Mason City, IA- Tough economic times and hundreds of layoffs mean good business for area colleges. One small North Iowa university is seeing it's population of military students double.
The simplest answer for the rise in military students taking classes could be the economy.
Kaplan University Mason City Campus offers classes both on site and online that fit well with people's schedules, and many of the military members enrolled are at the age where traditional schooling isn't practical.
Michael Visser recently returned from Kosovo with the Iowa Army National Guards 34th infantry division out of Iowa Falls.
When he returned he decided to put money from his GI Bill to good use. You'll now find him enrolled in Kaplan University's Criminal Justice program.
"Being in the infantry you know you like to kick down doors and take names you know, so I can get a degree in criminal justice and then transfer to a police officer, corrections or enforcement or whatever," he said.
Visser is one of more than 30 members of the military taking classes here. More than twice the number the campus typically enrolls. Visser isn't impressed with the turnout.
"I'm surprised there's not more, it’s a great deal and it's a no fail deal you do it and the government helps, it's a great package."
The university also offers ten percent off to his wife Kelly, who's also enrolled in the nursing program.
"I started coming back because I'm done in July of next year so I figured why not finish and just get it out of the way," said Kelly.
For Michael the extra schooling will help both in and out of the service.
"When you're looking at the military market they more you increase your education the better off you're gonna be as far as rank advancement you know all around just a good thing,” said Admissions representative Jeff Simpson.
He spent 26 years in the army as a recruiter. He and a fellow retired serviceman are helping increase the number of military students like Visser. Who hopes to start fighting crime soon.
"Whether it's on a SWAT team, whether it's beatin' on the street you know whatever just trying to make a difference somewhere," Visser said.
A new marketing tool at Kaplan is their new firearms training simulator. It's a 50 thousand dollar piece of equipment that puts police officers and those in training into real life scenarios. Visser says it's similar to those in the military.
Admissions personnel tell us many of the students at Kaplan who are in the military are taking criminal justice or nursing classes.
The total enrollment at the Mason City Campus is around 400 students.
