Can Your Military Rank Earn You College Credit?

Military rank is proof of a servicemember’s hard work and dedication to both the United States and its people. That hard work can translate directly into college credit, and University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) has been a trailblazer in making that happen.

“At UMGC, we’re committed to supporting our military-affiliated students by offering innovative solutions. Understanding the circumstances they have managed during their military career, we’ve launched a new initiative that awards academic credit for military rank, providing a faster, more affordable path to a degree,” says Kristophyre McCall, chief transformation officer at UMGC. “This builds on our long history of serving military students and recognizes the valuable leadership and management skills gained through service.”

As military servicemembers gain experience and are promoted in the military, they may serve in positions of increasing responsibility and begin leading teams of other servicemembers. In many instances, they also receive military education that prepares them for their increasing responsibilities. For example, when servicemembers reach the rank of E5, many are leading groups of five to ten people, and the scope of their leadership responsibilities continues to increase as they are promoted to higher ranks.

Enlisted servicemembers and eligible veterans  who achieved a rank of E5 through E9 can benefit from the credit for military rank program.

At the E5 level, servicemembers can receive three credits for the principles of management course (BMGT 160). At the E6 and E7 levels, servicemembers can receive up to six credits for the course organizational leadership course (BMGT 160 and BMGT 365). At the E8 level, servicemembers can receive up to 12 credit hours for organizational leadership courses (BMGT 160 and BMGT 365), plus human resource management (HRMN 300) and organizational collaboration courses (BMGT 484). These credits can also be applied to certificate programs that include these courses.

Credit for military rank gives UMGC military students a comprehensive and meaningful way for their military experience to be recognized. In this initiative, UMGC’s qualifying degrees and courses align with the knowledge, skills, abilities and dispositions (KSADs) students have acquired through their work in the military.

“We know these skills directly translate to academic success because military personnel routinely demonstrate the kind of discipline, critical thinking, and problem-solving that are essential in both the classroom and the workplace,” says McCall. “By awarding credit, we’re recognizing that their real-world experience is on par with the learning outcomes of traditional coursework. This initiative not only validates their experience but also accelerates their academic journey, aligning with our mission to make education accessible and affordable for those who serve.”

By receiving credit for their military rank, students can save both time and money while earning their degree. Military students who rely on TA education benefits can also stretch those benefits further. Whether students are looking to advance their military careers or transition into civilian roles, this program can help them get on the fast track.

“Military service provides invaluable skills and leadership experience, and this new program ensures that those achievements are recognized in an academic setting,” says Hauk. “Students can feel confident knowing that their professional experience is being translated into academic credit.”

UMGC has been serving the Armed Forces since the 1940s and recently celebrated the 75th anniversary of becoming the first U.S. university to send faculty members overseas to provide college courses to deployed forces in Europe. As a leader in higher education for military students, UMGC is committed to setting the standard for recognizing professional experience in the academic realm. By awarding credit for military rank, UMGC reinforces our reputation as an institution that understands and values the military community.

“We aim to make UMGC the top choice for military-affiliated students by offering programs that are tailored to their unique needs,” says McCall. “This initiative is a key part of that strategy, as it offers a more attractive and faster path to degree completion.” 

In addition to the credit for military rank initiative, UMGC also accepts transfer credits and offers credit for prior learning, which includes credit for military education and training.  

“While this initiative focuses on military rank, we are also expanding our capabilities to include other forms of professional experience,” says McCall. “Our goal is to make UMGC a leader in concurrent and prior learning assessment, providing more students with credit for what they’ve learned outside the classroom.”

Active-duty military servicemembers are eligible for UMGC’s military tuition rate, as well as a variety of scholarship opportunities to help them make their degree more affordable. UMGC’s military advising team specifically serves our military-affiliated students and is available to meet with students online or in-person at more than 175 locations around the world.

“At the end of the day, the ultimate goal is student success,” says McCall. “By making education more accessible, relevant, and flexible, we aim to improve retention and graduation rates, ensuring that our military-affiliated students achieve their academic and career goals.”

Theresa Schempp is a writer and editor at University of Maryland Global Campus, where she writes content for the marketing department. She earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communication and environmental science from Towson University.