Academic Performance of Veterans in Higher Education

Abstract

On October 6, 2001, President George W. Bush noted in his memoir that the military was prepared and ready to start military action in Afghanistan, and two years later the order was given to start Operation Iraqi Freedom. The decision to go to war would alter the lives of thousands of military men and women serving around the nation. These students would then return to fulfill a dream of a college degree. This study investigates the academic performance levels, by measurement of GPA, of military students who utilized Chapter 33 Post 9/11 VA benefits at OSU during the fall 2012 semester. Of the 418 individuals surveyed, 50 veteran students responded and demonstrated that they were capable of performing at academic levels of equal standing to their peers. The statistical results indicated no significance between the military and non-military students, no significance regarding months spent in military service, and no negative correlation between aggregate months served in combat and academic performance. Thus concluding that military individuals are able to perform at an equal standard of their fellow classmates and meet the expectations set by the programs at OSU.