College Success For Veterans

By Dr. Marciene Mattleman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Data from veterans who used education benefits from the post 9/11 GI Bill seem to graduate with rates comparable to their non-veteran peers.

Recently, a report by the Million Records Project, in collaboration with the US Department of Veterans Affairs, released the first analysis of those enrolled in college.

Many already had associate's degrees, perhaps earning degrees while on active duty. Nearly 52% or close to 789,000 veterans earned bachelor's degrees, correcting the perception that veterans drop out and were not persisting. Fifty-one percent attended public institutions, while 45 percent enrolled in for-profit colleges and all needed more time than traditionally expected.

Air Force veterans earned degrees at the highest rate, 67%; the Coast Guard followed with 54%; Navy, 52%; Army, 47%; and Marines, 45%.

An article in The Chronicle of Higher Education suggests that data on full or part time attendance, and how and what jobs veterans land after completion, would help policy makers plan.