If you're a military-connected student interested in pursuing an undergraduate degree at UIUC, you're in the right place. Military-connected students include active-duty members, veterans, and dependents of those in the US Military Service.
How you'll apply to the University of Illinois depends on where you are in your studies, rather than on your military-connected status. If you're pursuing a degree on campus, you'll apply as either a first-year or transfer student.
In general, first-year applicants are students who will head to college for the first time after graduating high school. You can find a more specific definition on our policies page.
Transfer applicants are students who enrolled in a degree-seeking program at a higher education institution after graduating high school. More details are available on our policies page.
On your application, you'll have the opportunity to let us know that you're military-connected via a multiple-choice question. We encourage you to select the option that applies to you!
Your application will be evaluated by differing criteria depending on whether you're applying as a first-year or a transfer student. Both review processes take into account your story, including the opportunities available to you over the course of your academic career, as well as your experiences while serving in the military. More information on the review process for current or past members of US Military Service is available on our policies page.
If you're interested in pursuing a degree online, UIUC offers three undergraduate degrees to transfer students. To apply to an online program as a degree seeking student, you'll follow the same application process as all other transfer students. To take classes or complete a certificate through UIUC, you can do so as a nondegree student.
The Chez Veterans Center provides open, welcoming spaces for all military-connected students. As the largest, most comprehensive facility of its kind in the United States, the center is designed to support you throughout your time on campus.
From individualized academic and career coaching to peer and professional mentoring, the center offers tons of resources for students transitioning to university life. More information about these programs and services is available on their website.
Many types of housing options are available to Illinois students. Students interested in living in the campus residence halls can explore those on the University Housing website; there are also graduate, upper-division residence halls open to veteran students which provide a more private, mature environment.
Students who qualify to live off-campus and would prefer apartment living to the traditional residence hall experience can explore University-affiliated apartments, as well as ADA/Accessible housing options. More information is available on Housing's Special Living Options page.
Read frequently asked questions among military-connected students—if your question wasn't answered above, you may find it here!
All UIUC, students are automatically enrolled in the university's Student Health Insurance and billed a once-per-semester fee, attached to your tuition amount. You can choose to opt out of coverage if you don't want to participate.
If you're a veteran of the US Military Service, you may be eligible for VA healthcare. You can find more information, including eligibility and how to apply for health benefits, on the US Department of Veterans Affairs website.
Transfer students are eligible to recieve up to four semester hours of lower-division military science credit. You can find specific information about receiving military credit on our Policies & Procedures page, as well as informaton about receiving credit for education gained in the Armed Forces.
UIUC gets its miltary-connected student numbers by identifying how many Illinois students are receiving miltary-connected education benefits. However, you don't need to be officially identified or be receiving benefits to visit and join the Chez Veterans Center community; its doors are open to all students who identify themselves as military-connected.
The Yellow Ribbon program covers out-of-state tuition costs for students who are currently drawing on Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits. At UIUC, students who are eligible to receive these benefits also qualify for in-state tuition, which means they do not require the additional funds granted by the Yellow Ribbon program to cover tuition and fees!
The University of Illinois was designated a Purple Heart School because of our longstanding commitment to military veterans. Being awarded this title means we've proven an above-and-beyond dedication to fostering veteran student success at our university! You can read more about the achievements and accomplishments that earned us this designation on our blog.
At UIUC, support is always in reach. Explore academic, professional, and community resources available to veteran and all military-connected students below.