Kansas wasn’t nicknamed the Great Soldier State for nothing. It was when the Civil War was over that Union soldiers across the nation traveled with their families to Kansas to secure land through the Homestead Act. These new Kansans established farms and opened new businesses in hopes of building a better life as the population grew. With this large influx of Civil War veterans, Kansas became known as the Great Soldier State.
Today, Kansas is still a military-supportive state full of military friendly colleges and state agencies that have lot to offer veterans and service members.
Now, decades removed from domestic military battles and foreign entanglements, veterans and service members have a chance live the American dream, by using their hard-earned military education benefits to get a college education.
Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs Office (KCVAO) Military Education Benefits
There’s more to military education benefits than just federal programs, like the GI Bill® and Yellow Ribbon program, to help veterans, service members, and dependents get a college education. You’ll find that the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs Office (KCVAO) is an incredible resource for finding the education benefits available to you here in Kansas. The KVCAO’s mission is to provide Kansans who have served with the guidance and assistance needed to be successful in post-military life.
Shown here are the military education benefits available to you in Kansas:
Tuition-Based Programs
Kansas Tuition Assistance for Dependents of Deceased Resident Service Members and former POWs
Spouses and children of service members who died while serving are entitled to free tuition, including academic fees, at all public colleges and universities in Kansas. POWs are eligible for this benefit, too. To get this benefit, the service member must have died while on active duty and must have served after September 11, 2001. The program pays for up to ten semesters of undergraduate study at public colleges and universities in Kansas, including technical colleges.
Kansas Resident Tuition Rates for Eligible Veterans, Service Members and Dependents
If you’re eligible for federal VA benefits or currently serving, you qualify for in-state tuition rates at public colleges and universities in Kansas. This benefit is open to veterans, active service members, and dependents, no matter how long you’ve been in the state. You must, however, be living in Kansas at the time of college enrollment to get in-state tuition rates.
Refund or Credit for Tuition for Activated Service Members Attending Kansas Regent Institutions
If you’re attending college and get called into active service, the Kansas Board of Regents will refund or credit any tuition you’ve paid. It’s important to note that this only applies if you’re attending a public college or university in Kansas.
Kansas Education Benefits for Dependents of Veterans of the Vietnam War
This benefit applies to children of Vietnam veterans who died during active service in Vietnam. The program offers a complete tuition waiver for up to 12 semesters at all Kansas public colleges and universities, including academic fees. Adopted children and children of Vietnam veterans who died due to a service-related disability incurred during active service in Vietnam are eligible, too. The only requirement is that the veteran must have entered the service in Kansas.
Scholarship Programs
Kansas Military Service Scholarship
If you served in Iraq or Afghanistan, in international waters, or foreign soil in support of the military campaigns Enduring Freedom, Nobel Eagle, or Iraqi Freedom, you’re eligible to receive the Kansas Military Service Scholarship. It pays for all tuition and academic fees for undergraduate programs at public colleges and universities in Kansas. The scholarship pays for a maximum of ten semesters, and you can still use federal VA education benefits, too. To qualify for this scholarship, you’ll need to:
- Have served at least 90 days, after September 11th, in Iraq or Afghanistan. If you didn’t serve 90 days, it must be due to injury sustained there
- Have received honorable discharge, general discharge, or still serving
- Maintain good academic standing
- Continue making progress toward your degree program
- Complete at least six credit hours per semester
For National Guard Members
Kansas National Guard Educational Assistance Program
This program helps Kansas National Members get a college education by paying for a percentage of tuition and academic fees. The great thing about this program is that it’ll pay for any type of educational program you pursue, whether it’s a technical certificate, college degree, or diploma. The program is state-funded, so the percentage you receive depends on how many applicants there are and how much federal tuition assistance you get. You’ll get financial assistance with up to 15 credits hours each semester, and you don’t have to enroll full-time. To be eligible for this program, you must:
- Be a Kansas National Guard service member
- Not be under any disciplinary action
- Have not served more than 20 years in the Kansas National Guard
- Serve two years after the last semester you receive financial assistance
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Attend a Kansas public college or university
- Maintain GPA 2.0 or better
- Not have a bachelor's degree
- Apply federal tuition assistance
More Support Programs
Operation Recognition
This program awards an honorary high school diploma to World War II and Korean War veterans who left high school to join the military. To get your high school diploma through Operation Recognition, you must have an honorable discharge and must have served in World War II between September 16, 1940, through December 31, 1946, or in Korea between June 27, 1950, and January 31, 1955. High school diplomas can be awarded posthumously, too.
Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (MIC3)
Military families are often on the move, which can make educational success difficult for military children. The MIC3 program was developed to help remove barriers and ensure a seamless transition between schools for military children. Benefits of the MIC3 program include promoting priority enrollment for military children, facilitating participation in extracurricular activities and sports, and promoting partnerships between schools and parents.
Possible Station Assignments and Military Bases in Kansas
Whether you’re from Kansas or another state, it’s possible you’ll be stationed here at some point. Of course, it’s not easy being away from home and family and having to be ready deploy at any moment. Whether this is your first duty assignment or your last, if you’ve received PCS orders for Kansas, you’ve landed in a great state.
Here’s a look at the bases you could be stationed at:
Air Force
- McConnell Air Force Base (AFB) - Wichita
McConnell AFB is home to the 22nd Air Refueling Wing and houses tenants of the 184th Intelligence Wing, 931st Air Refueling Wing, and the 64th Air Refueling Squadron, with the mission to provide air refueling and airlift anytime, anywhere. What’s unique about McConnell AFB is that it’s one of only three KC-135 Stratotanker wings in the United States. If you’re stationed here, you can serve your country and get a college education at any of the three colleges on-base – Butler Community College, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, and Wichita State University.
Army
- Fort Leavenworth Army Base – Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth is the oldest active military base west of the Mississippi River, spanning more than 100 acres and housing 3,700 active service members. Fort Leavenworth really has everything you could possibly need, including an education center where you’ll have access to education counseling and help with tuition assistance. You can also get your college degree at one of the many colleges on-post – Barton Community College, Upper Iowa University, Central Michigan University, Kansas State University, and University of Kansas.
- Fort Riley Army Base – Riley
Located in the Flint Hills Region, Fort Riley is home to the 1st Infantry Division and houses more than 15,000 active-duty service members. At Fort Riley, the Kansas National Guard and Reserve units also train with the 1st Infantry Division to develop the skills needed to protect the country. If you want to pursue a college degree while you’re in the service, there’s no better place to be stationed than Fort Riley. The education center on base houses several colleges where you can take courses, including Upper Iowa University, Hutchinson Community College, Southwestern College, Central Texas College, Barton Community College, and Kansas State University.
Military Friendly Colleges in Kansas 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 Kansas:
Cleveland University Kansas City
Overland Park, KS
Accreditation: HLC
- College of Chiropractics
- College of Health Sciences
Fort Hays State University
Hays, KS
Accreditation: HLC
- College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences
- W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship
- College of Education
- College of Health and Behavioral Sciences
- Peter Werth College of Science Technology and Mathematics
Friends University
Wichita, KS
Accreditation: HLC
Bachelor’s
- Business
- Education
- Fine Arts
- Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics
- Theology and Humanities
- College of Adult and and Professional Studies
Graduate
- Master of Arts in Christian Spiritual Formation
- Global MBA
- Professional MBA
- MS in Marriage and Family Therapy
- Master of Healthcare Leadership MHCL
- Master of Management Information Systems (MMIS)
- Master of Education
- Master of Science in Strategic Leadership (MSSL)
Grantham University
Lenexa, KS
Accreditation: DEAC
ASSOCIATE
- Business Administration and Management (Associate of Arts)
- Computer Science (Associate of Science)
- Criminal Justice (Associate of Arts)
- Electronics and Computer Engineering Technology (Associate of Science)
- Engineering Management Technology (Associate of Science)
- Healthcare Administration (Associate of Applied Science)
- Medical Administrative Assistant (Associate of Applied Science)
- Medical Coding and Billing (Associate of Applied Science)
- Multidisciplinary Studies (Associate of Arts)
- Paralegal Studies (Associate of Arts)
BACHELOR’S
- Accounting (Bachelor of Science)
- Business Administration (Bachelor of Business Administration)
- Concentration in Human Resource Management
- Concentration in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
- Concentration in Procurement and Contract Management
- Concentration in Marketing
- Concentration in General Management
- Concentration in Operations Management
- Computer Engineering Technology (Bachelor of Science)
- Computer Science (Bachelor of Science)
- Criminal Justice (Bachelor of Arts)
- Concentration in Homeland Security
- Concentration in Computer Forensic Investigation
- Cyber Security (Bachelor of Science)
- Electronics Engineering Technology (Bachelor of Science)
- Engineering Management Technology (Bachelor of Science)
- Financial Planning (Bachelor of Business Administration)
- Health Information Management (Bachelor of Science)
- Information Systems (Bachelor of Science)
- Concentration in Cybersecurity
- Concentration in Health Informatics
- Concentration in Web Development
- Multidisciplinary Studies (Bachelor of Arts)
- Concentration in Homeland Security
- Multidisciplinary Studies (Bachelor of Science)
- RN to BSN Degree Completion (Bachelor of Science in Nursing)
- Strategic Communications (Bachelor of Arts)
MASTER’S
- Business Administration – Information Management (Master of Business Administration)
- Business Administration – Project Management (Master of Business Administration)
- Business Administration (Master of Business Administration)
- Business Intelligence (Master of Science)
- Health Systems Management (Master of Science)
- Healthcare Administration (Master of Healthcare Administration)
- Information Management – Project Management (Master of Science)
- Information Management Technology (Master of Science)
- Information Technology (Master of Science)
- Leadership (Master of Science)
- Nursing Case Management Specialization (Master of Science in Nursing)
- Nursing Education Specialization (Master of Science in Nursing)
- Nursing Informatics Specialization (Master of Science in Nursing)
- Nursing Management and Organizational Leadership Specialization (Master of Science in Nursing)
- Performance Improvement (Master of Science)
Kansas Wesleyan University
Salina, KS
Accreditation: HLC
- Art & Design
- Behavioral Science & Human Services
- Biology
- Business & Accounting
- Center of Public Policy and Safety
- Chemistry
- Communication Studies & Theatre Arts
- Computer Studies
- English
- History
- Mathematics & Physics
- Music
- Nursing Education & Health Science
- Religion & Philosophy
- Social Work
- Sport & Exercise Science
- Teacher Education
Midamerica Nazarene University
Olathe, KS
Accreditation: HLC
- College of Arts and Sciences
- Department of Arts and Humanities
- Department of Business Administration
- Department of Christian Ministry and Formation
- Department of Natural Health and Mathematical Sciences
- School of Education
- Department of Teacher Education
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
- School of Nursing
- Department of Prelicensure Nursing Education
- Graduate Business
- Graduate Studies in Counseling
- Graduate Education
- Graduate Nursing
Sterling College
Sterling, KS
Accreditation: HLC
- Interdisciplinary Studies
- Art & Design
- Biblical Studies
- Biology
- Business Administration
- Chemistry
- Christian Ministries
- Christian Thought
- Communication and Media Arts
- Criminal Justice
- Education
- English
- Health and Human Performance
- Health Science
- History
- Independent
- Interdisciplinary
- Mathematics
- Music
- Psychology
- Sports Management
- Theatre Arts
- Writing and Editing
University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS
Accreditation: HLC
- Architecture & Design
- Arts
- Business
- Education & Human Sciences
- Engineering
- Journalism & Mass Communications
- Health Professions
- Law
- Liberal Arts & Sciences
- Medicine
- Music
- Nursing
- Pharmacy
- Professional Studies
- Public Affairs and Administration
- Social Welfare
University of Saint Mary
Leavenworth, KS
Accreditation: HLC
Undergraduate
- Division Of Business And Information Technologies
- Division Of Health Sciences
- Division Of Liberal Arts And Humanities
- Division Of Natural Sciences And Math
- Division Of Nursing
- Division Of Social And Behavioral Sciences
- Pre-health Professional And Pre-veterinary Curricula
Graduate
- Division Of Business And Information Technologies
- Division Of Health Sciences
- Division Of Nursing
- Division Of Social And Behavioral Sciences
Washburn University
Topeka, KS
Accreditation: HLC
- School of Law – JD (Juris Doctor)
- JD/MAcc Dual Degree
- JD/MBA Dual Degree
- JD/MSW Dual Degree
- JD/MCJ Dual Degree
- Master of Studies in Law
- LLM Global Legal Studies
Webster University
Fort Leavenworth / Mcconnell AFB, KS
Accreditation: HLC
- Advertising and Marketing Communications
- Counseling
- Criminal Justice
- Cybersecurity
- Data Analytics
- Education
- Educational Leadership
- Health Administration
- Human Resources Development
- National Security Studies
- Management & Leadership
- Marketing
- MBA
- Media Communications
- Nurse Anesthesia Practice
- Procurement and Acquisitions Management
