Troy University has been ranked in the top 20 universities in the country as being “Best for Vets” by the Military Times news organization, and the only university in Alabama to be named to the list that includes 134 four-year universities or colleges.
In their 10th year, the rankings are based on the results of Military Times’ annual survey – the most comprehensive school-by-school assessment of veteran and military student services and rates of academic achievement – as well as a detailed review of public data collected by federal agencies. The Best for Vets college rankings evaluate the many factors that help make colleges and universities a good fit for service members, military veterans and their families. About 500 colleges took part in this year’s survey.
“Freedom is not free! We appreciate our nation ‘s Warriors. Our commitment to serve the men and women of America’s military stands at an all-time high and is rooted in 70 years of experience,” said Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Chancellor. “At TROY, we take great pride in supporting those who have sacrificed so much for freedom both at home and around the globe. Rankings such as these serve to validate our efforts are well placed.”
The University first began serving military students in 1951 through then-Camp Rucker. In 1965, TROY established a teaching center at Maxwell Air Force Base and in 1974 began establishing teaching sites in Europe through a contract with the U.S. Air Force. Today, nearly 30 percent of TROY’s student body is made up of students with some affiliation with the military, and the TROY for Troops Center serves as a one-stop shop for military affiliated student services and support. In addition, the University’s “Green Zone” program helps faculty and staff members identify and support military affiliated students, including spouses and children of service members or veterans, and an automatic scholarship caps the tuition costs at the level provided through military tuition assistance.
Military Times’ annual “Best for Vets: Colleges” survey asks colleges and universities to disclose academic outcome and input data, describe many aspects of veteran culture on campus and meticulously document a wide array of services, special policies, accommodations and financial incentives offered to students with military ties. 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.
