Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) was created
in 1972 to provide educational opportunities to servicemembers who, because
they frequently moved from place to place, had trouble completing college
degrees. SOC functions in cooperation with 15 higher education associations,
the Department of Defense, and Active and Reserve Components of the Military
Services to expand and improve voluntary postsecondary education opportunities
for servicemembers worldwide. SOC is funded by the Department of Defense
(DoD) through a contract with the American Association of State Colleges
and Universities (AASCU). The contract is managed for DoD by the Defense
Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES).
SOC Operating Programs
SOC
Consortium
Approximately 1,900
institutional members that enroll
hundreds of thousands of servicemembers,
their family members, and veterans
annually in associate, bachelor’s,
and graduate-level degree programs
on school campuses, armories, and
military installations within the
United States and overseas, and through
a variety of distance learning methods.
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SOC
Degree Network System
A subgroup of SOC Consortium
member institutions selected by
the military Services to deliver
specific associate and bachelor’s
degree programs to servicemembers
and their families.
SOCAD — Associate
and bachelor’s degree programs
for Army personnel and their
families.
SOCNAV — Associate
and bachelor’s degree programs
for Navy personnel and their
families.
SOCMAR — Associate
and bachelor’s degree programs
for Marine Corps personnel and
their families.
SOCCOAST — Associate
and bachelor’s degree programs
for Coast Guard personnel and
their families.
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ConAP
A
partnership between the
Army Recruiting Command
and participating SOC Consortium
colleges and universities
to link new soldiers to
a college at the time of
enlistment.
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