Husbands and wives of active-duty members of the military may find that time away from their spouses can be agonizing, especially in wartime. As a result, some campus-based and online colleges are reaching out to these individuals by offering them financial assistance that could help them pay for a campus-based or online college degree program.

For instance, one online school recently reinstated its scholarship program, which coordinates with the Department of Defense’s Military Spouse Carer Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) initiative. Applicants to the school can use their MyCAA benefits - which typically total $4,000 per student - to cover part of the cost of their tuition. Furthermore, they may be eligible for a $6,000 school-funded scholarship that can put them one step closer to earning a bachelors degree.

College programs online may be especially beneficial to students who are pursuing higher degrees in criminal justice. Because professionals in this field typically work long and abnormal hours, currently employed students may require the flexible scheduling and convenient learning options that are available through web-based programs.

According to PayScale.com, a research company, criminal justice degree holders can earn between $27,550 and $80,388 per year.