Army Sgt. 1st Class Wandy Ortega spent more than 27 years serving his country, deploying to Egypt during peacetime and Iraq during war. He recruited for the National Guard, raised a family, and bought a commercial cleaning business. But instead of relaxing in retirement, Ortega is finishing something he started almost a decade ago — completing his bachelor’s degree at Wilmington University.
“WilmU has been my first choice,” says Ortega, who began taking classes in 2015 but then returned to active duty. “The whole process is so smooth.”
He credits the University’s Military Affairs Office for a seamless transition.
“They drop what they’re doing, and they give you the help that you need. And I love that,” Ortega says. “They don’t waste time (when they’re) working on your behalf. It doesn’t get better than that.”
This level of service is one of the reasons WilmU earned the Military Friendly® Schools Award Gold-Level distinction. An independent survey measured the University’s commitment to service members’ success, including graduation rates and job placement. While more than 1,800 schools participated, only 250 achieved gold status. WilmU stands out with its flexible scheduling options, affordable tuition rates, and dedicated military support services.
“[WilmU’s Military Affairs Office drops] what they’re doing, and they give you the help that you need. And I love that.” — Wandy Ortega
“It’s so exciting to have the knowledge to be able to help individuals,” says Dr. James Webb, an Air Force veteran and Wilmington University’s director of military affairs. “Every day I get a thank-you from somebody, and that’s what keeps me going — it touches the heart, for sure.”
Ortega is one of more than 1,500 military-connected WilmU students. He received credit for military experience, training, and prior coursework by submitting his Joint Services Transcript.
“I started this degree with 51 credits, so I was way ahead of the game,” says Ortega, who is studying business and marketing. “The goal is to go for my master’s.”
Living in Dover, Delaware, he can easily attend WilmU classes in person. However, the University also offers degrees and certificates 100% online so that students can learn anywhere with web access. Active-duty service members can take advantage of WilmU’s undergraduate online military tuition rate. And counselors can help maximize military benefits, such as Tuition Assistance and the GI Bill®.
“I would highly recommend it,” Ortega says. If considering a degree program, “you will be able to fall right in place.”
Discover how to get started at Wilmington University as a military service member.