For the fifth consecutive year, Montana State University’s efforts to support student veterans have been recognized with a designation as a top-10 military-friendly school in a nationwide survey through the website Militaryfriendly.com.
MSU ranked third in military-friendly schools in the survey’s Tier 2 research institution category. The university has consistently placed top 10 in the rankings for the past five years and has also received recognition for being a military spouse-friendly school.
Now in its 22nd year, the Military Friendly Schools list is considered the premier nationwide ranking that veterans and military families use when deciding on higher education institutions. Each year, more than 8,800 institutions across the U.S. take the survey, which has more than 100 questions.
“Military-friendly rankings serve as a guide for institutions striving to improve veteran support while helping students make informed decisions about where to pursue their education,” said Todd Bucher, director of the Travis W. Atkins Veteran Support Center at MSU. “They ultimately foster a culture of success for military-affiliated students, ensuring they have the tools and resources needed to thrive in their academic and professional journeys.”
The rankings are determined by examining graduation and career outcomes, military student support and retention, financial aid and loan repayment, culture and commitment, admissions and orientations, and academic policies and compliance.
A military-friendly designation may help improve university access to grants and scholarships dedicated to veteran support, Bucher said. It also means the university offers better networking opportunities and academic and career counseling for veterans compared to non-ranked schools.
As of fall 2024, MSU has a total of 784 students connected to the military, including 548 veterans.
Bucher highlighted some of the services of MSU’s Veteran Support Center, including in-house tutors, a telehealth center and free sessions with a licensed mental health counselor who specializes in veteran care.
Centrally located on campus in the renovated Romney Hall, the support center provides a welcoming space for studying, tutoring and meetings while also being close to the Student Wellness Center, the library and the Strand Union Center.
“By providing top-tier resources, dedicated facilities and a strong sense of community, we ensure that veterans, military-connected students and their families have everything they need to thrive,” Bucher said.
People can find out more about the Military Friendly School Survey on its website. More information about Montana State’s services for student veterans and military-connected students can be found at https://www.montana.edu/veteran/.
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