Study: With Right Help, Military Students May Outperform Civilian Peers

Military students progress toward earning a college degree as fast as or faster than their non-military peers at schools with veteran-specific services, according to a November 2011 study. They also have higher GPAs and retention rates.

"Campuses included in this study are leading the way in answering the call to support military students, and their students are excelling," the study co-authors, Wendy Lang and John Powers, indicated in the report.

Study tracks success of students using military education benefits

The study, "Completing the Mission: A Pilot Study of Veteran Students' Progress Toward Degree Attainment in the Post 9/11 Era," tracked 200 students, both active-duty military and veterans, from the 2009-2010 school year through the spring of 2011. At the time, these students were receiving some form of military education benefit and studying at one of nine higher education schools with veteran-focused support services and policies designed to help them succeed.

The study was sponsored by Operation College Promise, a policy, research and information program supporting the post-secondary education advancement of servicemembers and veterans, and the Pat Tillman Foundation, an organization providing educational scholarships and support to veterans, active servicemembers and their spouses.

With school support, military students outperform peers

The study found that with comparable course loads, military students had higher GPAs and a higher retention rate than civilian students.

Military students had an average GPA of 3.04 and a retention rate from their first to second year of college of 94 percent--significantly higher than the national average of 65.7 percent. Nearly three-quarters (71 percent) of these military students earned all of the credits they pursued.

A little more than half (60 percent) of military students took advantage of on-campus, veteran-specific services, but their use varied considerably. One-third were receiving credit for their military training.

"It is encouraging to witness the commitment of these campuses and the success of the military student population they serve," the report noted.

More than 523,000 veterans have taken advantage of the Post-9/11 GI Bill since August 2009, according to the report. That number is expected to increase as more troops exit the military and a shaky economy with limited jobs sends returning veterans back to college. About 300,000 military members transition into civilian life each year.

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