Best Military-Friendly Online Colleges Near Branson, MO

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Key takeaway: 10 accredited institutions within 100 miles of Branson offer fully online programs and report both credit for military training and a dedicated point of contact for veterans, servicemembers, and their families (IPEDS IC 2024); 5 report all four services the federal survey tracks. The nearest installation recorded by the Census Bureau is Maneuver Traing Area Camp Crowder Neosho, about 62 miles away, and 3 installations sit within 100 miles (2 Army, 1 Other). None of the 10 schools has a campus within 30 miles; the closest is Missouri State University-Springfield in Springfield, MO, about 38 miles away. The highest-ranked by BOC Score is University of Arkansas. Branson has a population of about 12,760 and a median household income of $54,961; 29.4 percent of adults hold a bachelor’s degree or higher (Census ACS 5-year estimates).

Military-friendly online colleges near Branson

Schools based in Missouri that report credit for military training and a dedicated military contact, ordered by distance from Branson city center, with BOC Score on each card. The tags on each card are the school’s own IPEDS answers for the four military services. The distance table further down covers the nearest qualifying schools regardless of state line.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Branson. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score β€” U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

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#1

Missouri State University-Springfield

Springfield, MO 37.9 miles from Branson
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Credit for military training
  • Dedicated military contact
  • DoD MOU member
  • Student veteran org
56.3 BOC Score
Graduation rate 60%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $49,827
Avg net price $17,613/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 200

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Ozarks Technical Community College

Springfield, MO 39.1 miles from Branson
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Credit for military training
  • Dedicated military contact
  • DoD MOU member
  • Student veteran org
54.7 BOC Score
Graduation rate 29%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $36,455
Avg net price $6,936/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 100%
  • Programs offered: 57

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

Drury University

Springfield, MO 39.4 miles from Branson
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Credit for military training
  • Dedicated military contact
  • Student veteran org
48.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 61%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $40,694
Avg net price $20,831/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 57

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies

Springfield, MO 39.4 miles from Branson
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Credit for military training
  • Dedicated military contact
  • Student veteran org
36.8 BOC Score
Graduation rate 38%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $40,694
Avg net price $10,566/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 47%
  • Programs offered: 29

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#5

Southwest Baptist University

Bolivar, MO 66.3 miles from Branson
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Credit for military training
  • Dedicated military contact
  • DoD MOU member
  • Student veteran org
36.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 52%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $43,112
Avg net price $21,677/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 66%
  • Programs offered: 41

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Missouri Southern State University

Joplin, MO 73.0 miles from Branson
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Credit for military training
  • Dedicated military contact
  • DoD MOU member
  • Student veteran org
42.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 45%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $42,620
Avg net price $12,007/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 66%
  • Programs offered: 77

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#7

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Rolla, MO 121.8 miles from Branson
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Credit for military training
  • Dedicated military contact
  • DoD MOU member
  • Student veteran org
79.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 67%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $82,957
Avg net price $16,298/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 86%
  • Programs offered: 56

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Lincoln University

Jefferson City, MO 145.2 miles from Branson
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Credit for military training
  • Dedicated military contact
  • DoD MOU member
28.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 33%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $39,463
Avg net price $19,092/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 55%
  • Programs offered: 33

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#9

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, MO 148.0 miles from Branson
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
  • Credit for military training
  • Dedicated military contact
  • DoD MOU member
  • Student veteran org
54.8 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 64%
Graduation rate 52%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $49,560
Avg net price $14,462/yr
Tuition
In‑state$10,050
Out‑of‑state$18,600
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 72%
  • Programs offered: 92

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#10

University of Missouri-Columbia

Columbia, MO 166.6 miles from Branson
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Credit for military training
  • Dedicated military contact
  • DoD MOU member
  • Student veteran org
75.7 BOC Score
Graduation rate 73%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $63,403
Avg net price $20,268/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 92%
  • Programs offered: 156

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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Nearest qualifying schools within 100 miles (any state)

SchoolLocationCredit for military trainingDedicated military contactDoD MOU memberStudent veteran orgBOC ScoreDistance
University of ArkansasFayetteville, ARYesYesYesYes70.765 mi
John Brown UniversitySiloam Springs, ARYesYesYesNo64.479 mi
Arkansas Tech UniversityRussellville, ARYesYesYesYes58.494 mi
Ozarka CollegeMelbourne, ARYesYesYesNo57.587 mi
Pittsburg State UniversityPittsburg, KSYesYesYesYes57.494 mi
Missouri State University-SpringfieldSpringfield, MOYesYesYesYes56.338 mi
Ozarks Technical Community CollegeSpringfield, MOYesYesYesYes54.739 mi
NorthWest Arkansas Community CollegeBentonville, ARYesYesYesNo52.654 mi
Crowder CollegeNeosho, MOYesYesYesNo52.462 mi
Arkansas State University-Mountain HomeMountain Home, ARYesYesYesNo50.254 mi

Missouri has 47 military-friendly online colleges by this definition; the Missouri page lists them all.

Military installations near Branson

Installation (as recorded by the Census Bureau)Branch (from the name)Distance from Branson
Maneuver Traing Area Camp Crowder NeoshoOther62 mi
Fort Leonard WoodArmy96 mi
Camp ClarkArmy99 mi

Common post-service careers near Branson

Median wages for occupations that veterans commonly move into after an online degree (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS).

OccupationMedian annual wageScope
Information Security Analysts$103,440MO statewide
Logisticians$78,350MO statewide
Emergency Management Directors$75,660MO statewide
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers$59,460MO statewide
Medical and Health Services Managers$104,370MO statewide
Project Management Specialists$94,660MO statewide
Network and Computer Systems Administrators$80,870MO statewide
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$102,870MO statewide

BLS publishes wages for metro areas and states, not individual cities; these are statewide medians.

Campuses within 30 miles of Branson

None of the 10 schools in the table has a campus within 30 miles of Branson; the nearest is Missouri State University-Springfield at 38 miles.

Nearby cities

Benefit eligibility is determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and your service’s education office. Nothing on this page guarantees education benefits, credit transfer, admission, or a particular cost. Confirm every detail with the school’s military or veteran services office before you enroll.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (IC 2024): veteran and military services indicators (VET2 through VET5), distance-education program flag (DISTPGS); BOC Score from College Scorecard and IPEDS outcome data; U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 Military Installations layer (installation names as recorded there); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics; U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities; Census ACS 5-year estimates. Directory counts as of the September 2026 refresh.