Which College Is the Best for Military Veterans?
A recent survey conducted by Military Times Edge ranks which colleges are best for military veterans.
Most of the schools making the list were public, including 51 of the 59 highest ranking four-year schools. The top five four-year schools included Concord University, taking the number one spot, Eastern Kentucky University at number two, Rutgers in third, California University of Pennsylvania at number four and University of South Florida coming in fifth.
The survey, which compiled responses from hundreds of colleges and universities, as well as 500 student veterans, ranked four-year and two-year schools, as well as non-traditional, online colleges. It judged schools by affordability and how well their programs fit into GI Bill requirements. It also looked at veteran academic support and community services and the amount of staff dedicated to assisting veterans on campus. The survey also accounted for school accreditation and veteran graduation rates.
Other big name schools in the top 10 included Arizona State University at number six, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, which has a long history of being a top choice for veterans, at number eight and University of Nebraska at Omaha at number nine.
Among two-year colleges were Western Nebraska Community College, which took the top spot, Mountwest Community and Technical College in Virginia at number two, Fayetteville Technical Community College in North Carolina and Tidewater Community College in Virginia tying for third and Olympic College in Washington at number five.
The best online schools included ECPI University and Liberty University, both in Virginia, in the numbers one and two spots, Columbia College in Missouri at number three, Felician College in New Jersey in the number four spot and Excelsior College in New York at number five. The well-known University of Phoenix made the non-traditional list at number ten.
Because of the new post-9/11 GI Bill, a larger number of veterans are attending college, and that means universities have had to step up services for veteran students. This survey shows that schools are doing just that.