Earning a Degree Online as a Military Service Member

As a military service member, you might be contending with changing schedules and unexpected travel. Earning a degree online can provide flexibility by allowing service members or veterans to complete coursework without having to attend classes at a set time.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette offers support through both its dedicated Online Student Enrollment Team and the Office of Veteran Services to help veterans, active-duty members, reservists, National Guard, and military dependents use their benefits to earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree. The University is recognized as a Military Friendly school for 2020-2021.

Sammi Conner, director of Veteran Services, says these are a few of the questions she hears most often.

Does UL Lafayette accept military credits?

One of the first questions our team hears from military and non-military students alike is what credits will transfer into their degree plan. For those who have attended college before or earned college credits, those credits will transfer and count toward your overall GPA. Whether those credits will apply toward your degree will depend on the program.

Military credits — credits earned for military experience — must be evaluated by individual departments says Conner.

“We do accept military credits, so they’re going to get the credit,” says Conner. “In order for them to apply to the degree, they have to be evaluated by the department.”

Conner says often, students can apply the most credits to programs with a broad focus, like General Studies.

How much will my degree cost?

UL Lafayette online programs offer reduced, flat rate at $380 per credit hour for undergraduate programs and $480 per credit hour for graduate programs.

Conner says while stipends may vary, most service members will have their full tuition paid through their GI Bill and other benefits. The University also waives the application fee for military students. 

Service members and dependents may not be able to use their benefits in conjunction with the University's reduced flat-rate tuition. 

Students can maximize their benefits by working with the Veteran Services staff.

“If they contact us, we can walk them through and say, ‘here’s how much you’ll get paid if you take this,’ or, ‘here’s how much benefits it will use,’” Conner says. “We talk through with them about how they plan their schedules out.”

What happens if I’m deployed?

Communication is key from the time you apply through graduation, says Conner.

“We always tell our students to make sure you’re communicating with instructors from the beginning if you might be deployed during the semester, or just identifying themselves as a military student upfront,” she says. “Some of them have monthly training they have to go to that could interfere.
“The instructor is usually willing to work with them.”

It can also help to have those connections established in the event of deployment.

Conner says there are processes to ensure military members are able to continue making progress toward their degree once their deployment ends. Students should submit their military orders to the dean of students and discuss their options with their instructor whether they’ll resign or take an incomplete in the course.

Many students enrolled in online degree programs are able to work with their instructors to continue their coursework through their deployment, as long as they have access to a stable internet connection.

For those who do withdraw, Conner says, her office is available to help students re-enroll.

“We always tell them to let us know so we can expedite the process,” she says. “As long as they left in good standing, we can help them.”

What if I need more help?

Conner says her office can help connect students to other resources on campus, as well, if you need help filing claims or accessing benefits.

“It doesn’t have to be a VA issue or even related to education benefits,” Conner says. “We have access to resources, so we’re more than willing to help them connect with what they need.”

The Office of Veteran Services sends out regular emails to keep students informed of resources and any changes, Conner says. If you’re enrolling in a University of Louisiana at Lafayette degree program email veterans@louisiana.edu to get connected and ensure you’re accessing all the benefits you’re entitled to as a veteran, active-duty member, reservist, National Guard, or military dependent.

Connect with the UL Lafayette Online Enrollment Support Team to learn which online degree program is right for your goals. Email us at online@louisiana.edu.