Best Colleges for Veterans in Maryland

As a veteran who has faithfully served in the military, you and your dependents are provided with educational benefits. These can aid you in your transition back to civilian life as well as helping your partner and children with their higher education journey. In this article, you’ll find a list of the top military-friendly colleges in Maryland where you can maximize your veteran education benefits.

The best military colleges in Maryland offer a wide range of services for members of the military community, whether attending an on-campus or online program. Receiving your military benefits isn’t always straightforward, which is why we’ve also included helpful tips on how you can optimally reduce your tuition when attending one of the best colleges for veterans in Maryland.

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Is It Hard to Get Into a Military-Friendly College in Maryland?

No, it’s not hard to get into a military-friendly college in Maryland. There are many military colleges in Maryland that have an open admission policy, making it very easy for prospective students who are military veterans or active-duty personnel to enroll. These include Anne Arundel Community College, College of Southern Maryland, and Lincoln College of Technology.

Funding for Military-Friendly Schools in Maryland

There are over 120 military-friendly schools in Maryland that have a Veterans Affairs department that supports military-affiliated students process their benefits. There are various programs that provide educational benefits for veterans and active-duty personnel to compensate them for their service and help them transition to college by lowering their tuition rates.

These programs currently offer benefits for veterans’ education in Maryland:

• Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP)
• Post-9/11 GI Bill
• Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA)
• State Tuition Assistance Reimbursement (STAR)
• State Tuition Waiver (STW)

Is College Free in Maryland if You Are a Veteran?

Yes, college is free in Maryland if you are a veteran, but only if you are eligible for the Edward T. Conroy Memorial Scholarship. Otherwise, the GI Bill will only partially cover the cost of tuition and fees for your college education in addition to providing you monthly payments for housing and stipends for books and supplies.

Is Maryland a Good Place to Go to a Military-Friendly College?

Yes, Maryland is a good place to go to a military-friendly college as they offer a wide variety of benefits to veterans as well as quality college education programs and career resources that can help a military student perform well in their career choice. Many colleges in Maryland also provide assistance to veterans and active-duty members through counseling services.

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Factors Vets Need to Consider When Choosing a School in Maryland

• Veteran services. As a military-affiliated student, you should consider the services and resources specifically prepared for veterans that a school offers. Unfortunately, not all schools take the veteran experience into consideration as much as others, so make sure to do your research.
• Career resources. Before choosing a school ensure the school has a career resource center that provides basic workforce development services like resume writing, interview skill development, and career counseling. Some schools even offer job placement services for veterans, although this is less common.
• Transfer credits. Some schools will recognize your past education experience and military training and allow you to use these toward the credit requirements of a degree program. This makes it much easier for prospective students in the military community to transition to college, as it allows them to earn their degrees in a shorter time frame.
• Exclusive veteran space. Many schools offer dedicated military student spaces such as a college park, lounge, or student organization where you can meet and connect with other veteran students for moral and academic support. Campus life is an important part of what makes a school for veterans great.
• Campus services. When choosing a military college, you should opt for a school that provides on-campus services such as mental health services, medical support for military students, or services for veteran students with disabilities.

Best Military-Friendly Colleges in Maryland at a Glance

Best Colleges for Veterans in Maryland

Anne Arundel Community College | Arnold, MD

Anne Arundel Community College is a public college that was established in 1961. Accredited by the Middle State Commission on Higher Education, it offers online, in-person, evening, and weekend classes to suit the needs of its over 17,500 students. The school also has a military-friendly online college where veterans can take online programs.

Arun Arundel Community College is dedicated to supporting the professional advancement and academic success of people in the armed services and their qualified family members. The school’s Student Veterans Association and Military Resource Center organize campus activities to provide veteran students with a smooth college experience.

Anne Arundel Community College Overview

Undergraduate Tuition: $122/credit (in county), $264/credit (in state), $415/credit (out of state)
Graduate Tuition: N/A
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Graduation Rate: 28%
US News National Ranking: N/A

Services and Programs for Servicemembers and Veterans

• Yellow Ribbon Program
• Credit for military training
• Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military service members, and their families
• Recognized student veteran organization
• Member of Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges

Overview of Veteran Benefits Awarded at Arun Arundel Community College

Number of Undergraduates Receiving Benefits: 999
Number of Graduates Receiving Benefits: N/A
Average Amount of Assistance Awarded via DoD to Undergraduates: $628
Average Amount of Assistance Awarded via DoD to Graduates: N/A

College of Southern Maryland | La Plata, MD

Established in 1958, the College of Southern Maryland is a public college headquartered in La Plate and is the sixth-largest community college in Maryland. The school is home to approximately 18,700 students and has campuses in the Calvert, Charles, and St Mary counties.  

Approved by the Veterans Affairs Department, the school assists veteran students who want to apply for their benefits and offers a variety of career services to help them start their careers on the right foot. CSMD also has a student veterans lounge where its military population can find moral and academic support. Military students at CSMD have a remarkable college experience.

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College of Southern Maryland Overview 

Undergraduate Tuition: $137/credit (in county), $240/credit (in state), $308/credit (out of state)
Graduate Tuition: N/A
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Graduation Rate: 31%
US News National Ranking: N/A

Services and Programs for Servicemembers and Veterans

• Yellow Ribbon Program
• Credit for military training
• Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military servicemembers, and their families
• Recognized student veteran organization
• Member of Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges 

Overview of Veteran Benefits Awarded at College of Southern Maryland

Number of Undergraduates Receiving Benefits: 595
Number of Graduates Receiving Benefits: N/A
Average Amount of Assistance Awarded via DoD to Undergraduates: $1,131
Average Amount of Assistance Awarded via DoD to Graduates: N/A

Lincoln College of Technology | Columbia, MD

The Lincoln College of Technology is a private for-profit institution that was established in 1960 and currently offers a wide range of undergraduate associate and bachelor's degree programs across many different fields of study. The school is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career School and Colleges (ACCSC). 

The Lincoln College of Technology assists military students in filing for their GI Bill educational benefits and provides military support teams and career services to help them transition back to civilian life. These services help vets secure well-paying jobs and play significant roles in the workforce. Lincoln Tech also allows military training to be used as a credit towards a degree. 

Lincoln College of Technology Overview 

Undergraduate Tuition: $19,584 - $36,218/program
Graduate Tuition: N/A
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Graduation Rate: 64%
US News National Ranking: N/A

Services and Programs for Servicemembers and Veterans

• Yellow Ribbon Program
• Credit for military training
• Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military servicemembers, and their families

Overview of Veteran Benefits Awarded at Lincoln College of Technology

Number of Undergraduates Receiving Benefits: 107
Number of Graduates Receiving Benefits: N/A
Average Amount of Assistance Awarded via DoD to Undergraduates: N/A
Average Amount of Assistance Awarded via DoD to Graduates: N/A

Hood College | Frederick, MD

Hood College is a private nonprofit institution originally established in 1893 as the Woman's College of Frederick. Accredited by the Middles States Commission on Higher Education, it offers over 36 majors on-campus as well as a number of online master's and bachelor's degree programs. The institution has around 1,200 undergraduate students and 800 graduate students.  

Hood college accepts up to 30 military credits towards one of their degree programs and organizes events such as the Monthly Veteran Coffee and Veterans Day to help their military population to foster a friendly and relatable atmosphere. The school also has veteran committees and organizations that provide support to veteran students. 

Hood College Overview 

Undergraduate Tuition: $21,900/semester (full-time)
Graduate Tuition: $500 - $1,100/credit
Acceptance Rate: 77%
Graduation Rate: 66%
US News National Ranking: N/A

Services and Programs for Servicemembers and Veterans

• Yellow Ribbon Program
• Credit for military training
• Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military servicemembers, and their families
• Recognized student veteran organization

Overview of Veteran Benefits Awarded at Hood College

Number of Undergraduates Receiving Benefits: 33
Number of Graduates Receiving Benefits: 38
Average Amount of Assistance Awarded via DoD to Undergraduates: N/A
Average Amount of Assistance Awarded via DoD to Graduates: $1,732

Howard Community College | Columbia, MD

Established in 1966, Howard Community College is a public college accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) offering associate degree programs in across a large number of fields of studies. The school has around 14,000 students and is one of the best military-friendly colleges in the state due to its numerous college resources for veterans.

The institution has a military students lounge and waives transcript evaluation and application fees for military students. Active-duty personnel who are deployed during their studies are refunded their full tuition and veteran students are given a chance to delay their tuition payments until they begin to collect their educational benefits. HCC also accepts military experience as credit toward a degree.

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Howard Community College Overview 

Undergraduate Tuition: $142/credit (in county), $245/credit (in state), $322/credit (out of state)
Graduate Tuition: N/A
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Graduation Rate: 25%
US News National Ranking: N/A

Services and Programs for Servicemembers and Veterans

• Credit for military training
• Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military servicemembers, and their families
• Recognized student veteran organization
• Member of Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges

Overview of Veteran Benefits Awarded at Howard Community College

Number of Undergraduates Receiving Benefits: 229
Number of Graduates Receiving Benefits: N/A
Average Amount of Assistance Awarded via DoD to Undergraduates: $936
Average Amount of Assistance Awarded via DoD to Graduates: N/A

How Does the Post-9/11 GI Bill Work?

The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides education benefits to war veterans and their family members by paying a portion of their tuition and fees and providing monthly housing allowances and a yearly subsidy for books and supplies. The GI Bill applies to degree programs, licenses, certifications, vocational or technical training, and even coding bootcamps for veteran students who want to go into tech.

Who Is Eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill?

The people who are eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill are active or retired military personnel who, on or after September 11, 2001, served in active duty for at least 90 days, received a Purple Heart and were honorably discharged, or served for at least 30 consecutive days and were honorably discharged due to a service-related disability. Its benefits can be transferred to their dependents.

What Does the GI Bill Cover?

The GI Bill education benefits can fully or partially cover the cost of tuition and fees as well as provide a monthly housing allowance, a yearly allowance for books and supplies, and a one-time relocation allowance. The amount of tuition covered depends on whether a student is attending a public or private university.

Top 5 Things You Need to Know About the GI Bill

1. The GI Bill’s benefits are exclusively for people who have actively served in the military or are presently active duty service members.
2. The funds provided by the GI Bill are not paid to the school. As a beneficiary under the GI Bill, your military benefits are deposited directly into your bank account and there is no requirement to pay them back.
3. If you intend to subsidize the cost of earning a degree with your GI Bill military benefits, the pay you will receive is dependent on the number of credits you take and whether you choose to study at a public or private college or university.
4. While the maximum amount of time students can receive the benefits is 48 months, most qualified students are only eligible for 36 months.
5. The dependents of veterans can claim the GI Bill military benefits in place of them.

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How to Apply for the GI Bill and Related Benefits

To apply for the Post-9/11 GI Bill and related military benefits, you need to confirm your eligibility status, choose a program, and apply for admission. Afterward, you’ll need to prepare the necessary documents, fill out the application form, and take your certificate of eligibility to the Veterans Affairs office at your school.

Step 1: Confirm your eligibility status

Before you apply for the GI Bill military benefits you should check if you are an eligible veteran for the military benefits provided under the GI Bill. Qualified students can contact their local Veterans Affairs office to discuss their eligibility or look over the eligibility requirements on the VA’s website.

Step 2: Choose a program and apply for admission

To qualify for these educational military benefits you must be enrolled in an educational or technical program. Since the benefits provided can vary from one school to another, you should compare and contrast the available benefits at different schools before making your choice.

Step 3: Prepare your documents

To apply for the GI Bill you must provide the Department of Veterans Affairs with information such as your social security number, your bank account information, your educational and military history, and information about the school or training facility you want to attend.

Step 4: Fill out the education benefits form and submit

You can apply for the GI Bill online or in person. The application form must be filled out correctly, with all the required information, before submitting it. Since this process is usually done during your application process to different schools, you can always ask for help from the student financial aid office at the school you hope to attend.

Step 5: Take your certificate of eligibility to your school

It takes an average of 30 days to process claims. After you submit your application you’ll receive a Certificate of Eligibility or award letter in your email. Once you’ve received it, you’ll need to take this letter to the certifying official at your school.

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What Documents Do I Need to Apply for the GI Bill?

To apply for the GI Bill benefits you will need to provide your social security number, your bank account information, a record of your education and military history, information on the school you are or plan to be attending, and, in the case of military-dependent students, a copy of your birth certificate.

These are the documents you need to apply for the GI Bill:

• Your Social Security Number
• Your bank account information
• A record of your education and military history
• Information about the school or training facility you are or plan to be attending
• A copy of your birth certificate for qualified dependents

What Are the Best Online Military-Friendly Colleges in Maryland?

If you want to earn your degree in an online program, you have plenty of available options. The best online military-friendly colleges in Maryland you can attend to earn your online bachelor’s or associate degree are Excelsior College, Montgomery College, Thomas Edison State University, the University of Maryland, and Wor-Wic Community College.

These are the best online military-friendly colleges in Maryland:

• Excelsior College
• Montgomery College
• Thomas Edison State University
• The University of Maryland
• Wor-Wic Community College

Best Online Colleges for Veterans in Maryland

Can I Get College Credit for My Military Training?

Yes, you can get college credits for your military training and, by doing so, make it easier and faster for you to earn your college degree. You’ll need to request your transcript from the branch you served and submit it to your school, which will then decide how many credits they’ll accept. You can easily request this transcript online and have it mailed to your school.

As a Vet, Do I Have to Meet the Same Requirements as Regular Students?

Yes, as a veteran you have to meet the same admission requirement as regular applicants. Make sure to consult the school’s admissions portal to learn about its specific application requirements. Many schools have GPA and standardized test score minimums, which also apply to military students and active-duty military personnel.

Applying to College: 5 Tips for Veteran Students

As a former military service member, you are likely to face some difficult choices after leaving the military. Getting accustomed to civilian life isn’t without its challenges and the job security of service life can be appealing in contrast to the uncertainty of civilian life. As hard as it may seem, here are some tips for veteran students starting their higher education journey.

1. Familiarize yourself with your benefits. It’s extremely important to thoroughly familiarize yourself with your benefits and to what extent they apply. In the long run, this will help you plan your higher education journey more thoroughly.
2. Start the application process early. When applying for the GI Bill benefits, veteran students should make sure they apply very early on as the process can be very tedious. A waiting time of up to six months is not uncommon.
3. Check your school’s eligibility. When picking out college programs, make sure that they are accredited and approved by the Veterans Affairs as your GI Bill is not eligible at every school. You can log on to the Veterans Affairs website to confirm a school’s status and whether or not your military service will benefit you.
4. Keep in mind how far your benefits will take you. While 48 months is the maximum amount of time GI Bill benefits can carry you, most students only qualify for a maximum of 36 months. Make sure to plan accordingly.
5. Consider other financial aid programs. While your military benefits can carry you a long way, applying for scholarships, grants, work-study programs, and other financial aid opportunities is never a bad idea, especially if enrolling at a private university where your tuition will not be entirely covered.

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Should You Attend a Military-Friendly School in Maryland?

Yes, you should attend a military-friendly school in Maryland. There are more than 120 different schools approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs that support military-affiliated students with their higher education journey. This makes Maryland a great place for veterans to embark on their higher education journey.

Military-Friendly Colleges in Maryland FAQ