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71 Military and Veteran Higher Education Statistics for 2025

Teddy T. - Class of 2021, Military Veteran

Statistics for military-affiliated students in higher education highlight the unique experiences, challenges, and successes of servicemembers, Veterans, and their families pursuing academic goals. These data points showcase the impact of education benefits, degree attainment, and employment outcomes, while also emphasizing the significant contributions military-affiliated students make to the academic community. By understanding these statistics, institutions, and policymakers can better support military-affiliated learners as they navigate higher education.

62% of Student Veterans & Servicemembers are First Generation Students, Compared to 43% of Non-Military Affiliated Students.

Student Veterans: Breaking Barriers as First-Generation Learners

Approximately 62% of student Veterans and servicemembers are first-generation college students, compared to just 43% of non-military-affiliated students. This statistic highlights the unique challenges and opportunities faced by military-affiliated learners as they navigate higher education, often without the guidance of family members who have attended college before.

Fast Facts about Military Affiliated Students in Higher Ed

  • 1 in 3 Veterans have earned at least a bachelor’s degree, a slightly lower rate than the national population age 25 or older.1
  • 62% of student Veterans and servicemembers are first generation students, compared to 43% of non-military affiliated students. 2
  • Nearly two-thirds of student Veterans are first generation college students.3 
  • Veterans with a Bachelor’s degree earn about $84,255 as of 2017.4
  • Veterans with more than a Bachelor’s degree earn about $129,082 as of 2017.4 
  • Student Veterans have a higher GPA than traditional students (3.34 to 2.94).4
  • Military students (Veterans, active duty, and reserves or National Guard) accounted for 6% of undergraduate students and 7% of graduate students in 2015-16.5
  • Over 3/4 of military undergraduates attended traditional, on-campus programs in 2015-16.5 
  • 57% of Veteran students were aged 30 or older (only 21% for non-veteran students).6 
  • In the 2015-16 school year, 4.9% of undergraduates were Veterans.6

Servicemembers and Veterans in Higher Ed

This section explores the academic achievements, degree preferences, and enrollment trends of servicemembers and Veterans. From success rates to common fields of study, these statistics for military-affiliated students demonstrate how their commitment to education shapes both their personal goals and the broader academic landscape.

  • Student Veterans were found to have a 72% success rate in higher education with average GPAs .40 higher than their civilian peers.3 
  • The most common degree fields for Veterans are3:
    1. Business – 27%
    2. STEM – 14.4% 
    3. Health – 10.4%
  • About 6% of undergraduate students have served in the military.12
  • About 4.8% of students at community colleges are Veterans, and approximately 1.6% are students on active duty or in the reserves/National Guard.12
  • For-profit colleges have the highest rate of participation by military-affiliated students12:
    1. 14% are Veterans
    2. 3% are on active duty 
    3. 0.2% are in the reserves/National Guard

Military Student Education Benefits

Education benefits play a critical role in enabling servicemembers and Veterans to pursue higher education. This section provides key statistics on the usage, financial impact, and scope of programs like the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Montgomery GI Bill, offering insights into how these resources support military-affiliated students.

  • There were 610,009 Post 9/11 GI Bill users in fiscal year 2021.8 
  • During the 2011-12 academic year, 55% of military undergraduates and 46% of military graduate students used Veterans’ education benefits.5
    1. Veterans’ education benefits can include tuition, fees, housing allowances, and stipends for books and supplies.5 
    2. These benefits are primarily provided through two programs: the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (Post-9/11 GI Bill).5 
  • 43% of military undergraduates and 36% of military graduate students received Veterans’ education benefits in 2015–16.5 
  • 484,406 students received Post-9/11 GI Bill Financial Benefits, while 223,959 students received Department of Defense (DOD) Tuition Assistance Program benefits in the 2020-21 academic year.6 
  • The number of Veterans receiving benefits increased by 93% between 2009 and 2013 but declined to 893,725 beneficiaries in 2018.5 
  • The total amount spent on Veterans’ education benefits and military education aid increased from $12.1 billion in 2010-11 to $14.3 billion in 2015-16 (in 2015 dollars).5  
20% of female Veterans are using or have used their GI Bill

Education Benefits Demographics

Military-affiliated students come from diverse backgrounds. This section examines the demographics of those who use education benefits, including data on gender, age, race, and functional disabilities. These statistics highlight the variety of experiences and identities within the military student population.

  • 26% of military undergrads who received Veterans education benefits had reported a functional disability.5 
  • 78% of military undergrads who received military education benefits are men, while 22% were women.5  
  • 68% of military graduate students who received military education benefits were men, while 32% were women.5  
  • 20% of female Veterans are using or have used their GI Bill.7 
  • The percentage distribution of military undergraduates who received Veterans education benefits by age are as follows5:
    1. Age 23 or younger: 13%
    2. Age 24-29: 39%
    3. Age 30-39: 35%
    4. Age 40 or older: 13%  
  • The percentage distribution of military graduate students who received Veterans education benefits by age are as follows5:
    1. Age 23 or younger: 13%
    2. Age 24-29: 48%
    3. Age 30-39: 34%
    4. Age 40 or older: 5%  
  • The percentage distribution of military undergraduates who received Veterans education benefits by race/ethnicity are as follows5:
    1. White: 60%
    2. Black: 16%
    3. Hispanic: 14%
    4. Asian: 3%
    5. Other: 7% 
  • The percentage distribution of military graduate students who received Veterans education benefits by race/ethnicity are as follows5:
    1. White: 54%
    2. Black: 22%
    3. Hispanic: 13%
    4. Asian: 5%
    5. Other: 6% 
Cecilia M.

Degree Attainment

How do military-affiliated students fare in higher education? This section reviews degree completion rates, the fields in which Veterans excel, and comparisons between Veterans and civilian students. These statistics for military-affiliated students highlight their persistence and the factors influencing their educational journeys.

  • 5.9 million Veterans had completed some college or earned an associate’s degree as of 2022.9 
  • 5 million Veterans had completed a bachelor’s degree or higher as of 2022.9 
  • According to a study on students who started college in the 2011-12 academic year10:
    1. 16.9% of Veteran students had earned a bachelor’s degree by 2017, while 37.1% of nonveteran students had earned one.
    2. 52% of Veteran students had not earned any degree or certificate, compared to 43.7% of nonveteran students.
    3. Out of all students who earned a bachelor’s degree by 2017, less than 1% were Veterans 
  • Student Veterans tend to be older and are more likely to be from Black, Hispanic, and first-generation backgrounds than the general U.S. population.2 

Employment and Occupations

Military-affiliated students bring their education into the workforce, often excelling in management and professional roles. This section focuses on Veterans’ employment rates, industries of choice, and challenges, such as military spouse unemployment, providing a comprehensive look at how education translates to career success.

  • Veterans with a college degree had a 3.3% unemployment rate in 2017.4  
  • Over 40% of all Veterans work in management, professional, and related occupations.1
  • The most popular industry for Veterans is the government. The government employed 22.9% of Veterans in 2021.1 
  • Manufacturing (12%), professional/business services (10.4%), and wholesale and retail trade (10.4%) made up the next largest employers of Veterans in 2021.1 
  • Veterans are the least likely to work in wholesale trade, information, agriculture, and mining industries.1 
  • 17.5% of Veterans work in production, transportation, and material moving.1 
  • In 2019, over 50% of military spouses were unemployed despite being highly educated.1 
Teddy T. - Class of 2021 - Military Veteran with family

Earnings and Wealth

  • According to the Baccalaureate & Beyond study, ten years after earning their bachelor’s degree, Veteran graduates who had reported having an income had an average gross income of $79,371.11
    1. In comparison, nonveteran students had an average income of $76,293.11 
  • When it comes to measuring wealth accumulation, there are differences from income. Ten years after graduation6:
    1. 73.7% of Veteran graduates reported owning a home, whereas only 62.4% of nonveteran graduates owned a home.
    2. 87.3% of Veteran graduates had some form of a retirement account, which is similar to nonveteran graduates. 
Cecilia M. - Class of 2012, Military Veteran

Conclusion

The statistics for military-affiliated students in higher education highlight the profound impact of academic opportunities on servicemembers, Veterans, and their families. From leveraging education benefits to achieving degree milestones, these learners demonstrate resilience, commitment, and a drive to succeed.

The data also underscores the importance of tailored support systems, such as financial aid and career resources, to help military-affiliated students thrive academically and professionally. As institutions continue to adapt to their unique needs, these statistics serve as a powerful reminder of the value that military-affiliated students bring to higher education and society at large.

Sources

  1. https://www.uschamber.com/workforce/veterans/data-deep-dive-hiring-veterans-and-military-spouses
  2. https://www.acenet.edu/Documents/Student-Veterans-Service-Members-Engagement.pdf 
  3. https://studentveterans.org/research/nvest/
  4. https://studentveterans.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/NVEST_Factsheets-5.pdf
  5. https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2020/2020488rev.pdf
  6. https://pnpi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/VeteransFactSheet-Nov-2022.pdf
  7. https://studentveterans.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/NVEST-Report_FINAL.pdf
  8. https://www.benefits.va.gov/REPORTS/abr/docs/2021_education.pdf 
  9. https://www.statista.com/statistics/250294/us-veterans-by-education/
  10. https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/bps/
  11. https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/b&b/
  12. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED606212.pdf 

This content has been reviewed and approved by the National University Editorial Advisory Board. Learn more about our editorial process.

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