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The Military Friendly Schools list is determined through exhaustive research by the G.I. Jobs Military Friendly Schools team. This research includes government agencies and private entities which administer education benefits and a comprehensive survey administered by G.I. Jobs. A Military Friendly Schools Academic Advisory Board helps determine survey questions and weightings.
The survey tabulation process, methodology and weightings that comprise the 2013 list were independently verified by Ernst and Young LLP. Each year schools taking the survey are held to a higher standard than the previous year via improved methodology, criteria and weightings developed with the assistance of the Academic Advisory Board.
Research findings are compiled and weighted according to the following categories to determine a final score:
30% Military Support on Campus
20% Academic Credibility
14% Percent of Military Students
10% Academic Credit for Military Service
10% Flexibility for Military Students
5% Veteran Graduation Rates
5% Government Approvals
5% Student Tuition Assistance
1% Student Survey and Employment Rates &
Military Spouse Policies
Military Support on Campus (non-financial)
Defined as programs and policies which provide support to enrolled military students. This category includes support of specific military installations (such as on-base programs) and the number of full-time veteran counselors or advisors on staff at the school. Also included is assistance with career placement, mentoring and on-boarding programs for new military students, networking events, clubs and associations. Veteran-specific resources, including a page on the school website, are also measured.
Academic Credibility
Defined as the school's level of academic accreditation: Regional, National, Hybrid and/or Programmatic.
Percent of Military Students
Defined as the number of military or veteran students enrolled at each school as a percentage of total enrollment. This category includes separate categories for both full-time and part-time students. Note¹: Survey values are banded around an optimal enrollment of 10 percent military students; schools reporting a higher or lower number of military students receive diminishing survey values.
Academic for Military Service
Defined as credit for CLEP and/or DSST exams. Also included is the award of ACE credit for military training and credit transfer policies.
Flexibility for Military Students
Defined as policies for military students removed from school due to deployments and PCS orders. This category includes availability of evening, weekend and online academic programs; it also includes requirements for living on campus.
Veteran Graduation Rates
Defined as graduation rates for military students.
Government Approvals
Defined as government approval in a variety of areas, including VA approval, TA (Tuition Assistance) and MyCAA. This category also includes SOC consortium membership and participation in the DANTES external degree catalogue.
Student Tuition Assistance
Defined as scholarships and tuition discounts for military students and veterans. This category includes in-state tuition without residency requirements for active-duty military students and/or dependents, as well as Yellow Ribbon Program participation.
Student Survey & Employment (job placement) Rates & Military Spouse Policies
Defined as participation in the Military Friendly Schools student survey of enrolled military students. This category includes post-graduation employment rates of military students, as well as policies for military spouses and dependents. Note²: This category will receive increased weighting as participation from institutions regarding job placement data is made available (current data supplied from schools is insufficient for purposes of evaluation).
The survey results that comprise the 2013 list were independently tested by Ernst & Young LLP based upon the weightings and methodology established by Victory Media.