College Planning & Assistance

Education counseling helps Soldiers meet education goals by providing guidance, advice, and planning assistance. For more information, contact your State Education Office. You may also contact the Army National Guard Education Support Center, 0800-1700 EST, at 1-866-ARNGEDU (276-4338) or via email. 

Step 1. Get Assessed

Planning your educational goals and objectives can be a daunting task. To get started, download your Joint Services Transcript (JST), and then contact your State Education Services Officer (ESO) for further assistance. 

ESOs help Soldiers by:

  • Providing advice and counsel on individual education and career goals
  • Determining cost-effectiveness of Tuition Assistance and other resources
  • Providing information on school accreditation and recommending course options and methods of study
  • Providing guidance, information and advocacy to maximize college credit for military training and experience

Not a member of the ARNG yet?

  • If you haven't decided on your MOS yet, keep in mind that completion of MOS training can lead to college credit.
  • To find out how much college credit is recommended for the MOS you're considering, view the American Council on Education (ACE) Military Guide.
  • Once on the ACE website, click Start Your Search.
  • In the Search box type the MOS you're considering (e.g., 42B, 92A), click on Show Advanced Options and under Military Branch select "Army" before clicking Search.
  • Keep in mind, this is the amount of college credit recommended by ACE, and each college has different rules on the amount of credit they will award for military training experience.

Step 2. Choose a Field of Study

Narrowing down a field of study can be difficult, especially with so many different possible career paths to choose from. Below are a few free resources that can help you research your desired career and field of study:

Step 3. Choose a School

Choosing a school is a difficult task. Below are a few web sites to help Soldiers make informed choices on available schools and programs:

Step 4. Research Financial Assistance

There are numerous Federal, State, and local education programs and services available to ARNG Soldiers. Programs include; GI Bill®, Federal Tuition Assistance, State Tuition Assistance (if applicable), Testing Services, Financial Aid, Scholarships, and more. The rules governing these programs can be complicated. To ensure you are receiving everything you may be entitled to, contact these offices:

  • ARNG Education Office – obtain information on ARNG education benefits including GI Bill programs, Federal TA testing services, and state-level programs.
  • School Financial Aid Office – obtain information on various programs available to students attending an educational institution.
  • Department of Veterans Affairs – obtain information about various veteran's education benefits.

Step 5. Attend School

Submit all applications according to the required submission deadlines. Keep your State ESO and School Certifying Official informed of any changes in your enrollment status. Be advised specific grade point averages (GPA) are required for certain programs. 

Step 6. Graduate!

Upon completion of your program/course, provide an official transcript to your Unit Readiness NCO and the State Education Services Office to ensure your personal records are up to date.