Return to the story|Most popular TA schools across all services|Most popular colleges for the GI Bill|Methodology
A service-by-service look at the colleges most popular among troops using tuition assistance in fiscal 2013.
| Rank | School or system | Sector | Students using TA | TA received (in millions) | Graduation rate (transfer rate) | Default rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Force | ||||||
| 1 | American Public Education Inc. (AMU) | For-profit | 24,311 | $47.8 | 19% | 12% |
| 2 | University System of Maryland (UMUC) | Public | 13,510 | $19.6 | 45% (21%) | 9% |
| 3 | Bridgepoint Education (Ashford) | For-profit | 7,949 | $17.3 | 21% | 16% |
| 4 | Park University | Private | 5,663 | $9.2 | 41% | 12% |
| 5 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University | Private | 5,392 | $10.6 | 58% | 7% |
| 6 | Trident University International | For-profit | 3,746 | $8.9 | 11% | 5% |
| 7 | Columbia Southern Education Group Inc. | For-profit | 2,904 | $4.9 | 45% (43%) | 8% |
| 8 | University of Phoenix | For-profit | 2,835 | $6.1 | 14% | 26% |
| 9 | Liberty University | Private | 1,874 | $4.4 | 46% (27%) | 7% |
| 10 | Wayland Baptist University | Private | 1,330 | $2.4 | 36% | 12% |
| Army | ||||||
| 1 | American Public Education Inc. (AMU) | For-profit | 20,617 | $42 | 19% | 12% |
| 2 | Central Texas College | Public | 16,353 | $17.2 | 11% (10%) | 22% |
| 3 | University System of Maryland (UMUC) | Public | 12,906 | $21.2 | 45% (21%) | 9% |
| 4 | University of Phoenix | For-profit | 6,704 | $15.9 | 14% | 26% |
| 5 | Columbia Southern Education Group Inc. | For-profit | 5,607 | $10 | 45% (43%) | 8% |
| 6 | Bridgepoint Education (Ashford) | For-profit | 5,418 | $14 | 21% | 16% |
| 7 | Grantham University | For-profit | 4,472 | $11.8 | no data | no data |
| 8 | Excelsior College | Private | 3,257 | $6.3 | no data | 7% |
| 9 | Liberty University | Private | 3,131 | $7.3 | 46% (27%) | 7% |
| 10 | Touro College and University System | Private | 2,968 | $7.1 | 24% | 11% | Coast Guard |
| 1 | American Public Education Inc. (AMU) | For-profit | 2,244 | $4.3 | 19% | 12% |
| 2 | Bridgepoint Education (Ashford) | For-profit | 356 | $0.8 | 21% | 16% |
| 3 | Columbia Southern Education Group Inc. | For-profit | 329 | $0.5 | 45% (43%) | 8% |
| 4 | University of Phoenix | For-profit | 314 | $0.6 | 14% | 26% |
| 5 | Vincennes University | Public | 266 | $0.4 | 26% (17%) | 22% |
| 6 | Thomas Edison State College | Public | 250 | $0.4 | no data | 7% |
| 7 | Excelsior College | Private | 233 | $0.4 | no data | 7% |
| 8 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University | Private | 219 | $0.4 | 58% | 7% |
| 9 | University System of Maryland (UMUC) | Public | 211 | $0.4 | 45% (21%) | 9% |
| 10 | Liberty University | Private | 196 | $0.4 | 46% (27%) | 7% |
| Marine Corps | ||||||
| 1 | American Public Education Inc. (AMU) | For-profit | 5,404 | $10.9 | 19% | 12% |
| 2 | University System of Maryland (UMUC) | Public | 3,252 | $4.6 | 45% (21%) | 9% |
| 3 | Central Texas College | Public | 2,246 | $2.5 | 11% (10%) | 22% |
| 4 | Bridgepoint Education (Ashford) | For-profit | 1,770 | $4.2 | 21% | 16% |
| 5 | Park University | Private | 1,380 | $2.7 | 41% | 12% |
| 6 | North Carolina Community College System | Public | 1,032 | $0.6 | 22% (20%) | 21% |
| 7 | University of Phoenix | For-profit | 1,023 | $2.3 | 14% | 26% |
| 8 | National University System | Private | 800 | $1.5 | 24% | 7% |
| 9 | California Community College System | Public | 712 | $0.6 | 23% (14%) | 23% |
| 10 | International Sports Sciences Association | For-profit | 615 | $0.9 | no data | no data |
| Navy | ||||||
| 1 | American Public Education Inc. (AMU) | For-profit | 5,113 | $10.7 | 19% | 12% |
| 2 | University System of Maryland (UMUC) | Public | 5,091 | $9.4 | 45% (21%) | 9% |
| 3 | California Community College System | Public | 2,951 | $3.2 | 23% (14%) | 23% |
| 4 | Excelsior College | Private | 2,296 | $4 | no data | 7% |
| 5 | Columbia College | Private | 2,213 | $3.9 | 43% | 12% |
| 6 | Saint Leo University | Private | 2,015 | $4.4 | 43% (41%) | 12% |
| 7 | Central Texas College | Public | 1,941 | $2.7 | 11% (10%) | 22% |
| 8 | Bridgepoint Education (Ashford) | For-profit | 1,891 | $4.7 | 21% | 16% |
| 9 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University | Private | 1,588 | $3.3 | 58% | 7% |
| 10 | Thomas Edison State College | Public | 1,448 | $2.7 | no data | 7% |