Employers need relevant workforce skills and experience, and the military community is suited to answer that call. Competency-based education (CBE) can harmoniously unite the two and here is why. The military brings real-world and transferable skills which pair well with CBE because of the flexible model and demonstration of learning outcomes.

With more than 80% of institutions expecting CBE growth in the next five years, the Department of Education has more work to do to approve schools for Title IV federal financial aid for competency-based programs. This is exasperated by the Department of Education’s uncertain future.

Greater financial access and the translation of military skills to competencies are a couple of ways to build military-focused CBE programs.

Despite the challenges that lie ahead, these are a few higher ed institutions with CBE that are staying the course.

• Western Governors University
• Southern New Hampshire University’s College for America program
• University of Wisconsin System
• Indiana Wesleyan University
• Capella University
• Walden University
• Purdue University
• South Texas College

Military-Focused CBE Program Development

One way to start developing specific CBE support for the military community is by expanding financial access. Not all military education benefits cover the cost of CBE programs due to eligibility for full funding or reimbursement.

According to the 2023 Postsecondary National Policy Institute, “With regard to financial barriers, the credit hour, which CBE is designed in contrast to, is more than just the current measure of progress toward a degree—it has become the basis for awarding student financial aid and determining institutional and departmental budgets.” Approximately 44.3% of veteran students received Title IV financial aid and the average tuition assistance cost hovered over $2,000 based on the National Center for Education Statistics.

VA educational benefits are reduced for students in exclusively online learning due to the Monthly Housing Allowance calculation, which assumes up to half of the national average. This justification adds another financial barrier for those who desire the CBE pathway.

Higher ed CBE institutions may have the ability to exercise some discretion with the student Cost of Attendance (COA) on food and housing allowances for students enrolled at least half-time. While COA allowances would not apply to students in military housing receiving Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), transportation and “off-campus” housing aid could potentially bridge the gap.

The Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid Handbook states the following:

“The law prohibits you from making a distinction based on the mode of instruction when determining the COA for a student receiving all or part of their instruction through distance education. However, you have the authority to use professional judgment to adjust the COA on a case-by-case basis to allow for special circumstances.”

Military Competencies to Credit Hour Equivalencies

In addition to expanding support to incurred costs in online CBE programs, military-focused CBE programs can be accomplished through additional assistance with translating military skills to credit hour equivalencies needed for CBE. While some tools, such as VMET, help map military skills to civilian skills, the conversion from competencies to academic credit hours is still tied to the traditional time-based model. The Higher Education Act in 2005 alleviated some of this burden by expanding CBE eligibility.

Instead of using the academic credit hour model as the basis, the Department of Education should also continue to develop a model that better aligns with measuring CBE satisfactory progress and completion.

CBE Success Stories

CBE is doing great things for non-traditional students, who now make up 74% of the adult student population. Time is a valuable currency for adults juggling various responsibilities, and the CBE approach mitigates this factor in addition to costs. There are plenty of examples of this, like Rasmussen University’s Empowered Learning courses, or the UMass Global MyPath programs at University of Massachusetts Global (UMass Global). UMass Global emphasizes these benefits and shares some stories of how personalized learning made all the difference. Notably, Western Governors University (WGU), as the fourth largest institution supporting military, is one of the leading CBE institutions. Daniel Avegalio from WGU shares how the model aligns with the learning needs particularly for their military-affiliated community.

The reach of CBE expands beyond academic organizations, including the Department of Defense. In 2017, the Army University Press posted this article on how CBE was leveraged to enhance education and training. It points out the close relationship between CBE and andragogical principles, which both optimize self-directed learning and uphold the value of drawing upon previous experiences. Fast forward to recent times, the U.S. Naval Community College partnered with WGU in 2024 to create more pathways with the integration of CBE.

Getting Past the CBE Stigma

The future of work must keep pace with fast-growing technologies and CBE has become a popular choice to fill the business need gaps. Industries are shifting to CBE because of its closer alignment to the workforce skills and real-world application. The CBE model is here to stay despite misconceptions related to its departure from the grading scale and “seat” time. The military community especially benefits from this model with personalized pacing and validation of skills accrued during service.

Learners can weigh their choices between CBE and traditional academic models, or even both at institutions. Higher ed institutions are seeing the advantages of this model, but research, as indicted in the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning report, suggests that more action is needed. As more colleges and universities adopt CBE programs, the Department of Education and policymakers may recognize a better standard for measuring credit-hours.

Article Topics

Military Friendly Institutions Research on Student Veterans Serving Military in HigherEd Veterans Academic Success

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