Galloway, N.J. — Stockton University recently earned top honors for its outreach to military veterans by receiving the Military Friendly School Gold designation.

It’s the second year in a row the school accepted a Military Friendly designation, but the first time it received the Gold award. The designation is for the 2023-24 year in the small public school category. Last year, the school was awarded Silver status. The designation comes from the Military Friendly Schools survey, which is the longest-running and most comprehensive review of college and university investments in serving military and veteran students. 

“This designation proves Stockton’s continuing commitment to supporting military veterans seeking higher education and providing them with resources to be successful,” said Michael Barany, director of the Military and Veterans Success Center at Stockton. “I’m especially thrilled that Stockton has been upgraded to Gold status for this very prestigious designation.”

Institutions earning the Military Friendly Schools Awards designation were evaluated using public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,800 schools participated in the 2023-24 survey and only 250 schools were selected for “Gold” award status for their leading practices, outcomes and effective programs. 

Methodology, criteria, and weightings were determined by Viqtory with input from the Military Friendly Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community. Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the institution’s ability to meet thresholds for student retention, graduation, job placement, loan repayment, persistence (degree advancement or transfer) and loan default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.

“Military Friendly is committed to transparency and providing consistent data-driven standards in our designation process. Our standards provide a benchmark that promotes positive outcomes and support services that better the educational landscape and provide opportunity for the military community,” said Kayla Lopez, national director of Military Partnerships for Military Friendly. “This creates a competitive atmosphere that encourages colleges to evolve and invest in their programs consistently. Schools who achieve awards designation show true commitment in their efforts, going over and above that standard.” 

The Military Friendly Schools list will be published in G.I. Jobs magazine’s May issue and can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com.

The goal of the Military and Veteran Success Center (MVSC) at Stockton University is to ensure Stockton’s military-affiliated students; who are military veterans, active duty, reserve, National Guard service members, and their dependents (spouses and children); succeed personally, academically, and professionally by providing access to affordable, quality education, and comprehensive support services to more than 400 military-affiliated students. The center serves as a “first-stop shop” by assisting military-affiliated students and veterans in transition to civilian life by coordinating the certification of education benefits for which they are eligible, providing socialization opportunities, military-affiliated student club, and the guidance, advocacy and referrals to veteran/military service organizations and college services that support their academic success. 

If you would like further information regarding Stockton University’s Military and Veterans Success Center, email omvs@stockton.edu, or call 609-652-4315.

Stockton University is ranked among the top public universities in the nation. Our more than 9,000 students can choose to live and learn on the 1,600-acre wooded main campus in the Pinelands National Reserve in South Jersey and at our coastal residential campus just steps from the beach and Boardwalk in Atlantic City. The university offers more than 160 undergraduate and graduate programs. Learn more at stockton.edu.