Military and Veteran Applicants​

Submit your application online and select the “Veteran/Military Freshman” application type. The application fee is waived for all Veteran/Military applicants. There are two ways to apply: Montclair State University Application or Common App.

Submit your official high school transcript or GED scores, sent by your counselor directly to:

Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Montclair State University
1 Normal Avenue, Susan A. Cole Hall
Montclair, NJ 07043

Submit a personal statement describing your academic goals and why you selected Montclair State University.

Freshman Prompt:
Explain your reasons for seeking admission to Montclair, including your academic strengths and interests. In your essay, address any situations that may have positively or negatively affected your academic record. 

Students who wish to include a resume of extracurricular activities, volunteer work, internships, etc. should paste it into the same document as their essay.

Active (full-time) military personnel and current members of the National Guard or Reserve who are not veterans must provide a copy of their military identification card. 

Veterans and retired military personnel must provide a copy of their DD 214 (Member 4 Copy) with a discharge characterization under conditions other than dishonorable.

If the DD 214 is not available at time of registration:

You may submit discharge orders, current orders, or other official paperwork indicating your ETS (estimated termination of service) or EAS (end of active service) date; a front-and-back copy of your military ID is also acceptable. 

The DD 214 (Member 4 Copy) must be submitted prior to the end of your first semester of enrollment.

Additional supporting documentation, such as a resume, ACE transcript, awards, or certificates, may also be submitted for review.

Submit your application through the school’s online application portal, selecting “Transfer” as your student type and “Veteran/Military” as your application type so that your application fee is automatically waived as a military-affiliated applicant.

Transfer Application

College transcripts

• Request that each prior college/university send an official transcript directly to Montclair State University (electronically or by mail to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions).​
• Ensure all transcripts reflect final grades for completed courses so they can be used for transfer credit evaluation.​

If you have under 24 credits

• If you have fewer than 24 completed college credits, also submit an official high school transcript and GED scores if applicable.​
• SAT or ACT scores are optional and may be submitted only if you want them considered as part of your application.

You can submit an optional Personal Statement through your Montclair application portal under “supplemental items.”

Transfer Student Prompt:

Provide a brief description of your educational goals. Be sure to explain any discrepancies that may be reflected on your transcript.

Active (full-time) military personnel and current members of the National Guard or Reserve who are not veterans must provide a copy of their military identification card. 

Veterans and retired military personnel must provide a copy of their DD 214 (Member 4 Copy) with a discharge characterization under conditions other than dishonorable.

If the DD 214 is not available at the time of application:

You may submit discharge orders, current orders, or other official paperwork indicating your ETS (estimated termination of service) or EAS (end of active service) date; a front-and-back copy of your military ID is also acceptable. 

The DD 214 (Member 4 Copy) must be submitted prior to the end of your first semester of enrollment.

Additional supporting documentation, such as a resume, ACE transcript, awards, or certificates, may also be submitted for review.

Montclair reviews military/veteran transfer applications holistically, offers flexibility such as deferred start terms, and guarantees readmission after military service with the same academic status, subject to its readmission process.​

How your application is reviewed

• Military/veteran transfer applications are evaluated through a holistic review of all required credentials rather than a single GPA cutoff.​
• If you fall below typical transfer standards, you may be asked for additional materials such as letters of recommendation to support your application.​

Transcripts and ACE credit

• Veterans and service members are encouraged to submit an American Council on Education (ACE) transcript (for example, a Joint Services Transcript) so we can consider evaluated military training for possible credit.​
• Each institution decides how to use ACE-recommended credits, so credit awards for military training may vary by program and degree.​

Deferring your start term

• As a courtesy, military/veteran applicants can defer their admission to a future semester without penalty if service obligations or other circumstances prevent attendance in the original term.​
• If your plans change, contact Admissions as early as possible so your record can be updated to the new start term.​

Leave for military service and readmission

• Students who leave Montclair for military service are entitled to be readmitted with the same academic status held when they last attended or were originally admitted.​
• If your leave due to service lasts more than two semesters, you must follow the University’s readmit applicant process when returning.

If you miss the stated deadlines

Military/veteran freshman applicants who wish to apply after the published admissions deadlines are advised to contact Ken Miyazawa, Pre-Enrollment Specialist for Students, to discuss available options by emailing miyazawake@montclair.edu.