by our College Data Analytics TeamChoosing a college as a veteran means weighing how well each school supports those with a military background. So we’ve gathered facts about Southwestern Michigan College veterans and their studies to help you in your research.
If you’re looking for information related to military tuition assistance such as the GI Bill® or Yellow Ribbon Program, go to the following page: Southwestern Michigan College GI Bill® Information
What’s Covered in Our Report on SMC:
A large number of veterans attending a college means the college and faculty are more used to supporting and accommodating the needs of those with prior military experience. Based on VA records, there are 30 GI Bill® students at SMC. Because the school enrolls 1,396, approximately 2.1% of the students are using the GI Bill® to help pay for their education. By comparison, the Student Veterans of America reports that three to four percent of college students nationwide are veterans.
The total spans all GI Bill® chapters, including Post-9/11, Montgomery, Reserve Education Assistance, and Veteran Readiness and Employment. Active-duty service members attending via Tuition Assistance are not counted, so the overall military population could be higher.
Outcome rates for veterans help show whether a school’s support translates into degrees.
| Outcome | Veterans | All Students |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 25.0% | 30.1% |
| Transfer-out rate | 50.0% | — |
Rates are reported via the VA’s GI Bill® Comparison Tool.
Southwestern Michigan College is enrolled in the following veteran programs and provides these services.
| Federal Program | Participation |
|---|---|
| Principles of Excellence | Yes |
| DOD Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) | Yes |
| Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) | Yes |
What does this mean for you? Here are the specific commitments the school has made through each program it participates in.
| Career and Vocational Support |
|---|
| Accommodate Military Service Members and Reservists absent due to service requirements. |
| Align institutional refund policies with those under Title IV, which governs the administration of federal student financial aid programs. |
| Regionally or Nationally Accredited - view all accreditations |
| Provide information that increases accountability and transparency. |
| Participate in the Military Voluntary Education Review (MVER) |
The school has a dedicated point of contact for veteran and military students. Learn more.
SMC may recognize specialized military training toward college credit. Check with an admissions counselor for details. Prior-learning credit can help you graduate sooner, so it pays to ask. Beyond military training, ask SMC whether it awards credit for life or work experience, CLEP exams, or other prior learning.
There are no ROTC programs offered at SMC.
The VA has no complaints on record for this college.
Notes and References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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 website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.