10 Online Nursing Schools That Accept the GI Bill 2026

If you're a veteran, active-duty service member, or eligible dependent thinking about a nursing career, the GI Bill can make an online degree significantly more affordable. Combined with the right school, it can also come with real support built around military life, not just the baseline benefit acceptance most schools offer.

There are several online colleges that accept the GI Bill, and nursing is one of the more in-demand fields among military-connected students pursuing one. Below, you'll find 10 online nursing schools that go beyond minimum eligibility, with Yellow Ribbon participation, dedicated veteran resources, and in some cases nursing pathways built specifically around military medical experience.

Do Online Nursing Schools Accept the GI Bill? 

Many nursing schools accept the GI Bill, and in fact, the GI Bill does cover nursing school at the vast majority of accredited nonprofit colleges and universities, including online RN-to-BSN and prelicensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs. It's worth understanding the full range of degrees the GI Bill covers too, since benefits extend beyond a single bachelor's degree to associate, graduate, and doctoral nursing programs at approved schools. That said, VA approval applies at the program level, not just the school level, so it's worth confirming that your specific nursing degree, not just the university as a whole, is approved before enrolling.

Baseline GI Bill acceptance is a fairly low bar, since it's true of most accredited schools. Where schools actually start to differ is in the additional support they offer on top of that eligibility. To find truly military-friendly schools, look for:

• Yellow Ribbon Program participation, which helps cover tuition costs beyond standard Post-9/11 GI Bill limits
• In-state tuition rates for veterans, regardless of home state
• Dedicated military and veteran resource offices
• Credit for military training or medical experience
• Military-specific nursing pathways, built around prior service medical experience, at a handful of standout schools

10 Online Nursing Schools That Accept the GI Bill

Here's a closer look at 10 online nursing programs that accept VA benefits, specifically the GI Bill, and back it up with genuine military support.  

1. Arizona State University

Arizona State University (ASU), based in Tempe, offers online and hybrid nursing programs through its Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, including RN-to-BSN, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), an RN-to-MSN bridge, and a hybrid Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). ASU holds institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), with its nursing programs accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Military-connected students have their own dedicated hub at ASU: the Pat Tillman Veterans Center, which handles academic advising, benefit guidance, and transition support in one place. ASU also participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program and may award transfer credit for military training, which can shorten a degree for students with relevant service experience.

2. Colorado Christian University

Colorado Christian University (CCU), located near Denver, offers a fully online RN-to-BSN completion track through its School of Nursing and Health Professions, with coursework delivered in five-week blocks alongside two required clinical courses. CCU is institutionally accredited by the HLC, and its nursing programs carry CCNE accreditation.

CCU accepts GI Bill benefits for its online nursing program and offers a reduced tuition rate specifically for active-duty, Reserve, and National Guard members and their dependents. Students can transfer up to 90 credits into the 120-credit BSN, which can meaningfully shorten the timeline for RNs with substantial prior coursework.

3. Liberty University

Liberty University, based in Lynchburg, Virginia, offers an online RN-to-BSN program as part of a much larger catalog of more than 600 online degrees. The university holds institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), with its nursing programs accredited by CCNE.

Liberty serves more than 30,000 military-affiliated students and backs that scale with real financial incentives: reduced per-credit tuition for military-affiliated students, application fee waivers, and credit for military training and experience. That combination of size and dedicated pricing makes Liberty one of the more established options for military students specifically.

4. Ohio State University

The Ohio State University's College of Nursing, based in Columbus, offers online programs spanning RN-to-BSN completion through doctoral study. Ohio State carries HLC institutional accreditation, and its nursing programs hold CCNE accreditation.

Few schools on this list match Ohio State's depth of military support: it's a Yellow Ribbon Program participant with maximum funding access for all eligible students, charges the same tuition to online students regardless of home state, and runs a dedicated Military and Veterans Services office for benefit certification each semester. Ohio's state-level GI Promise also extends in-state tuition eligibility to military members and their immediate families after one year of service.

5. Southern New Hampshire University

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), based in Manchester, offers an online RN-to-BSN program with no caps or waitlists, part of a catalog of more than 200 online degrees. SNHU carries institutional accreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), and its nursing programs hold CCNE accreditation.

SNHU pairs GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program participation with a dedicated support team for military-connected students, plus tuition discounts of up to 30% for active-duty service members and their spouses. That combination of financial support and staffing specifically built around military students sets it apart from schools that simply accept benefits without much beyond that.

6. Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi

Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) offers online MSN programs through its College of Nursing and Health Sciences, along with a standout option built specifically for service members. The university holds institutional accreditation from SACSCOC, and its nursing programs carry CCNE accreditation.

What sets TAMU-CC apart is its eLine Military Program, a fully online pathway to a BSN designed for military personnel that awards academic credit for medical training and experience gained during service. Combined with its Yellow Ribbon status, TAMU-CC has built a strong reputation among online graduate nursing programs specifically for veterans.

7. University of Alabama

Based in Tuscaloosa, the University of Alabama's Capstone College of Nursing offers online RN-to-BSN, RN-to-MSN, MSN, DNP, and post-master's certificate programs. The university carries SACSCOC institutional accreditation, and its nursing programs are accredited by CCNE.

As an unlimited Yellow Ribbon provider, Alabama covers all out-of-state tuition and course fees for eligible students, and veterans using the Post-9/11 GI Bill typically pay nothing out of pocket. Students can also draw on the university's Military Tuition Assistance program or the UA Online Military Tuition Grant, giving military-connected students more than one route to reducing costs.

8. University of Maryland Global Campus

University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC), headquartered in Adelphi, Maryland, has offered its online RN-to-BSN program since 2014, built for working adults and military-connected students. The university holds institutional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), and its nursing program carries CCNE accreditation.

UMGC accepts the Post-9/11 GI Bill along with Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E) benefits, and Maryland-based veterans may also qualify for in-state tuition. The university's long-standing focus on military and adult learners, paired with credit for military training, makes it one of the more established options on this list for service members balancing school with other responsibilities.

9. University of Oklahoma

Founded in 1911, the University of Oklahoma's Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing is the state's largest nursing program, offering distance education across bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels through its Health Sciences Center. The university holds institutional accreditation, and its nursing programs are CCNE-accredited.

As a Yellow Ribbon school, Oklahoma allows eligible veterans to have up to 100% of tuition covered with no out-of-pocket cost. The university also awards credit for military training, CLEP exams, and DSST exams, giving service members several ways to bring outside credit into their nursing degree.

10. Western Governors University

Western Governors University (WGU) is a private, nonprofit, fully online institution offering both a prelicensure BSN and an RN-to-BSN completion program. WGU holds institutional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), and its nursing programs carry CCNE accreditation.

WGU accepts GI Bill benefits across all of its degree programs, with options built for veterans, active-duty service members, dependents, National Guard members, and reservists alike. The university also participates in Military Tuition Assistance and offers scholarships specifically for military-connected students, which pairs well with its competency-based model that lets motivated students move through material as quickly as they can demonstrate mastery.

How We Rank Schools

To create this list, we review data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), along with program-level details published by each university. Because this list is specifically about online nursing schools for GI Bill recipients, we weighted a few additional factors on top of the standard institutional data:

• Yellow Ribbon Program participation: Most schools on this list participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program, helping cover tuition costs that exceed standard Post-9/11 GI Bill limits.
• Accreditation: All schools are institutionally accredited, and every nursing program included is accredited by CCNE.
• Program breadth: We prioritized schools offering a range of online nursing programs, from RN-to-BSN completion through graduate and doctoral study, so the list serves students at different career stages.
• Dedicated military support: We looked for schools with veteran resource offices, tuition discounts or grants for military-affiliated students, credit for military training or experience, and, where available, nursing pathways built specifically around military medical backgrounds.

Learn more about our ranking methodology. 

How to Use the GI Bill for an Online Nursing Degree

Using the GI Bill for an online nursing degree involves a few concrete steps, and understanding how to use military benefits for college before you enroll can help you avoid surprises later.

Start by confirming your eligibility and benefit level with the VA, then apply for admission to a school where both the institution and your specific nursing program are VA-approved. Once accepted, you'll need to submit a Certificate of Eligibility to the school's veteran services office, which certifies your enrollment to the VA each term so your benefits are applied correctly. From there, the Post-9/11 GI Bill can cover tuition and fees, a monthly housing allowance for students enrolled more than half-time, and a book stipend, though fully online students typically receive a reduced housing allowance compared to those with an in-person component.

It's also worth knowing that GI Bill benefits and federal financial aid aren't mutually exclusive. Some students combine the two, since GI Bill funds don't count as income against FAFSA eligibility the way other funding sources might, and additional need-based aid can help cover costs the GI Bill doesn't reach, like living expenses beyond the housing allowance cap.

Tips for Military Students Choosing an Online Nursing Program

Beyond confirming GI Bill acceptance, a few extra steps can help you choose a program that actually fits your situation, whether you're a veteran, a dependent, or attending college during active military service:

• Confirm program-level VA approval. A school being VA-approved doesn't guarantee every individual program is, so check directly with the veteran services office about your specific nursing degree.
• Ask about clinical placement flexibility. Military students relocate more often than most, and a program that helps arrange clinical placements near your current duty station or home community can save real logistical headaches.
• Look for credit for military medical training. If you've worked as a medic, corpsman, or in another medical role during service, ask whether a school evaluates that experience for academic credit toward your degree.
• Check Yellow Ribbon Program details closely. Participation alone doesn't guarantee full coverage — funding caps and available seats can vary by program and by year, so confirm current details rather than relying on general reputation.
• Ask about flexibility for deployments or PCS moves. Programs with rolling admissions, multiple start dates, or clear leave-of-absence policies tend to be easier to navigate if your schedule changes with little notice.

FAQs About 10 Online Nursing Schools That Accept the GI Bill 2026

Using the GI Bill for an online nursing degree comes with its own set of questions. Here are answers to some of the most common ones.

What's the Difference Between the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Montgomery GI Bill?

The Post-9/11 GI Bill can cover up to 100% of tuition and fees at a public in-state school, plus a monthly housing allowance and book stipend, for eligible veterans who served after September 10, 2001. The Montgomery GI Bill works differently, providing a fixed monthly payment that students apply toward tuition and living expenses themselves, and it's available to a somewhat different pool of service members and veterans based on when and how they enlisted.

Can I Use the GI Bill for a Fully Online Nursing Degree?

As long as both the school and your specific nursing program are VA-approved, you can use the GI Bill for a fully online nursing degree. Most accredited nonprofit nursing schools accept GI Bill benefits for online RN-to-BSN, MSN, and DNP programs, though it's worth confirming approval at the program level rather than assuming school-wide accreditation covers every degree track.

Does the GI Bill Cover Graduate Nursing Programs Like MSN or DNP?

Eligible students can typically use GI Bill benefits for online MSN and DNP programs at VA-approved schools. Several schools on this list, including Ohio State, the University of Alabama, and the University of Oklahoma, offer graduate-level online nursing programs that accept GI Bill benefits alongside their undergraduate options.

What Is the Yellow Ribbon Program, and Do All These Schools Participate?

The Yellow Ribbon Program is a partnership between participating schools and the VA that helps cover education costs exceeding standard Post-9/11 GI Bill limits. Most schools on this list participate, though funding caps and the number of available seats can vary by school and by year, so it's worth confirming current details directly.

Can Dependents Use Transferred GI Bill Benefits for Nursing School?

In many cases, yes, if the service member has transferred their benefits and the dependent meets eligibility requirements. Eligibility depends on the service member's years of service and approved transfer status, so it's worth speaking with a school's veteran services office to understand exactly how transferred benefits apply to a specific nursing program.

Do Online Nursing Students Get the Full GI Bill Housing Allowance?

Students enrolled entirely online typically receive a reduced monthly housing allowance compared to students taking at least one in-person course, since the VA bases part of that calculation on enrollment format. Combining GI Bill benefits with other aid, including FAFSA-based federal aid, can help offset costs that fall outside the housing allowance. 

Find Online Nursing Programs

The GI Bill can make an online nursing degree far more affordable, but the schools that go further, offering Yellow Ribbon funding, dedicated veteran support, and military-specific nursing pathways, tend to make the whole process easier too. Find out more by exploring the resources and programs featured on Learn.org, and confirm your specific nursing program's VA approval directly with a school's veteran services office before you enroll.