In addition to the military helping to pay for a college education, many schools are willing to count military training toward a future diploma. In other words, certain military training and experiences allow a student to opt out of specific classes, in turn lowering the overall college costs. It’s not unheard of for former military personnel to test or “qualify” out of up to one-third of a four-year degree before they ever set foot on a campus.

The Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) program is the broad program under which a variety of college equivalency tests are offered for little or no cost. In addition to the CLEP test, personnel can take what are known as DSST and ECE exams. Each of these exam formats offers tests in a wide variety of subject areas. You can prepare for many of these exams through free classes offered at military installations around the world. To learn more about the DANTES program, visit the official website, dantes.doded.mil.

In addition to the opportunity to test out of required college classes, the American Council on Education (ACE) partners with the military to award college credit for specific trainings provided and documented by the various military branches. Because there are literally hundreds of standard military trainings that can count toward a college degree, anyone with military experience should visit the searchable directory of equivalent courses at militaryguides.acenet.edu.

The Least You Need to Know