Air Force Education Resources and Special Programs

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Flexible Online Education for
Airmen and Veterans

Whether you want to earn an associate’s degree or advance toward a bachelor’s, master’s, or even doctoral degree, Purdue Global has more than 180 online programs to choose from. As part of the respected Purdue University system, you can be confident that you’re earning a quality education from a regionally accredited public university.

 

From our distinguished, experienced faculty to our dedicated support services, Purdue Global delivers Air Force-friendly, military-focused support and the flexibility you need to succeed—including military Advisors to assist with Air Force education benefits, technology fee waivers for servicemembers, and no-cost tutoring services. As a student, you’ll discover that learning online at Purdue Global is a highly interactive experience, giving you ample opportunities to advance in your military career.*

How Close Are You to a Degree?
With our specialized transfer credit pathways, your military training counts as credit toward a Purdue Global degree.
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Additional Ways to Earn Credit
Laptop Equivalency Exams Learn More
Graduation Cap College
Credit Learn More
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The transfer credit tool will provide an estimate of how many credits you may be eligible to receive based on your skill level/rate/rank in a given MOS/Rating/AFSC. ESTIMATES ARE NOT A GUARANTEE OF CREDIT. Credit totals for Air Force, Coast Guard, Navy, and Marines are based on an educational mapping of the standard courses required for rank advancement as well as credit for occupation training. Credit totals for Army reflect credit for occupation training. Exact transfer credit amount may vary depending on completed military courses and occupations as listed on your official Joint Services Transcript(s).

Air Force Education Pathways

  • GEM Program

    General Education Mobile (GEM) Program

    As a member of the U.S. Air Force interested in earning a quality degree, you understand how important it is to embark on a college program that fits your busy schedule. The GEM program is a key step toward earning your associate's degree through the Community College of the Air Force. This Air Force college degree program was designed to help you fulfill your general education requirements in a mobile, nontraditional classroom format.

    GEM can be completed with only five online courses at Purdue Global.†

    • Each course corresponds to a general education area requirement for a degree.
    • GEM courses are taught 100% online.
    • Each term lasts 10 weeks.
    • When taking two courses per term, you can complete the GEM program in 8 months.

    Why Is GEM So Important?
    General education courses are the foundation of your college studies. These courses prepare you for the degree-specific and higher-level courses you will need to earn your degree. The GEM program allows you to build that foundation, even if you can't attend classes in a traditional school setting.

    After completing GEM, you can focus on earning credits within your specific discipline through additional college courses, training you have taken with CLEP and DANTES exams, and credits earned through your military work.

  • AU-ABC

    Air Force University Associate-to-Baccalaureate Cooperative (AU-ABC)

    Purdue Global partners with Air University to help airmen and women continue their education and earn a bachelor’s degree. The Air University Associate-to-Baccalaureate Cooperative (AU-ABC) Program was launched by the Air Force to help graduates of the Community College of the Air Force associate's degree program apply their existing credits toward a bachelor's degree program.

    The transfer of a CCAF associate's degree could provide up to half the credits needed to obtain a bachelor's degree.‡ Please note that you must meet eligibility requirements for credits transferred. The following Purdue Global bachelor’s degrees are a part of the AU-ABC program:

    Servicemembers can find information about Purdue Global and the Air Force University AU-ABC program on the Air Force Portal.

  • Educational Plan

    The First Step Toward a Degree

    Developing your educational plan is one of several steps you must complete in order to enroll, begin your education, and receive Air Force tuition assistance benefits. This plan is essential to ensuring you are on the right path to achieving your educational goals. Our Military Student Support Center can help you develop your educational plan, as well as guide you through the enrollment process. You should also discuss this plan with your Educational Services Officer.

    The AI Portal is a great resource to research your educational options. You will also need to use the AI Portal to apply for tuition assistance. Note: Use the “Search Institutions” function to find Purdue Global.

  • Tuition Reductions

    We Offer an Affordable Education for Military Students

    We believe you have earned a quality education through your service and should not have to pay excessive out-of-pocket expenses to reach your educational goal.§

    • Current Servicemembers (including Guard and Reserve): 55% per-credit reduction for undergraduate programs (plus we waive the technology fee) and 17% to 30% per-credit reduction for graduate programs
    • Veterans: 38% per-credit reduction for undergraduate programs and 14% per-credit reduction for graduate programs
    • Military Spouses: 10% per-credit reduction for undergraduate and graduate programs

    Learn More

Fly, Fight, and Stay on Course With Our PME2Degree Program

The PME2Degree program is a holistic approach to providing the best education option based on your individual goals and the most efficient path to achieve those goals.

Transfer Credit Pathways

We have mapped a select few Air Force specialty codes (AFSCs) into various degree options, allowing you to pursue a degree program that may not specifically be related to your AFSC, but is relevant to your ultimate career goals. In addition, we will review your military transcript for potential credit toward your degree of choice.

Uncompromised Quality

The comprehensive nature of our AFSC reviews ensures that the required outcomes needed to earn a degree are either achieved in military service or through the degree plan.

Built for Lifelong Learning

At Purdue Global, we are committed to your ongoing success. We provide a continuous learning path, making it easier for you to explore the next steps in your academic journey from earning an associate’s degree to progressing to a bachelor’s, master’s, and even doctoral degree. With our generous transfer options, credits earned in many of our degree programs can be transferred into a Purdue Global advanced degree, allowing you to achieve your ultimate academic and career goals.# Along with transfer credits, we also re-evaluate your training to apply it toward the next degree level.

Air Force Education Benefits and Tuition Assistance

  • Tuition Assistance (TA)

    What Is Tuition Assistance?

    Tuition assistance is a benefit paid to eligible servicemembers who meet specific requirements to receive TA benefits.

    The Air Force Tuition Assistance (TA) program provides active-duty airmen with funding for tuition costs associated with courses taken in an off-duty status at a college, university, or vocational/technical institution, whose regional or national accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Purdue Global is a regionally accredited institution.

  • TA Caps

    What Are the Caps?

    There is an annual cap of $4,500 per individual, which falls within each fiscal year (October 1 to September 30). Payment for tuition will not exceed the following caps:

    • $250.00 per semester hour
    • $166.67 per quarter hour
    • $16.67 per clock hour (for approved certificate/diploma programs only)

    Purdue Global is on the quarter-hour system. Current servicemembers, including Guard and Reserve, are eligible for a 55% per-credit tuition reduction for undergraduate programs, which reduces per-credit tuition to $165, which is below the per-quarter-hour cap.

  • TA Eligibility

    Who Is Eligible?

    TA is available to active-duty airmen and Air Force Reservists. Please visit the Air Force Portal for additional eligibility requirements.

    To qualify, you must:

    • Be on active duty for the duration of the course term
    • Attend an institution accredited by a regional, national, or professional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
    • Have a high school diploma or equivalent

  • TA Coverage

    What Is Covered?

    TA may be used for academic or technical courses and degree programs taken from 2- or 4-year institutions on base, off base, or by correspondence.

    TA will cover only tuition.

    TA does NOT cover books and course materials, academic institution fees, or retakes of the same course. Additionally, TA will not fund your courses if you leave the service before the course ends, you quit the course for reasons other than personal illness, military transfer, or mission requirements, or you fail the course. In the event one of these situations occurs, you will have to provide reimbursement for any funds already paid.

    TA is NOT authorized for courses leading to a lateral or lower-level degree than you already possess (e.g., second associate's or bachelor's degree). TA is also not authorized for post-master's degree coursework or degrees.

  • Apply For TA

    Where Can I Apply?

    To apply for TA, please visit the Air Force Portal.

  • Additional Info

    Where Can I Learn More?

    Visit the Air Force’s Personnel Center and Air Force Portal.

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Accreditation


Purdue Global is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. This accreditation covers all academic programs, all regional locations, and all programs provided via distance education. For more information, please visit the HLC website at HLCommission.org or call 800-621-7440.

Degrees for Military Students Top Program

We offer flexible programs designed to support those who balance career, duty, family, and their studies.

This accolade was awarded prior to the March 2018 purchase of Kaplan University by Purdue University and subsequent creation of Purdue University Global. Purdue Global cannot guarantee future accolades.

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NOTES AND CONDITIONS

*Purdue Global cannot guarantee employment or career advancement.

†The CCAF associate's degree combines college courses with your Air Force training. Please visit the AI Portal or your education office to determine what training is required to complete your degree, in addition to the five GEM courses. Approval to participate in these programs should not be taken as an endorsement by the Air Force.

‡Purdue Global does not guarantee the transferability of credit from any of these sources. See the University Catalog for the Prior Learning Assessment policy. Credit awards have service-level requirements. Exact transfer amount may vary depending on completed military courses and occupations as listed on your official Joint Service Transcript(s). Applicable state-specific program requirements, as listed in the University Catalog, may reduce the available transfer credits. All credits must be validated on official transcript(s) to be eligible for transfer.

§Military tuition rates cannot be used in conjunction with any other Purdue Global grants or tuition reduction, including Purdue Global Tuition Cap or ExcelTrack™ pricing. Per-credit tuition reductions are based on standard tuition rate of $371.00. Indiana resident pricing for undergraduate veterans is $220.00 per credit; no additional reductions are applied due to this lowered tuition rate.

#The University cannot guarantee that students will be granted admission to any future programs. Speak to an Advisor about transfer credit opportunities and see the University Catalog for the Prior Learning Assessment policy.