Stockton Named No. 6 in Nation by Military Times’ ‘Best for Vets’

On Nov 9, 2015

Stockton University today was ranked at No. 6 among the best colleges and universities nationwide for veterans by the Military Times’ “Best for Vets: Colleges 2016,” the most comprehensive school-by-school assessment of veteran and military student services and rates of academic achievement.

“Stockton is proud that its Veterans Affairs program, which serves over 600 veterans and active-duty service members, is recognized by Military Times as one of the Top 10 institutions in the country,” said Interim President Harvey Kesselman. “Our student veterans lead the region with veteran graduation rates at over 96 percent.”

“Best for Vets: Colleges 2016” is an editorially independent news project that evaluates the many factors that help make colleges and universities a good fit for service members, military veterans and their families. More than 600 colleges took part in this year’s detailed survey.

“It’s been amazing to witness how colleges all across higher education have embraced service members and their families,” said Amanda Miller, editor of Military Times’ Best for Vets rankings and special editions. “Over the past six years of our surveys, we’ve seen so many schools first begin to foster – through new policies, services and dedicated facilities – and then nurture these wonderful communities.”

The Stockton veterans program began in 2008 and provides a full-time veteran counselor, a faculty resource team, and a separate orientation for veteran students, as well as a veterans’ lounge. Through the Office of Veteran Affairs, veterans and service members can explore eligibility for G.I. education benefits, receive referrals to a wide range of support services and connect with their fellow veterans by becoming a part of Stockton’s Student Veterans Organization.

The annual survey asks colleges and universities to document a tremendous array of services, special rules, accommodations and financial incentives offered to students with military ties; and to describe many aspects of veteran culture on a campus. Military Times also factors in data from the Veterans Affairs and Defense Departments, as well as three Education Department sources: the IPEDS Data Center, College Scorecard data and the Cohort Default Rate Database.

“We award the Best for Vets designation to the very best – the colleges that really are setting the example,” Miller said.

Other New Jersey schools in the Top 10 for Military Times’ “Best for Vets: Colleges 2016,” include Rutgers University at No. 5 for four-year schools and Middlesex County College coming in at No. 8 for two-year schools.

Military Times is an organization comprised of the Army Times, Navy Times, Air Force Times and Marine Corps Times. It is published by TEGNA Inc., formerly Gannett Co., Inc.

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