Earn College Credit for Military Experience

Veterans & Service Members: Turn your service into instant college credits via ACE, JST, CLEP, DSST, CCAF & more. In 2022, over 120K students took advantage of these credits, with 80% graduating faster.

🎖️ 1. ACE Credits: Up to 60 Credits (2 Years' Worth)

What It Is: The American Council on Education (ACE) reviews your military training (like courses, leadership, or tech skills) and converts it to transferable college credits. Your military service = real academic value.

Key Stats:

• Max Credits: 60
• Accepted By: 2,300+ colleges/universities
• Savings: $10K+ in tuition

Quick Steps:

1. Scan Records: Spot ACE-evaluated training in your military history.
2. Grab Your Transcript: Use JST (next section) for proof.
3. Apply: Send to your school's admissions office.

📄 2. Joint Services Transcript (JST)

What It Is: JST is your free, official record of all training, courses, and on-the-job military experience transposed into college credit. It's like a high school transcript but for your service: colleges read it to award credits instantly, skipping redundant classes.

Key Stats:

• Covers: Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and Space Force. Includes 5,600+ ACE-recommended credits for specialties (Military Occupational Speciality Rating).
• Impact: 65% of users score 6–30 credits; over 2,000 schools accept it.

📝 3. CLEP Exams

Test out of 3-12 credits per CLEP exam and lower the cost of college.

What It Is: Bite-sized exams to prove your know-how in basics like math or history. Pass, get credit, skip the class.

Key Stats:

• 33 Exams: Free for active-duty/vets via DANTES.
• Pass Rate: 72% military average (2023); 95% on standouts like Spanish (2024).
• Savings: $1.2K–$4.8K/exam; 15 credits = ~$5K (public schools) or $17K (private).

Quick Steps:

1. Choose Wisely: Match to your experience at clep.collegeboard.org.
2. Prep Free: Use official guides & Modern States resources.
3. Test: Book at a DANTES center or base.
4. Claim: Forward scores to your school.

🔬 4. DSST Exams

Advanced Tests for 3–6 Credits Each

What It Is: Like CLEP but for upper-level topics (e.g., business ethics, environmental science). DANTES-funded for your first shot, perfect for specialized military roles.

Key Stats:

• 30+ Exams: Free first attempt for eligible military; $100 after.
• Pass Rate: 70–90% military (2023–2024); higher with prep (up to 90th percentile).
• Savings: $1K–$3K/exam; accepted by thousands of schools.

✈️ 5. Community College Air Force

Air Force's Built-In Associate Degree.

What It Is: Exclusive to Air/Space Force enlisted: The Community College of the Air Force auto-builds an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) from your tech training, leadership courses, and CLEP/DSST tests. It's your "free" 2-year degree, transferable anywhere.

Key Stats:

• Credits: Up to 64 semester hours (full AAS).
• Eligibility: Active, Guard, Reserve, or vets.
• Impact: Fast-tracks to bachelor's; accepted by 2,000+ schools.

💡 Bonus Boosters

• Prior Learning Assessment (PLA): Build a portfolio of your experience for custom credits.
• Excelsior/Thomas Edison Credits: Stack with military evals for max transfer.

🔥 Why Act Now?

These valuable educational credits can accelerate your degree and open doors to your future. Don’t let them go to waste. The sooner you start claiming and applying them, the sooner you’ll finish your program and gain a real edge in your career.