EMU Today

YPSILANTI – For the fourth consecutive year, Eastern Michigan University has been named one of the most military and veteran friendly universities in the country, according to annual rankings released this month by Military Friendly.

EMU ranked second among large public universities in the United States in the Military Friendly® Schools 2021-22 list, and first in the state of Michigan.

The Military Friendly® Schools list can be found at the Military Friendly list website. It will also will be published in the May issue of G.I. Jobs magazine.

Now in its 11th year, the Military Friendly® Schools list provides a comprehensive guide for veterans and their families, using data sources from federal agencies, veteran students and survey information from participating organizations.

‘A commitment to student veteran support’

“We are pleased that EMU has achieved this accolade for the fourth consecutive year,” said Lt. Colonel, U.S. Army (Ret.) Mike Wise, assistant director of Military and Veteran Services at Eastern. “EMU military and veteran students and their families have exceptional support throughout the campus, from the top on down.

“Eastern Michigan’s pledge to military and veteran students is evidenced through its commitment to student veteran support, its establishment of a veteran support center and a 69-year commitment to its Army ROTC program.”

Eastern established its military and veteran support center in 2014 and later named it in honor of the late U.S. Army Lt. Colonel Charles S. Kettles, a Medal of Honor recipient, Eastern Michigan University alum, and Ypsilanti resident. 

In 2015, the center expanded its services for veterans after Eastern was awarded the TRIO-Veteran Student Support Services grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

For more information on EMU’s Military and Veteran Services, visit the Lt. Col. Charles S. Kettles Military and Veteran Services Resource Center, which is located in 202 Pierce Hall or visit the Military and Veteran Services website.  

Rankings measure key elements of student success

Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,200 schools participated in the 2021-2022 survey with 747 earning the designation.

Methodology, criteria, and weightings were determined by VIQTORY, which is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) that connects the military community to civilian employment, educational and entrepreneurial opportunities through its G.I. Jobs® and Military Friendly® brands. Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey response set and government/agency public data sources, within a logic based scoring assessment.

The rankings measure 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

“Military Friendly® is committed to transparency and providing consistent, data-driven standards in our designation process,” said Kayla Lopez, National Director of Military Partnerships, Military Friendly®  “This creates a competitive atmosphere that encourages colleges to consistently evolve and invest in their programs.”

About Military Friendly® Schools:

The Military Friendly® Schools list is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources for more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans, and responses to the proprietary, data-driven Military Friendly® Schools survey from participating institutions. The survey questions, methodology, criteria and weighting were developed with the assistance of an independent research firm and an advisory council of educators and employers. The survey is administered for free and is open to all postsecondary schools that wish to participate.

About VIQTORY:

VIQTORY and its brands are not a part of or endorsed by the U.S. Dept. of Defense or any federal government entity. Learn more about VIQTORY at www.viqtory.com.

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 16,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and, its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.