Military-Supportive GI Bill® Approved and Yellow Ribbon Program Colleges Online and in Ohio

ohio state

Ohio has long been a state committed to military service and flag-waiving patriotism. It’s military history, in fact, begins even before it achieved statehood, when settlers of the Northwest Territory established a militia to protect against rogue Indian attacks backed by the British monarchy. Years later, a newly formed Ohio legislature would enact as its first law a most important one – the militia law.

Nearly a decade later, in 1812, war would again reach Ohio territory, as the British and their allies attempted to lay siege to Fort Meigs. The Ohio militia would not be deterred, though, and eventually led Americans to a victory in rural Perrysburg. It was a crucial moment which changed the course of the war from a guaranteed British victory to an American shutdown of the British war machine.

Today, we’re many generations removed from Ohio’s historic military battles, and the likelihood of being sent off on an overseas deployment seems less likely than even a decade ago. This gives new service members and recently discharged veterans a shot at the American dream, by taking advantage of the military benefits earned – mainly access to a college education.

Ohio Department of Veterans Services (ODVS) Military Education Benefits

There’s more to military education benefits than just federal programs, like the GI Bill® and the Yellow Ribbon program, to help Ohio service members, veterans, and dependents get access to a college education. Ohio is known as one of the most military-friendly states in the entire country, with the sixth largest veteran population nationwide and a slew of military-friendly colleges. It goes without saying that Ohio stands in strong support of its veterans and military families.

You’ll find that the Ohio Department of Veteran Services (ODVS) is a first-line resource for accessing military education benefits. The ODVS serves a community of approximately 850,000 veteran residents across 88 counties. Each county has a County Veterans Services Office (CVSO) with ODVS-trained and certified Veterans Services Officers. These officers will help you file for and obtain the benefits and compensation earned through military service and can also help you find military scholarship programs offered through the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE).

The ODVS also collaborates with Ohio employers to cultivate a military-friendly culture supportive of recruiting and retaining former service members in Ohio’s workforce. Let’s look at the state-level education benefits available to Ohio’s service members, veterans, and eligible dependents.

Veteran Support Programs

The transition from military life to civilian college life isn’t an easy one, so it’s understandable you’ll need some support along the way. Ohio Values Veterans, the Military Veteran Educators Program, and the Ohio GI Promise programs are designed to do just that.

Ohio Values Veterans

This program ensures that your military education, training, and experience are recognized and accepted when applying to college. By giving you college credit for your military experience, you’ll spend less time completing irrelevant courses and more time focusing on your degree of choice. The Military Transfer Assurance Guides (MTAGs) is a state-approved list which incorporates courses offered by military-friendly colleges in Ohio, establishes an equivalency for military experience, and then translates that into academic coursework credit. The MTAGs list is managed through an interactive database – Ohio Transfer To Degree Guarantee – which makes the conversion for you. Simply enter key stats like your branch of service, skill level, and subject area and the database does the rest for you.

You’ll also find that the Ohio Values Veterans program has a slew of supportive structures built-in to make your transition easier. Under this program, all Ohio public colleges and universities are required to:

Ohio Military Veteran Educators Program

This benefit program is open to veterans with an honorable discharge and even to currently active service members. You can be with any U.S. military branch and receive the benefit. It covers all fees for obtaining an Ohio educator license, permit or certificate, and even covers renewal fees as well. What’s great about this program is that it covers the same fees for your spouse, too.

Ohio GI Promise

No matter which branch you serve, whether active duty, reserve, or former service member, your military service qualifies you for in-state tuition rates at all Ohio public colleges and universities. You don’t even have to live in the state; you can simply attend an Ohio public institution and get the in-state tuition rate. Spouses and dependents are eligible, too.

Scholarship Program for Service Members

The Ohio National Guard Scholarship Program is open to service members of the Ohio Army and Air National Guard. Currently, about 3,400 of your fellow service members are taking advantage of the Ohio National Guard Scholarship Program. Check out the amazing benefits it offers:

Scholarship Programs for Dependents

There’re educational assistance programs for spouses and dependents, too – the Ohio War Orphans & Severely Disabled Veterans’ Children Scholarship and the Ohio Safety Officers College Memorial Fund.

The Ohio War Orphans & Severely Disabled Veterans’ Children Scholarship is a scholarship program which applies to children of deceased service members or disabled veterans who served during wartime. It covers 84% of full-time tuition at public colleges and $7,532 yearly at private colleges, though only Ohio residents are eligible for this scholarship.

The Ohio Safety Officers College Memorial Fund is a tuition assistance program for children and spouses of service members who died in combat during Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom. Spouses and dependents must be Ohio residents, although residency at time of death is not required. Benefits include:

Possible Station Assignments and Military Bases in Ohio

If you’re an Ohio native, it’s possible you’ll be stationed here at some point and just as likely that you’ll be sent somewhere you’ve never been. Sure, being away from home isn’t easy, even for the toughest soldier. But, whether you’re on your first or last duty assignment, if you’ve got PCS orders for Ohio, you’ve landed in a great state. Not only do you get the benefit of in-state college tuition here in Ohio, there’s also scenery and recreation to take in during your time in the Buckeye state.

Several Air National Guard stations populate the state in areas like Columbus, Mansfield, Cincinnati, and Springfield. While these stations train and prepare guardsmen for missions like command and control and in-flight refueling operations, the major military bases here in Ohio belong to the Air Force and the Coast Guard.

Air Force

If you’re an Ohio native, it’s possible you’ll be stationed here at some point and just as likely that you’ll be sent somewhere you’ve never been. Sure, being away from home isn’t easy, even for the toughest soldier. But, whether you’re on your first or last duty assignment, if you’ve got PCS orders for Ohio, you’ve landed in a great state. Not only do you get the benefit of in-state college tuition here in Ohio, there’s also scenery and recreation to take in during your time in the Buckeye state.

Several Air National Guard stations populate the state in areas like Columbus, Mansfield, Cincinnati, and Springfield. While these stations train and prepare guardsmen for missions like command and control and in-flight refueling operations, the major military bases here in Ohio belong to the Air Force and the Coast Guard.

Coast Guard

Coast Guard Station Cleveland Harbor borders the coast of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland and is known as a search and rescue station. It sits across from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and is nearby to some of the state’s top military-friendly colleges in Cleveland and Kent. Nearby things to see and do include Cedar Point Amusement Park, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Greater Cleveland Aquarium, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Military Friendly Colleges in Ohio that Accept GI Bill® and Yellow Ribbon Program Benefits

Of the more-than 2,000 colleges and universities that participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program, only around 500 provide full funding and place no limits on the number of eligible students who can take advantage of it. These schools ensure that every eligible veteran who enrolls can count on full coverage of all tuition costs that exceed GI Bill® limits.

You’ll be glad to know that a number of those military friendly colleges and universities are located right here in Ohio:

Ashland University

Ashland, OH

Accreditation: HLC

  • The College of Arts & Sciences
  • Richard E. & Sandra J. Dauch College of Business & Economics
  • Dwight Schar College of Education
  • Dwight Schar College of Nursing & Health Sciences
  • eAshland

Bryant and Stratton College

Akron, OH

Accreditation: MSCHE

  • Legal services
  • Design
  • Healthcare
  • Business
  • Technology
  • Education

Case Western Reserve University

Cleveland, OH

Accreditation: HLC

  • College of Arts and Sciences
  • Case School of Engineering
  • Francis Payne Bolton School of Nursing
  • Weatherhead School of Management

Cedarville University

Cedarville, OH

Accreditation: HLC

  • Allied Health
  • Art, Design, and Theatre
  • Biblical and Theological Studies
  • Business Administration
  • Communication
  • Education
  • Engineering and Computer Science
  • English, Literature, and Modern Languages
  • History and Government
  • Interdisciplinary Studies
  • Music and Worship
  • Nursing
  • Pharmacy
  • Psychology
  • Science and Mathematics
  • Social Work

Chamberlain University

Columbus, OH

Accreditation: HLC

  • College of Nursing
  • College of Health Professions

Daymar College

Chillicothe, OH

Accreditation: ACICS

  • Business
  • Criminal justice
  • Health care
  • Health and wellness
  • Online

Defiance College

Defiance, OH

Accreditation: HLC

Undergraduate

  • Accounting
  • Biology
  • Business administration
  • Clinical laboratory science
  • Communication studies
  • Computer science
  • Criminal justice
  • Cyber-forensics
  • English
  • Environmental science
  • Exercise science
  • Forensic science
  • Graphic design
  • History

 

  • Mathematics
  • Ministry studies
  • Molecular biology
  • Nursing
  • Pre-health studies
  • Pre-law
  • Pre-ministry studies
  • Psychology
  • Religious studies
  • Restoration ecology
  • Self-designed
  • Social work
  • Sport management

Graduate

  • Master of Business Administration

 

  • Master of Arts in Education

Devry University

Cincinnati / Columbus / Independence, OH

Accreditation: HLC

Associate Degrees

  • Technology
  • Engineering
  • IT and Networking
  • Network Systems Administration
  • Business
  • Healthcare

Bachelor's Degrees

  • Business
  • Computer Information Systems
  • Healthcare Administration
  • Accounting
  • Liberal Arts
  • Media Arts

Undergrad Certificates

  • Medical Billing and Coding
  • Business Essentials
  • Cloud Computing
  • IoT
  • Technology
  • Media Arts

Master's Degrees

  • MBA
  • Accounting
  • Project Management
  • Technology
  • Business
  • Healthcare
  • Public Administration
  • Human Resource Management

Graduate Certificates

  • Human Resources Management
  • Project Management
  • Healthcare
  • CPA Preparation
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Global Supply Chain Management

Franklin University

Columbus, OH

Accreditation: HLC

  • College of Arts Science & Technology
  • Ross College of Business
  • College of Health & Public Administration
  • International Institute For Innovative Instruction

Indiana Wesleyan University

Independence / Hilliard / Dayton / West Chester, OH

Accreditation: HLC

  • College of Arts and Sciences
  • College of Adult and Professional Studies
  • School of Nursing
  • School of Health Sciences
  • Graduate School
  • Wesley Seminary

John Carroll University

University Heights, OH

Accreditation: HLC

  • College of Arts & Sciences
  • Boler College of Business
  • School of Business

Lake Erie College

Pineville, OH

Accreditation: HLC

  • Arts humanities and social sciences
  • Business
  • Education
  • Equine studies
  • Natural sciences and mathematics

Malone University

Canton, OH

Accreditation: HLC

  • College of Theology, Arts, and Sciences
  • School of Business & Leadership
  • School of Education & Human Development
  • School of Nursing & Health Sciences

Ohio Northern University

Ada, OH

Accreditation: HLC

  • Engineering
  • Arts and Science
  • Business
  • Law
  • Pharmacy

Ohio State University

Columbus, OH

Accreditation: HLC

  • Architecture (Austin E. Knowlton School of)
  • Arts and Sciences (College of)
  • Business (Fisher College of)
    Dentistry (College of)
  • Education and Human Ecology (College of)
  • Engineering (College of)
  • Environment and Natural Resources (School of)
  • Food Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (College of)
  • Graduate School
  • John Glenn College of Public Affairs
  • Michael E. Moritz College of Law
  • Medicine (College of)
  • Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (School of)
  • Nursing (College of)
  • Optometry (College of)
  • Pharmacy (College of)
  • The John Glenn School of Public Affairs
  • Public Health (College of)
  • Social Work (College of)
  • Veterinary Medicine (College of)

Ohio University Chillicothe

Chillicothe / St Clairsville / Lancaster / Athens / Ironton / Zanesville, OH

Accreditation: HLC

Associate

  • Accounting Technology
  • Business Management Technology
  • Computer Science Technology
  • Individualized Studies
  • Associate of Science (AS)
  • Child Development
  • Environmental Engineering Technology

 

  • Human Services Technology
  • Law Enforcement Technology
  • Medical Assisting Technology
  • Nursing
  • Advanced Placement for Licensed Practical Nurses

Bachelor’s

  • Business
  • Communication studies
  • Criminal justice
  • Early childhood and elementary education
  • Health services administration
  • History

 

  • Human biology
  • Middle childhood education
  • Nursing
  • Social work
  • Specialized studies
  • Technical and applied studies

University of Dayton

Dayton, OH

Accreditation: HLC

  • College of Arts and Sciences
  • School of Business Administration
  • School of Education and Health Sciences
  • School of Engineering
  • School of Law
  • Professional and Continuing Education
  • Intensive English Program

University of Toledo

Toledo, OH

Accreditation: HLC

  • Arts and Letters
  • Business and Innovation
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Graduate Studies
  • Health and Human Services
  • Honors
  • Law
  • Medicine and Life Sciences
  • Natural Sciences and Mathematics
  • Nursing
  • Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • University College

Ursuline College

Pepper Pike, OH

Accreditation: HLC

  • African American studies
  • Art and design
  • Art therapy
  • Athletic coaching
  • Biochemistry
  • Biology
  • Life science
  • Medical laboratory science
  • Biotechnology
  • Business management
  • Chemistry
  • Pre-pharmacy
  • Criminology
  • Medicine dental or pharmacy early acceptance program
  • Diocesan lay pastoral ministry
  • Bridge program in education
  • Engineering
  • English
  • Exercise science
  • Fashion
  • Empowering women for the gig economy
  • Health care administration
  • Historic preservation
  • History and civic engagement
  • Humanities
  • Human resources management
  • Interdisciplinary studies
  • Interdisciplinary
  • Pre-law
  • Mathematics
  • Bachelor of science nursing
  • Pre-med
  • Psychology
  • Rust belt pathway
  • Social work
  • Sport management
  • Women’s studies

Walsh University

North Canton, OH

Accreditation: HLC

  • Byers School of Nursing
  • DeVille School of Business
  • School of Arts and Sciences
  • School of Behavioral Health and Sciences
  • Division of Education

Xavier University

Cincinnati, OH

Accreditation: HLC

  • College of Arts and Sciences
  • College of Nursing
  • College of Professional Sciences
  • Williams College of Business