Military School Loans
Train and Learn
Students interested in the military or attending military colleges have no problem getting financial assistance and various types of student loans. At all levels the military is well funded and ready to offer some of the most attractive incentives. And civilian/military colleges offer many of the same types of loans available to any other college student.
Trends in Military Education
The fact is that in the last decade or so the terrain of the military college has been altered. What were once regarded as highly disciplined academies and exclusively male student bodies, have changed. Most military colleges now offer a coed environment that is split between a military-style program and a “civilian.” This means that in a lot of locales you may participate in the college programs without having to wear the uniform or subscribe to the “code of conduct.”
Military All the Way-Student Loan Vacuum
A couple of the larger academies are, however, exclusive bastions of military leadership and funded by the U.S. military. Make no mistake these are also highly competitive institutions. Here there is no need for student loans, the programs are covered and what’s more students are paid a stipend for their participation.
The United States Military Academy, simply called West Point, for example, only spends its resources on training the next highly educated, disciplined generation of Army officers. It is the premier proving ground for the best students wishing to pursue an Army career. And while this sounds very one-sided, the academy boasts an acutely balanced degree program designed to engage cadets in a heterogeneous learning environment.
The United States Naval Academy trains midshipmen to serve as the next generation of Naval or Marine officers. Applicants are chosen from some of the most academically talented students in the nation.
Loans From Military Colleges
The Citadel, one of the most well known military colleges in the Southeast, provides student cadets with top-notch undergraduate and graduate programs of study. The same rules for federal loans apply. Students must apply each year for the Federal Family Education Loan Program and are considered for funding just like any other college student. Besides the typical federal loans the South Carolina Teachers Loan offers incentives for students who are pursuing a teaching position in a South Carolina public school after graduation.
The Citadel also offers a number of alternative student loans in partnership with a number of leading lenders such as Bank of America, College Door, South Carolina Student Loan Corporation, and Sallie Mae.
Specialized Loan Programs
The Military College Loan Repayment Program is a wonderful program designed to stimulate recruitment into all branches of the service. The program repays certain percentages of outstanding student loans for new recruits who will engage in active duty as well as reserve duty.
Training for the Military Outside of Military College
If you are seeking a way to gain entrance to the military you don’t necessarily have to attend a traditional military college. In fact, the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) remains one of the most instrumental programs in training next gen officers. ROTC grads must be willing to commit to the military following graduation. There are many ROTC programs available on traditional college and university campuses across the U.S.
After Military School- To Serve or Not to Serve
Unless you attend a military academy that expects you to migrate into a service role, such as West Point, you are not necessarily obligated to join. While many grads do spend time in the military, many more simply utilize their stellar education to land them careers in areas related to their major. As we already said, military colleges typically offer a civilian program that delivers all the punch as that enjoyed by the military student corps.
Degree programs are pretty much the same as their traditional counterparts. You may major in English or Biology or Engineering. If you participated in the student corps you may already have the military in your sights or you might just opt for a civilian lifestyle and career.
