AIU Admissions Process: Military Students
See details for
1. Connect with an AIU Military Admissions Advisor.
Our Military Admissions Advisors focus on the unique needs of active duty, Reserve, and National Guard students—as well as veterans, military spouses and families.
The advisor will:
- Ask about your goals and interests
- Guide you through the admissions process
- Assist with answering your questions
- Provide information to help you choose a degree program
- Describe what to expect from your classes
- Explain the next steps to take
Call 855-377-1888 or with us to take the first step.
AIU does not accept applications from residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, State of New York, or the European Union (EU).
2. Complete the online application.
The online application is designed to be quick, and easy and there is no application fee. It takes 10-15 minutes to complete and our admissions advisors can guide you through the process if needed.
Be ready to tell us:
- Basic information about yourself
- Where you’ve gone to high school and/or college
- What degree program you’re interested in
You'll also need to:
- Complete the VA Shopping Sheet
Don’t forget to create an account, so you can save your progress. You can start now and return later to finish if necessary.
3. Meet with your Education Services Officer.
Be prepared to speak to your Education Services Officer about your reasons for pursuing a degree as well as the details of your Tuition Assistance (TA) paperwork, Top-up benefits eligibility, and GI Bill® benefits eligibility. You can also share some of the reasons AIU meets your needs:
- AIU is regionally accredited through the Higher Learning Commission (www.hlcommission.org)_and was named among the Military Times “Best for Vets: Colleges 2020.
- AIU military students can earn college-level credits through the ACE program, CLEP exams, DSST exams and transfer credit review*.
- AIU offers a 45% tuition reduction to active military undergraduate students.
- AIU is a signatory of the Department of Defense Memorandum of Understanding for Post-Secondary Educational Institutions (DoD MOU) and a Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) member.
- AIU complies with all requirements of the President’s Executive Order “Establishing Principles of Excellence for Educational Institutions Serving Servicemembers, Spouses and Other Family Members.”
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
4. Submit proof of high school graduation or equivalent as well as any college transcripts.
Proof of High-School Graduation
You’ll need to provide proof that you graduated from high school or an equivalent program:
- High school transcript or diploma
- GED transcript or certificate
If applicable, please also provide:
- College transcripts
- Military transcripts
Homeschooled Students
Homeschooled students and those who attended a high school not recognized per our admission policy must provide additional educational experience documentation.
You will have the opportunity to submit these documents during the online application process.
Proficiency in English & Math
We require proficiency in English and math for all undergraduates. If you haven’t shown that you’re a proficient English speaker, we’ll provide an assessment of one or both of those skills. This will help us determine your proper academic placement and whether you’ll need additional support services.
Where to Send Transcripts
Send transcripts directly to AIU's Admissions office:
AIU | Administrative Center
231 N. Martingale Ln.
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Once you're enrolled at AIU, it's time to get ready for classes to start. Here are your next steps.
5. Apply for financial aid.
There are a variety of options available for eligible students to help fund your education, including grants, scholarships and federal loans.
Start your financial aid application as soon as possible so you can be ready when classes begin.
Resources to Get You Started
6. Learn what prior learning credits you may be eligible to receive.
AIU offers several options for servicemembers to earn credit that fulfills degree requirements before classes even begin.
Options such as ACE Credits, the CLEP exam and DSST exams, along with the opportunity to have your potential transfer credit reviewed by one of AIU’s prior learning assessment evaluators, can help you earn college-level credits for your current knowledge as well as your military and professional experience*. The more credits you start with, the sooner you can complete your degree.
Learn More About Prior Learning Credit
- Military Credits at AIU
- AIU's Prior Learning Credit Guidelines
- Transfer Credit Guide
- 4 Ways to Earn College Credit for Life Experiences
- 6 Things to Know About Transferring Credit from Community College
* Transfer credit is evaluated on an individual basis. Not all credits are eligible to transfer. See the University Catalog for transfer credit policies.
7. Get to know the Virtual Campus.
This is the hub for all your online AIU classes, so take some time to explore its features before classes start. You’ll receive login information once your AIU admissions documentation is complete.
Call 855-377-1888 for assistance.
8. Participate in the orientation classroom.
Online
Your new student orientation will take place before your first session begins. In it, you can:
- Learn how to use the Virtual Campus
- Explore the online classroom
- Submit sample assignments
- Begin your time-management routine
- Learn how to use AIU’s online tools and resources
Be sure to:
- Check that your Virtual Campus login works.
- Plan for access to a backup computer, if possible, in case you need it.
- Complete your orientation assignments
- Familiarize yourself with intellipath®, our adaptive learning technology that customizes lessons to you
- Bookmark the Virtual Campus in your browser.
Atlanta and Houston Campuses
In the orientation, you will:
- Learn about the AIU education process
- Get to know the campus
- Meet with the Program Chair
- Get your photo ID
- Visit the campus bookstore
- Meet your fellow students
- Explore our Support Services area
- Scope out your classroom
- Verify your class schedule
9. Get ready to start your classes.
Online
Visit the Virtual Campus to stay up-to-date about your upcoming courses. Block out time on your calendar for school and homework, and let your friends and family know you’re pursuing your degree so they can provide encouragement and support.
Atlanta and Houston Campuses
- Stock up on basic school supplies: pens, pencils, highlighters, notebooks, sticky notes and a backpack or other carrying case. (Other supplies might be needed, based on your courses.)
- Set up a home work environment where you can read, write, research, study and concentrate without clutter or distractions.
- Even though computers are available for use on campus, we recommend that students have a personal computer with internet access and Microsoft Office or similar software.
- Block out time on your calendar for school and homework, and let your friends and family know you’re pursuing your degree so they can provide encouragement and support.
You can also check out these helpful resources to get prepared to go back to school:
Take the
next step.
Classes start
July 22, 2020!
Complete this form and an AIU Admissions Advisor will contact you and provide further assistance.
"The online option attracted me to AIU. The online atmosphere was great. AIU provided the tools and all the different resources to help me be successful in my degree."
- Anthony Wheatley
MBA 2018
Classes Start July 22, 2020