
Located just outside of Orlando, Florida, Full Sail University is an educational leader for those pursuing careers in the entertainment industry. The school's on-campus programs provide students with an innovative and accelerated style of education geared toward career opportunities in media, entertainment and the arts.
Full Sail's unique curriculum emphasizes intensive, real-world education, using the latest industry equipment and production processes. Students develop their skills in world-class recording studios, spacious film soundstages, motion capture studio, and a professional performing arts hall, all housed in a 110+ studio, 190-acre multimedia complex.
Full Sail's unique curriculum emphasizes intensive, real-world education, using the latest industry equipment and production processes. Students develop their skills in world-class recording studios, spacious film soundstages, motion capture studio, and a professional performing arts hall, all housed in a 110+ studio, 190-acre multimedia complex.
Carrington College has helped over 45,000 graduates realize their dream of a career in healthcare. Now it's your turn. Choose from eleven conveniently located campuses.
Carrington College California offers the programs you need to begin a career in healthcare. Choose from Healthcare, Massage Therapy, Dental Assisting, Pharmacy Technology, or Veterinary Services.
Launch a business, healthcare, or technology career with Dover Business College. Train with the most current technology programs at one of our two (Dover and Paramus, New Jersey) campuses.
Widely recognized as unique among colleges and universities, Berkeley College offers a proven approach to career education that provides students with a competitive edge and the skills sought by employers.
Empire College, located in Santa Rosa, California, can give you the career training you need to launch or advance your career in the Business, Law, Technology, or Medical fields.
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Get your photography career started at the Hallmark Institute of Photography. We provide a real-world approach to professional photographic education, and training is completed within 10 months.
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Fulfill your dreams with an education from Philadelphia University. We offer more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs and one doctoral degree program. Our academic programs include architecture, design, business, engineering, liberal arts, textiles, fashion, science, and health.
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RSI can give you the hands-on training and skills you need to launch a rewarding career as an HVAC technician. Job search assistance for graduates is available.
This list does not include all schools that accept GI Bill funding. For a more complete list of schools, click here.
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