By COLLIN BINKLEY and NICKY FORSTER
WASHINGTON (AP) — The longstanding relationship between the U.S. military and elite universities is undergoing significant changes as the Trump administration seeks to end “wokeness” within the armed forces. This shift is altering traditional ties with prestigious institutions and fostering new relationships with Christian and public universities.
In a recent move, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the exclusion of over a dozen elite colleges from a military fellowship program, which has historically been a pathway to high-ranking leadership roles. This action is seen as a precursor to further reductions that could impact service members’ educational opportunities at these institutions.
Hegseth has expressed a commitment to eliminating military involvement at what he describes as anti-American schools, although his cuts have specifically targeted graduate programs and certificates. The broader Tuition Assistance program, which supports educational pursuits for about 200,000 active-duty or reserve service members, remains intact.
This program provides financial assistance for service members attending nearly any college in the U.S., directing funds to numerous institutions, including some criticized by Hegseth for excessive taxpayer funding. However, an Associated Press analysis reveals that many non-Ivy League schools benefit significantly, such as large online universities and some for-profit colleges that have faced fraud allegations.
Data from 2024 shows that approximately 350 military personnel utilized Tuition Assistance to attend targeted schools like Harvard and Johns Hopkins. In contrast, over 50,000 attended the American Public University System, known for its low graduation rate and online degree offerings.
For-profit colleges attract more than a third of Tuition Assistance beneficiaries, surpassing private nonprofit institutions. Public universities, however, enroll the highest number of military students, with about 40% choosing these campuses. The benefit provides up to $4,500 annually.
Hegseth Takes Aim at a Prestigious Military Fellowship
The Pentagon’s intervention in service members’ educational choices marks a significant departure from previous practices, seen by some as an “incredible overreach,” according to Lindsey Tepe of the American Council on Education.
Tepe commented, “This is clearly the start of a broader effort to reshape military education, and I do think that this is a bad precedent to set.”
Concerns are growing about the potential impact on other military education programs, such as Tuition Assistance and the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. However, Hegseth’s recent memo did not address these programs, focusing instead on the Senior Service College Fellowship. This prestigious initiative allows military personnel to pursue advanced studies, often leading to leadership or specialized roles.
The program is relatively small, involving fewer than 80 students across 15 universities, according to the Pentagon. The list of banned institutions includes Ivy League schools and others like Georgetown and MIT, which have produced numerous high-ranking military leaders.
Military May Lose Ivy League Expertise, Some Say
Some experts argue that excluding these universities compromises the military’s access to specialized knowledge in areas like AI and cybersecurity. William Hubbard of Veterans Education Success remarked, “I’m not sure our enemies would be too upset about this. If I were waking up in Beijing and heard this news, I would be pleased.”
Harvard, frequently criticized by President Donald Trump, faces deeper restrictions, losing all graduate-level professional military education opportunities. In response, Harvard’s school of government offers active-duty service members options to defer admission or seek expedited applications at other institutions.
Notably, Hegseth, a Harvard alumnus, publicly returned his degree in a 2022 Fox News segment.
Hegseth Proposes New Educational Partnerships
Hegseth’s memo criticized elite colleges as “factories of anti-American resentment” and suggested 15 alternative institutions, selected for promoting intellectual freedom and having minimal opposition to the Department of Defense.
Liberty University, a Christian institution with a significant military student body, tops the list, although it has yet to formalize a partnership with the Pentagon. Liberty expressed support for Hegseth’s leadership, stating, “We love this country and fully support the men and women in uniform who devote their lives in service to our nation.”
Hillsdale College, another conservative Christian school on the list, is working with the White House to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary. Hillsdale President Larry Arnn commented, “If officers want serious education in the principles they swear to defend, Hillsdale is exactly where they should be.”
The proposed replacements also include prominent state universities like the University of Michigan, which has recently revised its diversity efforts, and the University of North Carolina. Hegseth believes that these changes will ensure a “more rigorous and relevant education to better prepare them for the complexities of modern warfare.”
Forster reported from New York.
The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
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