Military Dependents

The spouses and children of our men and women in uniform make tremendous sacrifices to support those who serve in the Armed Forces. In so doing, you also serve our nation, and we are grateful to you for your dedication. At Western International University (WIU), we know how difficult it is to make numerous transitions and moves around the country and around the world as you accompany your Military Sponsor. Spouses in particular change jobs frequently, oftentimes sacrificing their own careers to support their husbands or wives who are in uniform. Spouses and children may be enrolled in their own education programs which become disrupted during such moves, adding to the stress of Military families. We stand ready to assist Military Dependents with their educational needs by offering programs and discounts designed with you in mind.

Western International University: A Military Friendly School For Dependents

WIU has been designated by G.I. Jobs magazine as a Military Friendly School. This honor ranks WIU among the top 15% of all colleges, universities, and trade schools nationwide in terms of providing the best service and opportunities to embrace U.S. Military Servicemembers, Veterans, and their Dependents as students.

We are a Military Friendly School in the truest sense, and we are proud of the features that make us such:

Tuition Discounts — We offer tuition discounts for Active Duty Servicemembers, Active Duty Spouses, and Veterans. We'll even guide you in applying for Education Benefits that may be available to you as a Military Dependent. Your Enrollment and Finance Counselors will provide you with personal attention and information based on your specific circumstances.
Flexibility — Perhaps you work full or part time, or you are a stay-at-home spouse taking care of children, or your Military Sponsor is deployed and you are busy juggling work and family concerns. There’s a lot on your plate, and all of these situations can impact your ability to pursue your studies. At WIU, we understand your circumstances and have designed our programs to maintain the continuity of your education and your learning community. You can attend class at any of our four Arizona campus locations, with WIU Interactive Online^SM, or both. With WIU Interactive Online, you can attend class live with your instructor and classmates from wherever your Internet connection takes you, or view your recorded class any time during the week.
Credit Transfer Potential — WIU participates in the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) consortium, and programs such as CLEP and DANTES give you the opportunity to receive college credit for what you already know by earning qualifying scores on examinations. You can earn credit for knowledge you've acquired through independent study, prior course work, on-the-job training, professional development, cultural pursuits, or internships. Of course, your Enrollment and Academic Counselors will guide you through the process and help you determine your full credit transfer potential.
Getting Started is Easy — At WIU, we do not require any kind of admissions testing or placement, and we give you the ability to start classes every month. These features complement the flexible, online nature of WIU’s programs.
Individual Learning — WIU programs do not require learning teams. This means you work independently, an approach that is ideal for the typical dependent who may be unable to join in group efforts because of other commitments and responsibilities.
Military Brochure — Illustrates our Military Friendliness and provides you with detailed information about our school and our many programs.

The Next Step on Your Career Path: The Right Degree

WIU offers a variety of challenging degree programs (associate through master degrees and post-bachelor certificate) that are ideally suited to our Military Dependent students. Please visit our Degree Programs page for information about the many programs we offer.

Education Benefits Just for Military Dependents

The Department of Defense (DoD) has duly recognized the important contributions Military Dependents make by supporting those who serve. Accordingly, it has designed some wonderful Education Benefits for Dependents to help alleviate the cost of attaining a higher education. Following are some of the main benefits now available. Contact your Enrollment or Finance Counselors for more information and guidance if you have any questions.

My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) Program — The MyCAA program provides up to $6, 000 (lifetime cap) to fund education in programs geared toward portable career fields, in recognition of the constant moves Military families make, and the frequency with which spouses must change jobs/careers as a result. Learn more about the MyCAA program by visiting its official Web site: MyCAA Homepage
The Post-9/11 GI Bill Transfer to Dependents Benefit — This feature allows eligible Veterans to transfer their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to a spouse or other dependent. The rules are very detailed, but the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) maintains a Web site dedicated to the feature that has current information on eligibility rules and requirements: Transfer of Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits to Dependents.
Military Spouse Tuition Assistance (T/A) — Generally, this benefit is limited to spouses of Active Duty Servicemembers who are stationed with their Military Sponsors in overseas locations, with one exception. The Army has a Stateside Spouse T/A program. It is limited and needs-based, but it is a potential source of education funding for some of WIU’s Army spouses. Additional information can be found at the following links:

Military Spouse Tuition Assistance Programs (general information)
Army Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program

More Information

Please visit the following links for additional information for our Military, Veteran, and Dependent students.