NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University has been recognized as a Silver designee for the 2024-2025 Governor’s Military and Veteran Friendly (GMVF) Campus designation. The announcement was made at Wednesday’s meeting of the State Board of Regents.
NSU provides a number of services for veterans including specialized financial aid and advising services, counseling designed specifically for veteran students, degree pathways recognizing military experience and training and flexible course formats tailored to veteran and service member obligations. The university has a campus at Leesville/Fort Johnson and offers classes at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City.
“We are proud and honored to be recognized for our efforts to provide educational opportunities for our military students and their families. Northwestern State has a long history of serving the military and using an approach that understands the needs of those who have a military affiliation.” Laurie Morrow, Executive Director for Economic Development and University Advancement.
The university allows veterans to apply college level life, work and military experiences toward a degree through a Prior Learning Assessment process. Students can also use previously earned college credit, transfer credit from other training or educational pursuits and take challenge tests to earn academic credit toward a baccalaureate degree.
“For medical personnel thinking about their next steps after service, NSU is at the top in providing civilian education that acknowledges the college credits you’ve earned in your respective military occupational specialty,” said Neko Martinez-Vasquez, a nursing student in the Army Enlisted Commissioning Program.
The program allows Regular Army and those in the U.S. Army Reserves and U.S. Army National Guard USAR and ARNG Soldiers to complete up to 24 months of nursing school while retaining their rank, grade and military benefits (pay, medical, etc.). After completion a soldier will be commissioned as a Regular Army nurse officer. The soldier will incur a four-year active-duty service obligation.
“Every professor I have had has been accommodating and has taken the time to work with my schedule,” said Martinez-Vasquez, “I was genuinely impressed with the faculty at NSU and moved from Colorado to attend NSU in person.”
Northwestern State offers a number of degrees completely online, in an accelerated or regular format, or in the traditional classroom. There are many available programs and minor concentrations to match individual’s interests and background. The online format provides flexibility and convenience and enables the adult student to continue working while completing a degree. There are no out of state fees for online programs. Active duty, reservists, retirees, and their dependents are eligible for a competitive tuition rate of $192 per credit hour. NSU is also an AU-ABC, GEM, and MyCAA partner. The university recognizes tuition assistance programs such as Military TA, Montgomery GI Bill and Post-9/11. NSU helps students in finding the best possible aid package to achieve their educational goals by offering a wide variety of programs including loans, grants, third party funds and scholarships.
Information on Northwestern State’s services for veterans is available at nsula.edu/registrar/veterans-affairs.
