First, learn about available benefit options including the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Next, compare our degree and certificate programs and find one that meets your career or personal educational needs and interests.

You may also be interested in:

• College-Level Courses in a wide range of subjects.
• VA approved non-credit certificate programs (PDF) from our Center for Professional Development.
• Credit by Examination through Excelsior College^® Examinations.

• Success Strategies for Military and Veterans, a 3-credit online course specifically designed to take veterans, active duty servicemembers, transitioning military members and servicemembers in reserve or guard components through the steps of the career development process, where they learn to leverage their education and military experience leading to successful civilian careers.
• Transition Job Search Resources and Tools for starting a career after active military service.
• Veterans’ Employment Resource Center at USAJOBS.gov.
• Military Job Zone
• American Council on Education
• Servicemember’s Opportunity College
• Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES)

Compare Excelsior's fee options and credit requirements for veterans (PDF)

Contact an Excelsior Military Admissions Counselor to discuss the fee option that’s right for you.

Apply Online

• Undergraduate Admissions Online Application (login required)
• Graduate Admissions Online Application (all graduate degree programs - login required)

Download Applications

Undergraduate Programs Applications

• Certificate Programs Application (PDF) (all undergraduate certificate programs)
• Undergraduate Admissions Application (PDF)

Graduate Programs Applications

• Certificate Programs Application (PDF) (all graduate certificate programs)
• Graduate Application for Admission (PDF)
• Post-Master's Certificate in Nursing Education (PDF)

Gather Your Records 

With your application you will need to submit the appropriate transcripts and documents from the following list, for the branch in which you served. You may also submit an official DD 214, certified by a County Clerk or VA Office and submitted in a sealed envelope from the certifying officer.

Air Force and Air Guard

• Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) Transcript

Army and Army National Guard

• Army/ACE (American Council on Education) Registry Transcript System (AARTS)

Coast Guard

• Coast Guard Institute (CGI) Transcript

Navy and Marine Corps

• Sailor/Marine American Council on Education (ACE) Registry Transcript (SMART) (PDF)

Servicemembers with DLI Training

• Defense Language Institute (DLI) Transcript
• Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) Score Report

• Obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the VA by filing VA form 22-1990, listing Excelsior College as your parent school. Visit the VA GI Bill Web site for details and forms.
• Fax a copy of your COE to the Excelsior College financial aid/veterans affairs office at 518-464-8777. NOTE: This is required, but if you have not yet received a requested COE from the Veterans Administration, you may still submit your unofficial DD 214 to get started.
• If you have used your benefits previously at another institution, file VA form 22-1995 (change of school form), listing Excelsior as your parent school.

To receive VA benefits as an enrolled Excelsior student you must file a Letter of Intention--Veterans Affairs (VA) Benefits (PDF) and other appropriate VA forms for the Excelsior courses and Excelsior College® Examinations you have registered for and wish to claim under your benefits. Filing time limits apply:

Courses: File within one year of the course start date.
Exams: File within nine months after taking the exam

Each term that you take courses at another school (your “visiting” school), request a Parent Letter from Excelsior. It informs the visiting school that we will accept the credits you are taking from them. Follow these steps:

1. Request course approval from your Excelsior Academic Advisor before requesting a parent letter.
2. Provide Excelsior’s VA office with the name and address of the visiting school, the course number(s) and title(s), the number of credits, and the visiting school’s VA representative contact information, including their fax number, in your parent letter request to us.
3. Submit your parent letter request to us using either:
   • Email to VAFA@excelsior.edu
     OR
   • Fax to the attention of Financial Aid at 518-464-8777

Remember: You will need to repeat this process each term that you are taking classes at both Excelsior College and a college local to you.

If you have questions, contact our Financial Aid Office toll free at 1-888-647-2388 ext. 143, or email VAFA@excelsior.edu

There is a big difference in how educational benefit claims are paid between the Post 9/11 GI Bill and all other programs. 

Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefit Claims

The amount of your eligible coverage is paid directly to us, which means you pay less or no out-of-pocket as you go. Visit our Post 9/11 GI Bill page or go to the VA GI Bill Web site for details.

All Other VA Educational Benefit Programs

You pay up front for course tuition, exam costs, and fees. The VA will then pay you according to your VA entitlement and enrollment certification (full-time, half-time, etc.)

Here’s how it works:

Course takers: After you have registered and paid for courses and filed a Letter of Intention with Excelsior’s Veterans Affairs office the VA will send you a monthly check based on your enrollment status (half-time, full-time, etc).

Excelsior College Exam takers: After you have paid for and passed an Excelsior College Examination we report your claim for benefits to the VA. The exam completion date serves as your end of course date (similar to taking your final exam in a traditional course) and we report a 3 month period prior to that test date to create a semester. The VA will send you a monthly check based on your enrollment status (half-time, full-time, etc.) for that 3 month period.