When Cory Maxwell was considering what college to attend, knowing that the institution is military friendly was very important to him. For him and student veterans, the Military Friendly® School designation helps determine the best schools that will embrace them and ensure their success on campus.
“The designation was a positive factor in me returning back to 鶹ý,” said Mr. Maxwell, a senior finance major who currently serves in the U.S. Navy Reserve. “I have greater confidence in the university knowing that I have a supporting cast of staff here to support and help me whenever I needed them, which made my transition back to student life easier.”
For the 10th consecutive time, Kent State has earned the 2019-2020 Military Friendly School designation for its Kent Campus. Military Friendly is the military ratings division of VIQTORY Media, a service-disabled, veteran-owned business that also publishes G.I. Jobs and Military Spouse. Military Friendly rates companies and colleges on their programs to recruit and retain military veterans as employees and students.
In addition to the Kent Campus, the university’s Stark, Trumbull and Salem campuses have received the 2019-2020 Military Friendly School designation.
Recognized by Military Friendly as “the best of the best” in the small public schools category, 鶹ý at Salem has earned the elite Military Friendly Top 10 School Award and the gold-level distinction. Kent State Salem ranks No. 7 among small public institutions.
The Military Friendly School designation recognizes Kent State for exhibiting leading practices in recruiting and supporting post-military students. Kent State and the other colleges and universities on the list represent the top tier of institutions that provide the best opportunities for military service members and their spouses.
“The Military Friendly designation is an indication that 鶹ý continues to adhere to the highest national standards when it comes to serving our military connected population,” said Joshua Rider, director of Kent State’s Center for Adult and Veteran Services. “It shows that we value them and their experiences. This is a clear reflection of the Kent State community’s continued support for our veterans, service members and their dependents.”
The list of Military Friendly Schools ratings is assessed through the evaluation of both public data about an institution and proprietary data gathered through the free Military Friendly Schools survey. The annual, data-driven Military Friendly Schools survey assessment is offered at no cost to more than 8,800 institutions nationwide. Each year, schools taking the survey are held to a higher standard than in previous years via improved methodology, criteria and weightings developed with the assistance of an independent research firm and an advisory council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community.
Final survey results and ratings are determined by combining an institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the institution’s performance in such areas as student retention, graduation, job placement, loan repayment and transfer rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.
EY (formerly Ernst & Young), a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services, independently tested the validity and consistency of this year’s survey results using the scoring methodology developed by VIQTORY Media for the Military Friendly Schools list.
For more information about the Military Friendly School designation, visit ;
For more information about Kent State’s Center for Adult and Veteran Services, visit www.kent.edu/cavs.
For more information about Kent State Stark's Veterans Services, visit www.kent.edu/stark/veterans-services.