Military and Veteran Higher Education Stats and Amvets Scholarship Opportunities

September 24th, 2026

ESCANABA, MI- Supporting veterans means recognizing both the sacrifices they have made and the skills they bring home from military service. Especially the sacrafices for things like freedom of religion, speech, and societal engagement. Education can be an important next step in turning those experiences into long-term career opportunities.

Military service can provide valuable experience in leadership, discipline, teamwork, responsibility, and working toward a common objective. For individuals who may not have had many educational or economic advantages growing up, those skills can become an important foundation for future success.

The report below indicates about 62% of student veterans and servicemembers are first-generation college students. The article also notes that business is the most common field of study among veterans, and that student veterans have demonstrated strong academic performance in several studies.

Education support matters, too. Programs such as the GI Bill help veterans and servicemembers pay for tuition and other educational expenses. Community organizations and veterans' organizations can also play a role by connecting students with scholarships and other resources.

For veterans considering college or additional training, it may be worthwhile to explore scholarship opportunities through organizations such as AMVETS, along with federal and institutional education benefits. Investing in veterans' education can help translate military experience into new opportunities for individuals, families, and communities.

If you are a college student you may want to check out Amvets Scholarships. Likewise, supporting your local Amvets Post #123-Escanaba does help foster greater veteran engagement. If you would like to make a donation reach out. Escanaba Amvets Webpage and Esky Amvets Facebook

Military and Veteran Higher Education: Key Statistics and Trends

• About 62% of student veterans and servicemembers are first-generation college students, compared with 43% of non-military-affiliated students.
• Business is the most common field of study among veterans, accounting for about 27%, followed by STEM at 14.4% and health-related fields at 10.4%.
• Education benefits remain an important resource. In fiscal year 2021, about 610,009 students used the Post-9/11 GI Bill, while military students also received other forms of tuition assistance.
• Veterans are generally older college students; 57% of veteran students were age 30 or older, compared with 21% of non-veteran students in the cited data.
• The article highlights both educational and economic outcomes. Ten years after earning bachelor's degrees, veteran graduates in the cited study reported average gross income of $79,371, compared with $76,293 for nonveteran graduates.

Prestianni, T. (2024, November 29). 71 military and veteran higher education statistics for 2026. National University. https://www.nu.edu/blog/military-and-veteran-higher-education-statistics/