Montana State University was named the No. 1 military-friendly school in the country this spring, an esteemed ranking from the website Militaryfriendly.com that recognizes the university’s continued investment in supporting the student veteran community on campus.
MSU has consistently placed as a top-five military-friendly school and last year earned a No. 3 ranking. But this is the first year the university tops the rankings in the tier one research institution category, which includes schools such as Arizona State, Texas A&M and Purdue.
“Being ranked No. 1 in the nation shows that MSU is not only welcoming these students but also actively investing in their success and their time here at MSU,” said Todd Bucher, director of the Travis W. Atkins Veteran Support Center.
The rankings are determined by public data and a survey filled out by each school gauging the institution’s military student support and retention, graduation and career outcomes, financial aid support, and culture, among other data points.
Militaryfriendly.com also ranks schools on their support for military spouses, and MSU earned the No. 2 accolade last year. This year’s spouse rankings will be released in June.
MSU currently enrolls around 750 veterans and military-connected students, Bucher said, and 650 of those students are using Department of Veterans Affairs education benefits. That number has increased over the years as MSU has grown and attracted more military-connected students.
At MSU, the Veteran Support Center is the wheelhouse that hosts resources for student veterans and their family members. Located in Romney Hall, the center is both a physical space for veterans to connect, study and support each other, and a hub for other important resources such as mental health support, financial aid and VA benefit assistance.
“A truly military-friendly institution, like Montana State, understands the unique experiences that veterans and military-connected students bring with them and builds systems that help them successfully transition into and navigate academic life,” Bucher said. “It means providing clear guidance when navigating education benefits, offering strong academic and wellness support, and creating spaces where veterans and military-connected students can build community with others who understand their backgrounds.”
Bucher added the top ranking sends a strong message to prospective students. When looking at schools, veterans and military-connected students search for places where they can continue to grow as people while pursuing meaningful careers after their military service. The designation further signals that MSU is a place where that can happen and they can be successful, he said.
One student veteran pursuing education at MSU is Bozeman native Taryn Nell, who is studying computer engineering and hopes to pursue a master’s degree in cybersecurity.
Nell, 33, served from 2011 to 2023 as a U.S. Army Ranger. He was stationed in Fort Benning, Georgia, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and Fort Carson, Colorado, and served as a senior Ranger instructor in Fort Benning before retiring due to medical issues. After returning to Montana to care for his aging parents, he decided to use his VA benefits to go to school.
The most significant challenge in transitioning from the military to student life was the change in structure and free time, said Nell, a sophomore. Learning how to be organized and develop his own schedule was key, and the Veteran Support Center played an instrumental role. Nell treats being a student like his “9-to-5 job,” going to campus and to his classes each day. Between classes, he spends his time at the center studying.
Nell has used many of the center’s resources, including the free tutoring and printing services. He also received support with tax and financial services and establishing a budget, and he has held a work-study job in the center since December.
Additionally, the center helped connect him with the Cat Scholarship portal and apply for several scholarships earmarked for veteran and engineering students.
“The great staff here at the Vet Center, day in and day out, they’re always reaching out to us, seeing how they can improve the center and the benefits that we can get from school,” Nell said. “Having such great people who actually care really makes a difference. At the end of the day, it gives you a sense of home, and that is huge for veterans who may have never felt that way about a place before.”
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