WASHINGTON TWP. (Feb. 13, 2016) – Warren County Community College continues to be one of the most ‘military friendly’ colleges in the nation.

WCCC was cited by G.I. Jobs in its February edition among the tops in the United States. With over 400,000 service men and women currently transitioning out of the service and seeking educational opportunities, WCCC is considered an excellent option for these veterans.

WCCC has earned this distinction for several years in a row. Last year, the highly respected publication, Military Times, also named Warren County Community College as being among the “Best for Vets: Colleges 2015” in its rankings.

“We are very proud of what we do for our veterans and service men and women,” said WCCC President, Dr. Will Austin. “Our staff really works hard to make the educational experience as good – and seamless – for our military people as best they can.”

The hugely successful VIPER program is a key component of why WCCC is regularly seen as a military friendly school by numerous sources. Now in its third year, the nationally recognized Veterans In Pursuit of Educational Readiness (VIPER) program assists military veterans, National Guard/Reservists and active military personnel to get on the fast-track toward earning their college degrees. The program, in conjunction with New Jersey’s Thomas Edison State College, allows veterans to translate military training into college credits.

Current military personnel and veterans from around the globe are part of the “international” program. They represent all branches of the military and those currently out of the military represent varied backgrounds and employment. Many of the students are based overseas, while many are stateside.

Through VIPER, veterans are eligible to receive up to 34 credits for their military training plus up to 11 credits for courses directly related to one of six programs of study: Automotive Technology, Business, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Fire Science, and Food and Beverage Management. This means they may be able to graduate with an Associate’s Degree in as little as one semester and then, if they so choose, seamlessly transfer to Thomas Edison to complete a Bachelor’s program. All VIPER participants are also eligible for in-county rates regardless of location. In addition, courses offered online make it convenient no matter where the student is based.

For more information about the VIPER program, call WCCC, 908-835-9222, or visit www.warren.edu.