Finding Success in College After Military Service

If you’re transitioning out of the service, you may be wondering whether earning a degree is really worth it — especially if you’re juggling work, family, health, and the uncertainty of civilian life. At the same time, employer expectations are shifting, and thought leaders like Korn Ferry note that continued education and “going to school twice” are becoming an important part of long-term job security and career mobility.

At UMass Global, veterans, active-duty service members, and military-connected students prove every day that choosing a military-friendly online college can open doors you may not even see yet. From earning credit for your military training to finding flexible online programs that fit unpredictable schedules, the right university can help you translate your service into a degree and a civilian career you’re proud of.

Below, four veterans share how UMass Global’s military-friendly online programs helped them move forward — and why going to college after the military was worth it.

Why choose a military-friendly online college?

Not all online colleges for military students are created equal. When you’re comparing military-friendly online colleges, it helps to know what to look for so you can find the one that truly fits your goals, schedule, and benefits.

The UMass Global blog “What to look for in a military-friendly college — and which one is right for you” highlights several features to keep in mind as you evaluate your options:

• Academic credit for military training and experience, which can shorten your time to degree and reduce overall cost.
• Flexible, online and hybrid programs that make it possible to balance service, work, and family responsibilities.
• A strong track record of supporting military and veteran students, including graduation and success measures that demonstrate real outcomes.
• Clear information about how the school supports students who use VA benefits, Tuition Assistance, and other military education programs.

As you weigh the best online colleges for military students, those markers can help you determine which institutions are serious about serving military learners — and which are simply using the label. UMass Global’s long history of educating military and veteran students, along with national recognition as a military-friendly institution, reflects that commitment.

4 Veterans Who Prove Going to College After the Military is Worth It

These stories highlight just a few of the directions you can take your education after serving in the military. 

From 22 years of service to graduate school success

After 22 years in the military and 17 years as a police officer, going back to school was not the obvious next step for Feliciano Perez. Between long shifts, the realities of public safety work, and parenting a toddler with “the energy of a caffeinated meerkat,” he wondered how graduate school could possibly fit into his life. “Returning to school after a 14‑year break felt like deciding to run a marathon after spending a decade in a coma,” he recalls.

What made it possible was finding a military friendly online college that understood his reality. UMass Global’s flexible format allowed him to fit coursework between shifts and bedtime stories, while faculty who were familiar with the demands of working adult students helped him rebuild his academic confidence. “There were nights when exhaustion nearly won and times when I questioned every decision that led me here,” he says, “but the support from my family, classmates, and instructors kept me going.” When questions about financial aid, registration, or requirements came up, One Stop Student Services stepped in with clear guidance so he could stay focused on learning instead of logistics.

Looking back, he credits the experience with making him a better student, a stronger leader in his profession, and a more patient parent. “This journey wasn’t easy, but it was absolutely worth every late night, every sacrifice, and every panicked discussion post written at the last minute,” he says. For him, earning a master’s in organizational leadership at a military-friendly online college proved that it’s never too late to return to school — even after years away from the classroom.

From Air Force service to rural mental health advocate

Patrick Strouse didn’t follow a straight line from the Air Force to graduate school. After years of active-duty service, a cross‑country move, and a medical retirement, he wasn’t sure how or even whether a Master of Social Work (MSW) would fit into his life. “When I first started my MSW journey at UMass Global, I thought I was just signing up for classes,” he says. “What I didn’t realize was that I was also signing up for a crash course in resilience, late‑night coffee, and a community that believed in me.”

Professors invested in his success by challenging him, encouraging him, and reminding him that sometimes “the only way forward is through.” With their support, Patrick helped create a Rural Mental Health Program in a county of just 3,000 people that had no prior mental health services, turning a graduate project into a much‑needed local resource. “What started as an idea quickly became a lifeline,” he explains. “I share that not to boast, but to prove what’s possible when education, community, and determination collide.” He was able to balance coursework, family responsibilities, and this community initiative because the online format offered the flexibility he needed to keep moving forward.

Patrick’s journey shows how the best online colleges for military students can help veterans channel their service mindset into a new veterans career path. “My journey took me from military service to social work, from personal doubt to community impact,” he says. By pairing his lived experience with an accredited degree and sustained faculty support, he found a way to keep serving others long after hanging up his uniform — this time as a social worker and mental health advocate.

Turning leadership into multiple degrees and a new career

Retired Army 1st Sergeant Dr. Chris Armstrong‑Goings Sr. knew he wanted to keep growing after leaving active duty, but he also knew he needed a university that recognized his service and gave him credit for what he’d already accomplished. “When I was doing initial research on what school I wanted to go to, I wanted to make sure that I got credit for my military experience,” he explains. After talking to multiple institutions, he found that “UMass Global had everything that I wanted, so the choice was relatively easy for me.”

For Dr. Armstrong‑Goings, the decision was about more than checking a box — it was about setting an example at home. “When I started my bachelor’s degree, our older son was working on his bachelor’s degree and I didn’t have one,” he says. “So as a father, I was like, ‘Well, how you set an example if your son has the degree?’” That realization pushed him forward: “So when I got my bachelor’s, I said, ‘Okay, now how can I challenge my kids?’ And so it was like, ‘Well, let me go get my master’s.’” He went on to continue his education and ultimately earn an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership, showing his children what it means to commit and follow through.

Along the way, he felt UMass Global lived up to its reputation as a military friendly online college. “I knew of their history — that the university was started to serve the military community. They knew what military people needed to be successful,” he says. Faculty and staff helped him understand the course-at-a-glance, decode rubrics, and map out a clear plan: “We sat down, we came up with a game plan… I definitely felt like the university set me up for success.” Today, as a Veterans Business Outreach Center Program Director, he sees how his education changes the way others perceive him: “My education allows me to enter into rooms and have conversations with people on an equal level… when I introduce myself as Dr. Chris, the bonds of trust are formed almost immediately.” His advice to other service members is simple: “If you want your military credit to count towards your degree, you definitely wanna consider the university. They’re gonna give you the tools to be successful… when you get to the finish line you’ll be more than thankful that you chose the University of Massachusetts Global.”

Army Medic Finds His Purpose in Helping Other Veterans 

During the course of Zane Speegle’s military career, he was deployed to Iraq twice — once in a combat role and once as an Army medic. Speegle saw his share of physical trauma during these experiences, but it wasn’t until he returned home and faced the transition to civilian life that his real challenges began, including coping with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). “I spent many years trying to drown my sorrows and my nightmares,” he says. “It took me a long time before I actually came out and asked for help.”

After retiring from the military, Speegle spent years trying to find his purpose. He eventually realized he felt most passionate about serving his active-duty and veteran community in a medical administration role — but to do that, he knew he’d need to go back to school. After learning about the accessible education services offered at University of Massachusetts Global and its recognized military-friendly status, he enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership program and later returned to earn his MBA. He enjoyed the familiarity of attending classes alongside other service members and veterans and found a renewed sense of direction in the process.

“With the education I have received at UMass Global, I have been able to provide for my family at levels I had only imagined a few years back,” Speegle explains. Shortly after completing his MBA program, he landed his dream job at Madigan Army Medical Center, where he helps streamline operations and free up resources that support critical services for soldiers. By using his education to give back to the military community he cares about, he’s found a way to move forward and build the meaningful veterans career he was searching for.

Start your next mission with UMass Global

Your service has already proven your commitment, resilience, and leadership. A degree from a military-friendly online college can help you turn those qualities into a rewarding civilian career — just like the veterans in these stories.

If you’re ready to explore programs and benefits, connect with a UMass Global enrollment coach at (800) 746-0082 to discuss how your military experience and education benefits can move you toward your goals.