Find Out If a School Is Right for You by Asking Smart Questions

Don’t pick a school without all the facts—or you might end up with some unpleasant surprises down the road. Use this guide to ask the right questions before you enroll.

As you begin to search for a school that’s right for you, you’ll find that there are thousands to choose from; luckily most of them are military-friendly. It’s tough to pick the one that will be perfect for your lifestyle and your academic needs. When you’ve found a school that looks promising on paper, the next step is to speak to a college admissions advisor. Remember, if you are using our School Finder, just indicate that you’d like to be contacted and a school rep will either call or e-mail you directly. As you communicate with school admissions advisors, make sure you ask questions that will truly help you make a good decision. These fall into four main categories: cost, non-traditional credit options, accreditation, and general course information.

Cost
Make sure you ask for a breakdown of per-credit costs, lab fees, admin fees and any other fees that you will incur as a student. If you are receiving Tuition Assistance, all fees may not be covered. Plus, there is generally a cap on the amount that will be paid out per credit hour. You need to have a very clear understanding of how much of your education will be covered and how much will be out of pocket for you.

Non-Traditional Credit Options
From your service in the military, you’ve earned Military Experience credits. Ask about the school’s policy for accepting the recommendations of ACE for military experience, CLEP (College Level Examination Program), and DSST (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests). Make sure that you also ask exactly how the credits are applied—free elective hours or actual courses.

Accreditation
Ask if the school is accredited and how. In order to be eligible for both the G.I. Bill and Tuition Assistance, your selected school must either be regionally or nationally accredited. This will also assure you that the school will award you a valid degree. If a school is not accredited, it is generally referred to as a “diploma mill.”

General Course Information
You are going to spend a lot of time taking courses to earn your degree, so make sure you fully understand how the course loads work at the school. You’ll want to know how long the courses are, how many equal a full-time course load, if an online option exists, how the students and instructors interact, what the admission deadlines are like, and how many credits are needed for a degree.

We’re sure you’ll come up with other questions as well once you get rolling. You are going to be spending time and money (or using benefits) to earn your degree, so make sure you make a well-informed decision.

Use our School Finder to look for colleges and trade schools that are both military-friendly and accredited.