Many veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are embarking on a new mission - this time in a classroom.

About 1 million veterans and their dependents have enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities over the past four years, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

This trend has come with the drawdown of U.S. forces overseas and more generous financial incentives that generally cover a veteran's tuition, housing and books, the Associated Press reported.

The transition from battlefield to a university classroom is not always an easy one which is why colleges and universities are offering an array of services, from tutoring to setting up Vets-only lounges to help them succeed.

Some of the challenges veterans' face is medical.

Adam Fisher, a 25-year-old college freshman at the University of Toledo, does not only has to deal with the fact that he's an unconventional student; he also has to deal with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). While most of his fellow classmates were in high school the last couple of years, Fisher was dodging bullets and roadside bombs overseas.

"It's hard for me to be around so many people," Fisher told the AP. 

Fisher participates in group therapy for PTSD. He also has some hearing loss.

Veterans not only face academic challenges due to the time gap since returning back to school, but they also face cultural hurdles as an unconventional student. While many college freshmen are testing their independence, some of the veterans back in school are supporting a family, working evenings and weekends.

"I understand the pain and suffering some of these men and women have experienced," Lloyd Jacobs, president of the University of Toledo told the AP. "On the other hand, people who do have that experience bring strength to our culture, bring strength to our university that's unparalleled."

The University of Toledo has about 400 veterans on campus.

While there are many adjustments he has to make, Fisher, who wants to get into the medical profession, said he believes his experience overseas gives him an edge in the classroom.

"I work 10 times harder than what I did in high school," Fisher said. "The Army gave me a sense of self-respect and confidence, and they really show you hard work does pay off."

According to the American Council on Education, about 71 percent of some 700 colleges and universities responding to a recent survey have an officer department dedicated exclusively to serving veterans. Before the Post-9/11 GI Bill was implemented, a 2009 survey put that percentage at 49 percent.