UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Post-9/11 veterans who actively participate in veteran centers and veteran-student organizations as they pursue education after military service are significantly more likely to do better in school than those who remain socially isolated, according to Penn State research.
“The data indicates that post-9/11 veterans do much better when they feel connected to the educational institution they are attending,” stated Daniel Perkins, principal scientist at the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness, professor of family and youth resiliency and policy in the College of Agricultural Sciences, and co-funded faculty member of the Social Science Research Institute at Penn State. “Sociological theories of educational attainment suggest that student engagement increases investment in school, how much students value education, and persisting through difficult times.”
The study used data from The Veterans Metrics Initiative (TVMI). TVMI followed nearly 10,000 post-9/11 veterans over the first four years of their transition to civilian life and has shed light on factors that predict successful military-to-civilian transitions.
“While connection to school was good, financial and mental health problems were associated with poorer educational attainment,” said Nicole Morgan, assistant research professor at the Clearinghouse. “Stressors such as money and symptoms of depression and anxiety make it harder to concentrate on school.”
Veterans from the officer ranks were more likely to leave active-duty military service with a bachelor’s degree than those from the enlisted ranks. However, 70% of veterans from the enlisted ranks pursued further education after military service. Among these, 56% pursued a bachelor’s, 37% pursued an associate’s, 18% pursued a technical or vocational certificate, and 16% pursued a master’s degree.
“After military service, African American, Hispanic, and other race veterans were significantly more likely than their white peers to pursue higher education,” Perkins continued. “However, we found that African American veterans were 32% less likely than white peers to attain a degree within four years.”
Nearly 10% of post-9/11 veterans left school to pursue other activities, and 5% left due to academic problems, according to the researchers. Hispanic veterans were two times more likely to leave school due to academic problems compared to White veterans. Meanwhile, veterans who reported depressive symptoms within the first three-months of leaving active-duty service were three times more likely to leave school due to academic concerns compared to veterans who did not report symptoms.
“While male and female veterans did not differ very much with respect to educational attainment, the racial and ethnic differences likely speak to the large equity issues confronting higher education,” stated Morgan. “The persistent impact of depressive symptoms is concerning and having resources available to assist these students is essential.”
This study is forthcoming in the Journal of Education.
The Clearinghouse for Military Readiness at Penn State is an applied research center committed to advancing the health and well-being of service members, veterans and their families. The clearinghouse takes a solution-oriented approach that includes conducting applied research studies, building workforce expertise through training and resource provision, implementing and evaluating evidence-informed programs and practices, and delivering objective data and policy-relevant findings so that decisions are based on the best science and evidence available. The clearinghouse is located within Penn State’s Social Science Research Institute.