Lend an ear to a state historian, open a history book, or spend some time at one of the state’s many military museums and you’ll soon find that North Carolina’s military history is as complex and fascinating as it gets.
With a history dating back to the French and Indian War and with the distinction of being one of America’s first 13 colonies, some of the nation’s earliest conflicts were fought on North Carolina soil. Bennett Place in Durham is the site of the surrender that would mark the end of the Civil War. The state is home to the Battleship North Carolina, one of the most decorated allied ships of WWII, having been part of every major naval offensive in the Pacific theater. North Carolina was also where the first class of African American Marines began their training at Montford Point Base during WWII.
Today, North Carolina looks quite different than it did during those historic battles and the years that the Greatest Generation was contributing to the war effort. But it has never lost touch with its beginnings, or with the service members and veterans here whose loyalty and sacrifice helped shape the nation.
Today’s North Carolina is still home to countless men and women whose dedication to our nation can be seen in their military service. It’s where you’ll find the massive Fort Bragg, the largest U.S. military installation in the world by population, often referred to as “the center of the military universe.” Here, no less than 53,000+ troops are continuing the tradition of military service.
Whether you’re an active duty service member, reservist, North Carolina Guardsman, or veteran, your commitment to serving the U.S. comes with a host of benefits, including outstanding education benefits that allow you to either advance and rise through the ranks in the military or begin a whole new chapter outside of the military.
In addition to VA benefits offered through the GI Bill®, Yellow Ribbon, and other federal programs, you may also be eligible for a host of state-level education benefits that will make earning your degree from one of the military friendly colleges in North Carolina easier and more affordable.
North Carolina Department of Military & Veterans Services (NCDMVA) Military Education Benefits
The North Carolina Department of Military & Veteran Services (NCDMVA) is committed to making sure veterans and service members know about and take advantage of all the benefits they’re eligible for. The DMVA has teams of specialists in its 12 offices across the state to provide personalized services for veterans and service members. It also works with the County Veterans Officers to ensure that veterans receive comprehensive care.
The NCDMVA works with the North Carolina State Approving Agency (NCSAA) for Veterans and Military Education to approve educational courses and programs at more than 450 military friendly colleges and branch campuses to ensure that students can use their VA benefits there.
The NCDMVA helps the state’s military-affiliated students experience successful educational outcomes through its Quality of Life Standing Committee. One of the major goals of the Committee is to find new ways to improve educational opportunities for military personnel in North Carolina and make them more affordable. They coordinate with NC schools, the state’s community college system, and the UNC system to facilitate programs that support the military student community.
You can also take advantage of their useful search tool — NC4VETS.org— to search for military friendly online colleges and educational resources available in your area.
North Carolina’s Tuition-Based Assistance Programs
All members of the armed forces in North Carolina who are serving in the state but don’t qualify for resident status for tuition purposes are charged in-state tuition rates while they serve in North Carolina.
You may also qualify for tuition reimbursement through the North Carolina Tuition Assistance Program if you’re an actively drilling Army or Air National Guard member in North Carolina. Funds through this program are available for any community college, technical college, trade school, or vocational school, as well as for any two- or four-year college or university that offers undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, and/or grad certificates.
North Carolina Scholarship for Children of Wartime Veterans
The NCDMVA offers a North Carolina Scholarship for Children of Wartime Veterans to show its appreciation for the services and sacrifices of its war veterans. Since its inception, this program has awarded more than 20,000 scholarships. The scholarship, which is only applicable at partnering North Carolina colleges and universities, covers eight academic semesters of tuition. To qualify, students must be under the age of 25 at the time. The student must either be a North Carolina resident, or the veteran parent must have been a legal resident of North Carolina during the period of service during which their eligibility was established.
Eligibility requirements for the veteran parent include:
- Killed or died in wartime service or as a result of a service-connected condition that occurred in wartime
- Rated as 100% disabled by the USDVA due to wartime service
- USDVA rated as much as 20% disabled but less than 100% disabled by the USDVA due to wartime service and was awarded a Purple Heart medal for wounds received
- Drawing a pension for total and permanent disability at the time of death as rated by the USDVA
- Deceased war veteran who was honorably discharged
- POW or MIA
North Carolina Veterans Support Programs
NC STRIVE
North Carolina continues to support its veteran student community by ensuring that their academic experiences are successful and fulfilling. NC STRIVE is a consortium of two- and four-year public and private colleges and universities and federal state agencies who work to increase awareness of the issues affecting veterans as they transition from military life to academic life. Through NC STRIVE, those employed in higher education can provide supportive services and resources to its veteran student community and also provide them with referrals to local, state, and federal resources.
Possible Station Assignments and Military Bases in North Carolina
North Carolina’s military bases and installations serve three out of the four branches of the military and continue to serve as major economic drivers in the state.
Though you won’t have much say regarding where you’re stationed, if you’re lucky enough to land in North Carolina, you’ll be met with a rich culture and a beautiful geographic dichotomy that includes the rolling, forested hills of the Piedmont region, the quiet tidewaters of the Coastal Plain, and the picturesque shores of the Outer Banks.
As an active-duty service member in North Carolina, you’ll also enjoy state-level educational benefits that include in-state tuition while you’re here. Or, if you settle down and make NC your home as a military veteran, you’ll automatically be eligible for all state benefits. Some of the biggest players in the state include:
- Seymour Johnson Air Force Base - Goldsboro
Home to the 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base is where you’ll find F-15E Strike Eagles conducting training and operational missions. The 916th Air Refueling Wing helps support global deployment in support of joint coalition military initiatives.
- Fort Bragg
Fort Bragg is one of the largest military complexes in the world. About ten percent of all of the Army’s forces are assigned to Fort Bragg. It’s also home to the only Airborne Corps and Airborne Division – the 82nd Airborne Division.
- Marine Corps Camp Lejeune - Jacksonville
Camp Lejeune is one of the largest Marine Corps bases on the East Coast and is a major training area. A number of training schools are located here, including Camp Geiger, the Marine Corps School of Infantry East, and Camp Johnson, the Combat Service Support School. Camp Lejeune supports a number of Marine Corps commands, as well as a Navy command and a Coast Guard command.
Military Friendly Colleges in North Carolina 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 North Carolina:
Barton College
Wilson, NC
Accreditation: SACSCOC
- Allied Health and Sport Studies
- Business
- Education
- Humanities
- Nursing
- Sciences
- Visual, Performing, and Communication Arts
Chamberlain College
Charlotte, NC
Accreditation: HLC
- College of Nursing
- College of Health Professions
Devry University
Charlotte / Morrisville, NC
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
ECPI University
Charlotte / Greensboro / Raleigh, NC
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Associate
- Cyber and Information Security Technology
- Software Development
- Computer-Aided Drafting and Design
- Electronics Engineering Technology
- Mechanical Engineering Technology
- Mechatronics
Bachelor’s
- Accelerated Cyber and Information Security Technology
- Cloud Computing
- Cyber and Information Security Technology
- Cybersecurity
- Data Analytics
- Digital Forensics Technology
- Mobile Development
- Software Development
- Web Design and Development
- Electronic Systems Engineering Technology
- Electronics Engineering Technology
- Mechanical Engineering Technology
- Mechatronics (ESET)
- Mechatronics
Master’s
- Systems Engineering Master’s – Mechatronics
- Master of Science in Cybersecurity
- Master of Science in Information Systems
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
Fayetteville, NC
Accreditation: SACSCOC
- Applied science
- Aviation
- Business
- Computers and technology
- Engineering
- Security intelligence and safety
- Space
Johnson Wales University
Charlotte, NC
Accreditation: NECHE
Campus
- College of Arts & Sciences
- College of Business
- College of Food Innovation & Technology
- College of Health & Wellness
- College of Hospitality Management
Online
- Business
- Criminal justice
- Culinary management
- Health science
- Hospitality
- HR management
- Liberal studies
- MBA
Northeastern University
Charlotte, NC
Accreditation: NECHE
- College of Arts Media and Design
- Bouvé College of Health Sciences
- D’Amore-McKim School of Business
- Combined Majors
- Khoury College of Computer Sciences
- College of Engineering
- College of Science
- College of Social Sciences and Humanities
- Northeastern Explore Program for undeclared students
South College
Asheville, NC
Accreditation: SACSCOC
- School of Business
- School of Computer Science and Engineering
- School of Physical Therapy
- School of Pharmacy
- School of Physician Assistant Studies
- Allied Health
- Ministry
- School of Legal Studies
- School of Nursing
- School of Education
South University
High Point, NC
Accreditation: SACSCOC
- Business & Technology
- Counseling and Psychology
- Criminal Justice and Legal Studies
- Healthcare
- Nursing
- Pharmacy
- Public Administration
- Public Health
- Theology
Strayer University
Greensboro / Huntersville / Morrisville / Concord / Raleigh / Charlotte / Garner, NC
Accreditation: MSCHE
- Associate in Arts in Accounting
- Associate in Arts in Acquisition and Contract Management
- Associate in Arts in Business Administration
- Associate in Arts in Information Technology
- Associate in Arts in Marketing
- Bachelor of Applied Science in Management
- Bachelor of Business Administration
- Bachelor of Science in Accounting
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
- Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
- Certificate of Education in Corporate Learning
- Certificate of Education in Educational Administration
- Diploma in Acquisition Contract Management
- Graduate Certificate in Digital Entrepreneurship
- Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurial Leadership
- Graduate Certificate in Finance and Accounting for Entrepreneurs
- Graduate Certificate in Marketing and Branding for Entrepreneurs
- Jack Welch MBA
- Jack Welch Management Institute Executive Certificates
- Jack Welch Management Institute Graduate Certificates
- Joe Gibbs Performance Management Certificate
- Master of Business Administration
- Master of Business Administration
- Master of Education
- Master of Health Services Administration
- Master of Human Resource Management
- Master of Public Administration
- Master of Science in Accounting
- Master of Science in Information Security and Assurance
- Master of Science in Information Systems
- Master of Science in Management
University of Phoenix
Charlotte, NC
Accreditation: HLC
- Business
- Criminal Justice
- Education
- Healthcare
- Nursing
- Psychology
- Behavioral Sciences
- Liberal Arts
- Technology
- RN to BSN
- MBA
- Health Administration
Information Systems - Criminal Justice and Security
- Business Fundamentals
Webster University
Camp Lejeune / Fort Bragg, NC
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
William Peace University
Raleigh, NC
Accreditation: SACSCOC
- American Ethnic Studies
- Interdisciplinary Studies
- Anthropology
- Leadership and Management Studies
- Arts Administration
- Biology
- Marketing
- Business Administration
- Middle School Education
- Business Analytics
- Musical Theatre
- Chemistry
- Political Science
- Communication
- Pre-Law
- Criminal Justice
- Psychology
- Elementary Education
- Religion
- English
- Simulation and Game Design
- Environmental Studies
- Elementary Education + Special Education
- Esports and Gaming Administration
- Sport and Fitness Studies
- Exercise and Sport Science
- Sport Management
- Forensic Science
- Theatre
- History and American Studies
- Women’s Studies
- Human Resource Management
- Writing
- Interactive Design
