There are Many Advantages to a California
Public University or College Education
Variety:
California’s higher education system includes 109 California Community Colleges campuses, 23 California State University campuses, and the 10 campuses of the University of California. There is a campus in nearly every region throughout the state and one near each of California’s dozens of military bases.
Degree Program Diversity:
California university and college campuses offer a wide range of opportunities from teaching credentials to doctorate degree programs, to vocational and distance learning courses. Unlike other types of higher education institutions, public colleges and universities also offer veterans more flexibility to change their majors or fields of study if they discover and different educational direction better suits them.
Camaraderie and Lifestyle:
Student veteran organizations and clubs on California public university and college campuses are growing rapidly in membership, prestige and influence. Attending a public college campus also provides veterans a unique social experience outside the classroom, which is popular to recently discharged war veterans looking for a return to the normalcy of civilian life. California’s public university and college campuses are renowned for offering countless networking, leisure, sports, entertainment, and culturally diverse event opportunities.
A Well-Rounded Education:
There are several quality vocational universities, colleges and programs that cater to active duty military personnel and veterans. However, it’s difficult for those institutions to compete with, not only the quality of the degree earned at a California public college or university, but also the interactive skills obtained in a traditional college campus setting. From the roundedness developed from lower division general education courses and the required group interaction in the upper division, to the exciting and diverse campus atmosphere outside the classroom, employers know that those educated in traditional college settings have much more professional depth and interpersonal experience.
Fee Waivers:
All active duty military and their dependents are eligible for waiver of non-resident fees while attending undergraduate studies within the California state public systems. In addition, all active duty military and their dependents are eligible for waiver of non-resident fees for one year while attending graduate studies within the California state public college systems. Dependents of service-connected disabled veterans may also be eligible for waiver of system-wide fees while attending any of the campuses within the California state public systems.
Additional Financial Assistance:
Both veterans and active duty students may use their Montgomery GI Bill benefits while attending any of the campuses within the California state system. Active duty service members may use tuition assistance, grants and other educational benefits while attending any of the campuses within the California state public systems.
Veteran Assistance:
Many campuses have veteran service offices dedicated to helping veterans and active duty personnel to take advantage of the incredible opportunities offered on campus and to make full use of their benefits. Veteran education opportunities are also enhanced through the cooperative efforts of the campuses, local military bases, educational service officers, county veteran service offices, veteran service organizations and others dedicated to delivery of these benefits to eligible veterans, service members and their dependents.
Online Support:
Most California public university and college campuses have veteran specific web-pages to provide information to active duty military personnel, veterans and their dependents to facilitate learning about educational programs, and campus life.