How are colleges ranked for their military friendliness?

Hey everyone. I’ve been considering joining the military after high school, but I also want to go to college. I’ve heard about these so-called 'military friendly' colleges, but I'm not sure what makes them 'friendly'. How exactly do they rank these schools? Are there specific criteria or resources I should know about? Any help would really be appreciated!

Sure, I'd be happy to help you better understand how colleges are determined to be 'military friendly.'

There are different agencies and organizations that rank colleges and universities on their military friendliness. The criteria they use can vary, but there are some common factors they may look at:

1. Participation in the GI Bill: This is a program that provides educational benefits to service members, veterans, and their families. If a school participates in this program, it generally means they are welcoming to military students and understand their unique financial needs.

2. Yellow Ribbon Program: The Yellow Ribbon Program is a provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill that allows veterans to attend more expensive schools. If schools have this program, it's a strong indicator that they're actively welcoming military students.

3. On-Campus Support: Does the college have a dedicated office or staff member to support military students and veterans? Maybe even a club or organization for the veterans to connect.

4. Credit for Military Training: Some schools will give you academic credit for your military training and experiences, which can help you complete your degree faster.

5. Flexibility: Military-friendly schools often offer online classes, part-time programs, and other flexible options that can accommodate your service commitments.

6. Completion Rates and Career Support for Veterans: They also consider graduation rates and career placement rates of military students or veterans, as successful outcomes indicate a supportive environment.

These are just examples, and each military-friendly ranking entity can use different criteria, so it's worth spending some time researching different lists and seeing which factors are most important to you. One resource to start with could be the lists published by U.S. News or Military Times, as they rank schools based on their military friendliness. Remember to thoroughly research each college and contact them directly to get an understanding of what services and resources they offer for military students.