Military Friendly School

Columbus, OH and Pittsburgh, Pa. – G.I. Jobs magazine has named Franklin University to its 2011 list of Military Friendly Schools, which honors the top 15 percent of colleges, universities, and trade schools doing the most to embrace America’s veterans as students. Schools on the list range from state universities and private colleges to community colleges and trade schools. The common bond is their shared priority of recruiting students with military experience.

“This list is especially important now because the Post-9/11 GI Bill has given veterans virtually unlimited financial means to go to school,” said Rich McCormack, G.I. Jobs publisher. “Veterans can now enroll in any school, provided they’re academically qualified. So schools are clamoring for them like never before. Veterans need a trusted friend to help them decide where to get educated. The Military Friendly Schools list is that trusted friend.”

Derek Blumke, President of Student Veterans of America and a member of the list’s Academic Advisory Board, agrees:. “The Military Friendly Schools list is the gold standard in letting veterans knows which schools will offer them the greatest opportunity, flexibility, and overall experience. It’s especially important now with so many schools competing for military students.” 

Schools on the Military Friendly Schools list also offer additional benefits to student veterans such as on-campus veterans programs, credit for service, military spouse programs, and more.

The list was compiled through exhaustive research starting last April during which G.I. Jobs polled more than 7,000 schools nationwide. Methodology, criteria, and weighting for the list were developed with the assistance of an Academic Advisory Board (AAB) consisting of educators from Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University, Colorado State University, Dallas County Community College, Old Dominion University, Cleveland State University, and Lincoln Technical Institute and Embry Riddle, as well as Keith Wilson, the VA’s Director of Education Services; Michele Spires, the American Council on Education’s Assistant Director of Military Programs; Janet Swandol, Associate Director for CLEP; and Derek Blumke, President of Student Veterans of America. A full list of board members can be found at http://militaryfriendlyschools.com/Article/advisory-board/

A full story and detailed list of Military Friendly Schools will be highlighted in the annual Guide to Military Friendly Schools and on posters, both of which will be distributed to hundreds of thousands of active and former military personnel in late September. The newly redesigned website, found at www.militaryfriendlyschools.com, features interactive tools and search functionality to assist military veterans in choosing schools that best meet their personal educational needs. The site currently shows 2010 Military Friendly Schools but will switch to the 2011 list in late September.

Criteria for making the Military Friendly Schools list included efforts to recruit and retain military and veteran students, results in recruiting military and veteran students, and academic accreditations.

About G.I. Jobs
G.I. Jobs (www.gijobs.com) is published by Victory Media, a veteran-owned business which also publishes The Guide to Military Friendly Schools, Military Spouse and Vetrepreneur magazines and annually rates the nation’s “Military Friendly Employers,” “Military Spouse Friendly Employers” and “Best Corporations for Veteran-Owned Businesses.”

About Franklin University
Founded in 1902, Franklin University is one of the leading and most experienced educators of adult students. Annually, more than 11,000 students attend Franklin, both at its Main Campus in downtown Columbus, Ohio, three Central Ohio locations, and at its newest location in Indianapolis, in addition to online. Franklin offers 27 undergraduate majors (including three new available Fall 2010) as well as three graduate programs and graduates more than 1,500 students annually. The University’s MBA Program is offered internationally through agreements with institutions in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.  Further information regarding Franklin University can be found at www.franklin.edu.