***This is a long post, but must have info for your arsenal***
There are so many schools to chose from, how do you decide which one is best for you? First, understand if you need a two-year or a four-year school. Get the down low on these types of schools here. Now let's consider that you are on your way to a four-year institution. We need to determine if you want/need a state or a private school. I say want/need because you may want a private school, but need a state school that might not break the bank. That doesn't mean you should rule out private schools. It simply means that you should check the cost before deciding. For more information on paying for private school, check the upcoming post on Post-9/11 and the Yellow Ribbon Program.
There are so many schools to chose from, how do you decide which one is best for you? First, understand if you need a two-year or a four-year school. Get the down low on these types of schools here. Now let's consider that you are on your way to a four-year institution. We need to determine if you want/need a state or a private school. I say want/need because you may want a private school, but need a state school that might not break the bank. That doesn't mean you should rule out private schools. It simply means that you should check the cost before deciding. For more information on paying for private school, check the upcoming post on Post-9/11 and the Yellow Ribbon Program.
State Schools
Okay, down to business. State schools are supported by state tax-payer dollars. That is why the tuition is reduced for in-state residents. Oh! You are not a resident of the state where you want to go to school? No worries. As long as you enter the school within three years of your EAS and use your GI Bill, the school has to give you the in-state resident rate, hence your tuition is covered. Back on track...
State schools typically offer a wide range of degree programs and degree levels, meaning bachelor's, master's, and oftentimes doctoral degrees. They usually have a flagship location and may also offer smaller local options around the state for greater access to students.
State school classes can be large, especially lectures. I mean 250 students large! Think lecture halls, and not the kind of halls you had to sit in to take your weekly safety brief or to listened to your company gunny drone on while he/she gives you a 1,000 word-per-slide PowerPoint presentation! Ummm, if there are any gunnys reading this, I'm sure your PowerPoints were AH-MAZE-ING!
Large classes can make it more difficult for students to have interactions with the professors. Are you the type of learner that needs more hands-on time? If so, you may want to consider a smaller private school. Consider this, the student-to-professor ratio at California State University San Marcos (state school) is 24-to-1. The student-to-professor ratio at DePaul University in Chicago (private school) is 15-to-1. Smaller class size may equal more attention. It may also offer less potential distraction during class time. On the other hand, if you are a young vet, you may want a large university experience. In fact, many of the vets I work with do want this experience. They want to join clubs, go to football games, and GASP! live in the dorms!!! OMG! The horror! It may be like the barracks all over again. I withhold judgement. If you chose this option, consider applying for one of the RA positions. RAs are resident assistants. You are like the floor dorm mom. I’ll write a post on this in the future, so keep your eyes open. Why should you care? Because RAs often get discounted or free room and board (that’s dorm and food!), and some even get a financial stipend. Helllllooooo…pocket your housing stipend on Post-9/11, live for free, and make $$$. That’s why you should care. Okay, I went off topic again.
Remember from the school accreditation blog post that all state schools have regional accreditation. Regional accreditation is the most sought-after. So, state schools are safe. If you ever need/want to tackle a master’s degree, you know you rook the right pathway for your undergraduate degree (bachelor’s).
Private Schools
Private schools are not funded by state tax-payer funds. They are supported by donations, tuition, and endowments. They are either non-profit or for-profit in nature. They can be very expensive, but many also participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Some private schools offer scholarships to reduce the cost of attendance. I have run across several highly reputable private, non-profit schools that are not fully participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program, but have scholarships for veterans to reduce costs. Most of these schools do not advertise this on their websites. Make sure to ask if there is an application fee waiver for vets.
Generally speaking, private schools can often have smaller class sizes than state schools, but there is always an exception. They can often make admissions exceptions, such as bypassing SAT/ACT requirements, for vets; however, top tier/Ivey League private schools, will still require traditional admissions. Many private schools have religious affiliations, serve a single sex, or are Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). These schools may be able to offer you a more personalized education depending on your needs.
For-Profit Schools
For-profit schools are businesses. They are based on revenue. In other words, they need to show profit. They tend to have open admissions, meaning you don't need an SAT/ACT. They can often offer you an easier admissions pathway and most have classes starting on a rolling basis so you can get going right away.
Always be very careful when selecting any institution. The for-profit category of schools has had some difficulties lately. I point to a report completed by the Student Veterans of America. Click on the NVEST Fact Sheet, and scroll down to page 6 "Academic Outcomes." Notice the rates of enrollment, the amount of GI Bill funds taken in, and the degree completion rate by public schools then take a look at the same set of data for the proprietary category. Not good news I'm afraid. I can also point to a report compiled by the National Center for Education Statistics (2017) that demonstrated that the "percent of borrowers who had ever defaulted on a federal loan within 12 years" for for-profit schools was 52.5%, as compared to state 4-year schools at 17.4% and private nonprofit 4-year schools at 17.6%. More bad news for the sector.
Be very careful before deciding which type of school to use your hard-earned GI Bill at, and if you are having difficulty deciding reach out to a local military education center for some advice. The specialists at these centers can give you advice regarding the best choice for your personal needs.
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