Benefits of Earning a Bachelor's Degree Before Joining the Military

Many high school graduates join the American Military for higher education benefits. Military service entitles people to programs that help pay for their schooling. However, there are benefits of joining the armed forces after completing your undergraduate degree program and not just a high school diploma.

College graduates who become military members receive additional benefits compared to non-graduate members of the enlisted ranks. A graduate with a bachelor's degree can become a commissioned officer and advance their military career path while receiving higher benefits, including loan repayment programs.

What Are the Benefits of Earning a Bachelor's Degree Before Joining the Military?

There are many benefits of enlisting in the military after college. Becoming a military officer is a career path that can include high pay and non-monetary benefits. There are paths within the armed forces for non-degree holders to earn a degree, but completing a degree through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) can enable you to enter active duty as a commissioned officer. Officer status isn't the only benefit of completing a degree program before enlisting.

1. Enhanced Career Opportunities

The branches of the military require officers to have a four-year degree. Military education programs allow service members to earn a degree while serving, but enlisting with a bachelor's degree can speed up becoming an officer. Completing college before joining the military qualifies a person for Officer Candidate School (OCS), where they can receive a commissioned rank.

These enhanced career opportunities also extend past your time in the U.S. Military. Officers receive additional training and coursework in leadership that can translate to the civilian world after service.

2. Increased Earning Potential

Bachelor's degrees lead to higher average salaries in civilian and military career paths. The pay scale in the different branches is tied to rank, with higher-ranking officers receiving the highest pay and benefits packages. Enlisted service members need to average over six years of active duty service to receive the average monthly pay of a new officer. Additionally, non-officers will have a cap in pay grade. Officers have a much higher ceiling in pay due to expanded responsibilities and duties.

Earning isn't just monetary. Officers also receive more diverse healthcare insurance packages and other benefit programs that aren't offered to members of the enlisted ranks.

3. Maximized Military Benefits for Further Education

Commissioned officers need to have a bachelor's degree to earn their rank. Still, many officers go on to earn a master's degree either during their service or when they return to civilian life. The military education benefits associated with being an officer will be increased compared to those of an enlisted service member. The Navy has a program where eligible officers can receive up to $40,000 for graduate school expenses.

GI Bill

The GI Bill is a program available to all armed forces members who meet various requirements, such as length of service, enlistment date, and branch. Officers can use these benefits toward a graduate degree after completing their service and will more likely qualify for full benefit amounts.

Military College Funds

The individual branches of the military, such as the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, have funds that can be applied to the Montgomery GI Bill. These additional funds can increase monthly education benefits by up to $950.

Tuition Assistance

Officers qualify for tuition assistance programs, like enlisted service members, but can also be eligible for advanced loan repayment. If you completed an ROTC program, your college was likely paid for by your military branch, but enlisting after graduation independent of ROTC status can still result in having your student loans paid off.

4. Strengthened Knowledge and Skills

Officers attend different training programs than the basic training that most service members do. General military training is one component, but officers receive specialized training focused on leadership and communication skills that will position them well for leading units and teams in the military. However, these skills will benefit after service, as military leadership can be leveraged into upper management positions.

5. Enhanced Personal Development

Officer Candidate School teaches people how to become military leaders by helping them learn more about themselves. This personal development benefits a person's military career and life after service. Officer training teaches skills associated with self-reflection and evaluation.

What Happens if You Join the Military With a College Degree?

Joining the military with a college degree presents many more benefits than a high school diploma. College graduates can immediately enroll in officer training programs. These programs lead to higher pay rates and benefit packages. When you talk to a recruiter, you'll learn about the other advantages a college degree can give.

Access to Specialized Roles

The military is full of highly specialized roles. Some of these roles are developed through internal training programs, but most are awarded to degree holders. An undergraduate degree will help you prepare for the exams required to pursue a specialized role.

Additional Technical Training

The armed forces are full of highly technical roles, including engineers, healthcare providers, and more. An undergraduate degree will give additional training that the military can't provide. Basic training covers what is needed to be a soldier. However, it can't cover all the skills for more advanced roles.

What Rank Do You Join in the Military With a College Degree?

The first rank for college degree holders in the military will vary based on branch of service and ROTC status. The military divides ranks into three categories: E, W, and O. E is for enlisted members, W is a warrant officer, and O is for a commissioned officer. In addition to the letter denotation, a number indicates pay grade. Degree holders who complete a ROTC program will generally start at an O-1, the lowest pay grade of a commissioned officer. Degree holders who aren't ROTC program graduates will begin as enlisted members with a higher pay grade (4 or above). They have expedited opportunities to become commissioned officers.