For an eighth consecutive year, Kent State University has been named a 2017 Military Friendly® School. Military Friendly is the military ratings division of Victory Media, a service-disabled, veteran-owned business that also publishes G.I. Jobs®, STEM Jobs, Military Spouse and Vetrepreneur®. Military Friendly rates companies and colleges on their programs to recruit and retain military veterans as employees and students. This is also the sixth year that Kent State University at Tuscarawas has held the elite title as a Military Friendly School.
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.
“Continuing to serve our military-connected student population is a major goal of Kent State, the Division of Student Affairs and the Center for Adult and Veteran Services,” says Joshua Rider, director of Kent State’s Center for Adult and Veteran Services. “Providing impactful programs and efficient services for these students is and will continue to be a priority.”
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.
To create the 2017 list, survey responses are weighted according to the following categories:
- Academic policies and compliance – 9 percent
- Admissions and orientation – 10 percent
- Culture and commitment – 9 percent
- Financial aid and loan repayment – 12 percent
- Graduation and career outcomes – 30 percent
- Military student support and retention – 30 percent
Final survey results and ratings are determined by combining an institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the institution’s ability to meet minimum thresholds for student retention, graduation, job placement, loan repayment and loan default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans. The benchmark is set by the score of the leading institution.
EY, 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 Victory Media for the Military Friendly Schools list.
For the complete list of 2017 Military Friendly Schools, visit https://militaryfriendly.com.
For more information about Kent State’s Center for Adult and Veteran Services, visit www.kent.edu/cavs.