ABERDEEN, S.D.(Press Release) – Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,800 schools participated in the 2023-2024 survey with 665 earning special awards for going above the standard.

The 2023-2024 Military Friendly® Schools list will be published in the May and October issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and can be found at militaryfriendly.com.

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.

“Northern State University has a long history of supporting the military, veterans and their families from WWI to the present,” said Northern’s Military Veteran Affairs Officer Ronald Brownie. “The Military Friendly School Designation is awarded in recognition of documented NSU Support. Northern participates in multiple tuition assistance and education benefits programs from the VA, military branches, South Dakota and federal Agencies.”

Military Friendly® is committed to transparency and providing consistent data-driven standards in its 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 at 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.”

For more information about Northern’s student veteran programs, visit northern.edu/military.