Is joining the military with a degree worth it?

Asked by: Thad Bode  |  Last update: September 17, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (59 votes)

1. You'll be eligible to enter the military at a higher rank if you enlist with a degree, which equates to higher pay. 2. College can be a great opportunity to explore your interests and potentially identify other career paths you may be passionate about.

Is it better to go into the military with a degree?

If you join the military after college, you'll automatically enter at a higher officer rank. This comes with pay bonuses and career advancement opportunities. You can still enjoy military education benefits to fund a master's degree, but you'll have more doors open if you earn your bachelor's degree first.

What rank will I be if I join the military with a bachelor's degree?

Upon enlisting, individuals with a bachelor's degree typically start at the pay grade of E-4 (in ranks such as Corporal in the Army and Marines, Senior Airman in the Air Force, or Petty Officer Third Class in the Navy and Coast Guard), while those without a degree usually start at E-1.

Does the military pay more if you have a degree?

Entering the military as a college graduate can indeed lead to a higher starting pay compared to someone with only a high school diploma. Typically, the military takes both your education and your experience into account when determining your starting rank and, hence, your pay.

Is it worth it to join the military for college?

Military.com highlights, “Not only does the military pay up to 100 percent of college tuition while you serve on active duty,” but it “also offers the GI Bill (about $36,000) to use for college up to 10 years after leaving the service.” The Post 9/11 GI Bill provides financial support for education and housing, up to ...

WARNING Don't Join the British Army Without Knowing These 3 Things

28 related questions found

Does the military pay for 100% of college?

The TA program may fund up to 100% of your college tuition and certain fees with the following limits: Not to exceed $250 per semester credit hour or $166 per quarter credit hour. Not to exceed $4,500 per fiscal year, Oct.

Should I enlist or go to college first?

You'll be eligible to enter the military at a higher rank if you enlist with a degree, which equates to higher pay. 2. College can be a great opportunity to explore your interests and potentially identify other career paths you may be passionate about.

What is the best degree to get for military?

Top Versatile Degrees for Military Soldiers
  • Business Management. Business management is the process of planning, organizing, directing, and controlling the activities of a business or organization to achieve its goals and objectives. ...
  • Cybersecurity. ...
  • Criminal Justice. ...
  • Organizational Communication.

What is the easiest military branch to join?

Navy: After the Air Force and Coast Guard, the Navy is often considered the next 'easiest'. Its basic training, known as Boot Camp, lasts approximately nine weeks. The physical demands in the Navy are significant, but can be less intense than the Army or Marines.

What military branch pays the most?

When it comes to your basic pay, the military branches are all the same. A look at military pay charts shows that military pay is based on a pay grade, or rank, and years of service. In terms of your base pay, there is no fundamental advantage to opting for one branch of service over another.

What happens if you enlist with a degree?

While it's common knowledge that basic training sets recruits on the pathway toward becoming an enlisted service member, those with a desire for leadership opportunities and a bachelor's degree can take another route into a military career — as a commissioned officer.

What do you start off as in the military?

Enlisted members start their careers as junior enlisted personnel, called privates in the Army and Marine Corps, airman basic in the Air Force and seaman recruit in the Navy. Though military titles and rank can differ by service, the military standardizes pay grade rankings, designating them as E-1 through E-9.

What rank do you enter the military with a bachelor's degree?

Beginning With a Degree

Typical enlistees begin basic combat training as a private with a pay grade of E-1. However, if you enter basic training with a baccalaureate degree your pay grade is automatically bumped up to E-4. Earning this rank otherwise typically takes more than a year.

Does GPA matter for military?

As per your question, it's important to note that each branch of the U.S. military has somewhat different requirements, but generally, the military does not have a stated minimum GPA for enlistment. High school graduation or its equivalent (like a GED) is typically the education-based requirement.

What is the hardest military to join?

1. Marine Corps - The Marine Corps is often considered the toughest branch of the military both physically and mentally. It has the most rigorous basic training, known as boot camp, which lasts 13 weeks. Marines are trained not only physically but also mentally, to have a "first to fight" mindset.

Which is the safest military branch to join?

The Coast Guard tends to be safer statistically in terms of injuries and fatalities. Similarly, the Air Force is known to be a safer branch where service members are often involved in non-combat activities.

What boot camp is the easiest?

Even though each branch of the military has unique components to its basic training or "boot camp", it's often noted that the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Coast Guard boot camps could be considered some of the 'easier' ones, in comparison to boot camps of other branches like the Army and Marine Corps.

What college should I go to if I want to be in the military?

Another pathway is attending a service academy, such as the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, or U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. These are four-year colleges that offer a full scholarship in exchange for service after graduation.

Do you get paid more in the Army if you have a degree?

If you enlist after acquiring your degree, you could enter service as a commissioned officer, which means starting at a higher rank – usually as second lieutenant in the Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps, or ensign in the Navy or Coast Guard. Officer ranks generally have higher pay compared to enlisted ranks.

What rank would I be in the Army with a master's degree?

In general, the Army requires all recruits to have at least a high school diploma; in addition, officer candidates (OCS) must have a bachelor's degree. If you enlist with a bachelor's or master's degree, you may start at a somewhat higher rank, generally as corporal or specialist.

What are the cons of being in the military?

Some potential drawbacks of joining the military include:
  • It can be a dangerous job. ...
  • You can be away from loved ones. ...
  • It's physically demanding. ...
  • Military life is highly structured. ...
  • It's a huge commitment.

Do you automatically become an officer if you have a degree?

Yes, the one basic requirement to become an Officer is that you must have a bachelor's degree—not necessarily at the start of the process, but by the time you're commissioned as an Officer.