From balancing studies to family to what comes next, the transition from service to student life presents unique challenges for many military and veteran students. For those who begin their next chapter at UCF, they find more than support — they discover a community that understands their journey. Dedicated resources, personal guidance and a shared sense of purpose help illuminate their path to success. That commitment is reflected in national recognition, with UCF earning a Silver Award on the 2025-26 Military Friendly Schools List — placing Knight Nation in the top 20% of all participating schools.
More than 3,300 student-veterans attend UCF, where they’re supported by the Office of Military and Veteran Student Success. This is a dedicated unit that creates an enriching and welcoming environment for military students to achieve educational and career goals through academic success and community partnerships.
Pursuing a degree online is a convenient and affordable path for military and veteran students who balance work and personal responsibilities. As a leader in online education for nearly 30 years, UCF is recognized among the best institutions that offer online programs for service members and their families.
UCF is also a 2025 Best Military-Friendly Online College, according to OnlineU, an organization that reviews and ranks top online colleges with the best value and return on investment. In January, UCF was ranked No. 8 for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans by U.S. News & World Report. Best Colleges has also ranked UCF No. 3 for Best Online Military-Friendly Colleges of 2025.
Opening More Doors for Military and Veteran Students
To enhance support for military and veteran students, UCF has formed partnerships to extend academic offerings to this community, including its selection as one of 12 universities nationwide — and the only one in Florida and the southeast — to join the new Service to Service initiative.
The national pilot program is a collaboration between two nonprofit organizations: The Volcker Alliance, which supports public service education, and We the Veterans, which aims to empower service members and their relatives. Service to Service is dedicated to connecting veterans and their families with graduate educational pathways in public service and helping them find impactful long-term careers in public leadership.
At UCF, students who join the initiative, known as Service to Service Fellows, can further their education through the university’s graduate programs in public administration, emergency and crisis management, nonprofit management, public policy, and regional and urban planning. Fellows also benefit from mentorship, community building, professional development opportunities and job placement support.
This is just one of many examples of how UCF opens doors to new purpose after military service — and part of the reason why Trevor Chandrapaul chose to become a Knight after retiring from the U.S. Navy.
“I always knew I wanted to go back to school,” says Chandrapaul, a third-year computer science student who was drawn to UCF for its strong military community and proximity to major defense companies. “I saw how many military veterans actually attended [UCF]. I reached out to someone at the Veterans Academic Resource Center, and they took the time to talk to me and offer reassurance.”
Trevor Chandrapaul: From the Engine Room to Emerging Tech
After completing prerequisite courses at Valencia College with plans to become a physical therapist, Chandrapaul took an unexpected five-year detour in the U.S. Navy. As a gas turbine systems technician working in the engine room, he was introduced to systems and engineering fundamentals — a turning point that sparked his interest in computer science.
“[UCF] is surrounded by so many defense companies, and I felt like it was a good place for me to continue my studies.” — Trevor Chandrapaul, computer science student
Although he never intended to build a long-term military career, his service shaped his direction. At 26, Chandrapaul says he was feeling slightly out of place as an older student and transferred to UCF.
“Coming from the military, I wanted to continue to serve after my service,” he says. “[UCF] is surrounded by so many defense companies, and I felt like it was a good place for me to continue my studies.”
Through [the Military Veteran and Success Center (MVSC), formerly VARC], he quickly found community among other veterans. The initial intimidation of being older than his peers faded as he connected with other student-veterans.
In his first semester, he landed a job at the MVSC and now serves as a program specialist with the Peer Success Coaches. In this role, he helps military-connected students navigate the transition to UCF — from connecting them with campus resources to encouraging involvement in student clubs and supporting their academic success.
“Through that job, I was able to help host and participate in so many different events and meet organizations like the Student Veteran Association,” he says.
He’s also strengthening his skills in computer science through Knight Hacks, UCF’s largest and only hackathon and software development student organization, while continuing to challenge himself academically. In Spring 2025, he enrolled in Entrepreneurship for Defense — a course he initially picked as a fun elective, but one that quickly became a launchpad.
Assigned to a team developing a maritime awareness system, Chandrapaul worked alongside students from across engineering disciplines. They conducted market research, interviewed high-ranking military officials and industry experts, and presented weekly updates to professors and government sponsors — all of which sharpened his public speaking and technical communication skills.
The experience led to his selection for the Defense Innovation Unit’s summer Maritime Domain Awareness System fellowship.
As a fellow, Chandrapaul is helping improve the safety of maritime environments by developing sensors capable of detecting threats like drug smugglers and illegal fishing activity.
“We recently did a demo on the rooftop of a coastal condo in West Palm Beach, Florida. We got to see a bunch of boats that our radar picked up. We did demos with the U.S. Navy, too. I had the opportunity to visit the Mayport Naval Station in Jacksonville, which was a base I had pulled into during my time in the service.”
Now, Chandrapaul is focused on solving real-world challenges through technology. With experience in software development, rapid prototyping and mission-driven problem-solving, he aims to work at the intersection of national security and emerging technology.
And he’s not ruling out entrepreneurship.
“Since [taking the Entrepreneurship for Defense] course, we might actually make it into a real business, which now might be in my future plans,” he says. It’s a lot of fun making a project that has a real-world impact. And I have to thank UCF for even presenting me with this opportunity.”
