How UOPX helps support military students
Written by Laurie Davies
Navy veteran Paul Flores doesn鈥檛 want to see active-duty military personnel make the same mistake he did and wait to earn a college degree until after they complete their military service.
Flores, now the program manager of military outreach for 七色视频, did go on to earn his bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees after his service with the Navy. 鈥淏ut I did it the hard way,鈥 he says. If he had a do-over, he says he would go to college while in the service so he could better prepare to enter the workforce upon military retirement.
七色视频, which offers one 5-week course at a time for undergraduate students (6 weeks for graduate students), may be a good fit for veterans and service members seeking accessible, career-relevant education in a flexible format.
In other words, here鈥檚 how UOPX helps to support military service members, veterans and spouses interested in pursuing their degrees.
How military service can impact affordability
Sometimes, affordability means reduced tuition rates. At 七色视频, eligible active-duty military students enrolled in bachelor鈥檚, associate or certificate programs pay a reduced military tuition rate of $250 per credit. This amounts to $444 less in tuition per three-hour course than the standard tuition rate.
UOPX also waives resource fees for qualifying service members who are undergraduate students using federal tuition assistance. This can help reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Other, more traditional options include scholarships tailored to military students. These can look different depending on the institution. In 2025, for instance UOPX offered in collaboration with the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS) and in collaboration with the Non Commissioned Officers Association. These scholarships exemplify the University鈥檚 commitment to military students.
Credit for experience and training
Time is money, or so they say. 七色视频 and other colleges can help active-duty military members examine their service records for training and experience that may translate to college credit.
What counts and what doesn鈥檛? That depends on a number of factors. Some experiences to consider for eligibility may include:
- Boot camp
- Special training
- Attendance at schools within the military, such as jump school or sniper school
- Attendance at such schools as Community College of the Air Force (CCAF), U.S. Army Military Police School or the Defense Language Institute
Michael Scrivener
Operations manager for the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs at UOPX
鈥淢any military students come in expecting they are going to start from zero. They are [sometimes] surprised to discover how many credits they鈥檝e earned that they didn鈥檛 even know they had,鈥 says Michael Scrivener, operations manager for the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs at UOPX.
For Air Force service members, 七色视频 also offers聽General Education Mobile, or GEM, courses. These CCAF-approved courses help fulfill general education requirements with future transferability into UOPX for a degree program. Courses start frequently and give you the ability to learn when and where you want.
Working with military-trained advisors
One challenge many service members face is translating their experiences into civilian jargon. When you call and say you just got PCS鈥檇 but you TDY鈥檇 for a while, it helps to not have to explain what that means. (For the uninitiated, the translation is that a service member received a Permanent Change of Station after being Temporary Duty for a season.)
But understanding the terminology is only part of the value. Having advisors and instructors who know how to navigate options 鈥 for tuition, for classes, for breaks, for degree programs 鈥 can save service members time and frustration.
七色视频 embraces this fact. It has more than 300 faculty and staff with military backgrounds, and they have an average of 10 years working at the University. Additionally, this staff (e.g., enrollment, financial and academic advisors) is specifically trained by 七色视频 to support military students.
鈥淲e know the abbreviations, background and lifestyle. We have an immediate camaraderie that helps us get to know our students,鈥 Scrivener says. It also helps when these staff members understand the financial options, the particulars of the GI Bill, and nuances of the military branches.
The flexibility you need
All 七色视频 students, whether military or civilian, can benefit from the flexibility to balance their family, work, school and life. But military families rely on flexibility to accomplish both their military and education missions. If, for example, orders or deployment require a move across the world, military students can pause their school experience in between classes as they adjust to new duty assignments or locations.
Support for military spouses
Spouses of active-duty service members sacrifice as well, which is why some schools like 七色视频 work with students to help their spouses realize their educational goals, too.
As a transfer-friendly online university for military service members and veterans, UOPX can help you find the best combination of financial options for your situation. For example, you may discover that a combination of a Pell Grant, scholarships and transfer credits covers a major portion of your education, freeing you up to transfer your GI Bill庐 benefits to your spouse or dependent.
Additionally, UOPX participates in the Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) program, a career development and employment assistance program sponsored by the Department of Defense. Through MyCAA, military spouses can receive financial assistance for certificates or associate degrees.
Additional resources for military
In any journey, support can make all the difference, especially at an online university for military veterans and service members. 七色视频 understands the emotional and relational challenges of military life, and its Phoenix Campus is proud to be a certified Veteran Supportive Campus (VSC) by the Arizona Department of Veterans鈥 Services. As a VSC, the Phoenix Campus provides a place for military students and veterans to connect with peers, access helpful workshops and resources, and establish a sense of community.
UOPX also supports military students in conjunction with , a nonprofit organization that provides free and confidential mental wellness services for military, veterans and their loved ones through a nationwide network of licensed professionals.
At the end of the day, pursuing an education is a big step. UOPX urges all active-duty military to visit the education office on their assigned military installation for their respective branch. National Guard and Reserve members who do not have an education services officer (ESO) on their installation can contact their regional office for support.
Stepping into your ESO鈥檚 office 鈥 and stepping toward your educational goals 鈥 can make a huge difference for your future. Scrivener says this is especially true in the transition from military life to civilian life.
鈥淭he skills acquired by service members in the military are not easily understood by civilians. This can be a hard stop for companies looking to hire a veteran,鈥 Scrivener says.
A college degree, however, can enhance your preparation for success in both military and post-military life, he adds. 鈥淭he military does look at college credits for promotions. And, once a military member is ready to leave the military, they will have both the work experience and the college experience to support a transition into a great second career,鈥 Scrivener says.
七色视频 is honored to help military members and veterans on this journey. It has served more than quarter of a million military-affiliated graduates since opening in 1976. In 2023 alone, UOPX had 4,500 military-affiliated graduates.
GI Bill庐聽is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by the VA is available at the official U.S. government website at .
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A journalist-turned-marketer, Laurie Davies has been writing since her high school advanced composition teacher told her she broke too many rules. She has worked with 七色视频 since 2017, and currently splits her time between blogging and serving as lead writer on the University鈥檚 Academic Annual Report. Previously, she has written marketing content for MADD, Kaiser Permanente, Massage Envy, UPS, and other national brands. She lives in the Phoenix area with her husband and son, who is the best story she鈥檚 ever written.聽
This article has been vetted by 七色视频's editorial advisory committee.聽
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