For the seventh-consecutive year, the University of Missouri has received the Military Friendly School® title from Victory Media. The designation is awarded to the top institutions in the country that are doing the most to embrace military students and dedicate resources to ensure veterans’ success both in the classroom and after graduation.
“Mizzou has given me the peace of mind to go back to school while working full time,” said Heath McGill, a student from Sikeston, Missouri, who is pursuing his undergraduate degree online. “Being a military veteran and married with two kids at home, it has been a smooth transition to the online classroom without the stress of a traditional college environment.”
The bond between MU and the military dates back to 1890 when the university named its athletic programs in honor of the Tigers, a local militia that defended Columbia from rebel assaults during the Civil War. Mizzou continues to honor that bond today with benefits such as the MU Veterans Center, which has helped military personnel and their families transition between service and academia since its founding in 2008. At the start of the fall 2015 semester, Mizzou had more than 358 veterans enrolled. In addition, the MU Veterans Center serves dependents of veterans, taking the total number of students served by the Veterans Center to 837. The campus is also home to the Mizzou Student Veterans Association.
“We are extremely proud to receive this honor again because it acknowledges the University of Missouri’s continuing commitment to providing a friendly and supportive campus environment that allows veterans, active military and family members to realize their higher education goals,” said Robert Ross, director of the MU Veterans Center. “The staff and student workers at our full-service, one-stop resource center are dedicated to supporting veterans from their transition to college through graduation.”
Availability of online courses and degrees also makes MU a popular choice for the military. More than 90 degree and certificate programs are available entirely or partially online.
“Through distance learning, military women and men earn nationally respected academic credentials and enjoy the flexibility they need to balance their education with other commitments,” said Kim Siegenthaler, director of Mizzou Online. “Academic quality is baked in. All our online courses, certificate and degree programs are taught by the same faculty—many of them award-winning leaders in their fields—who teach on campus.”
In addition to flexibility and academic quality, MU offers considerable value. In 2015, the university began offering a 10 percent tuition award to veterans and their families toward online degree programs.
“The Mizzou Online Military Tuition Award is just one more way MU honors veterans, active duty service members, National Guard, reservists and their families for their service to our country,” Siegenthaler said.
The Military Friendly Schools® designation provides service members and their families with transparent, data-driven ratings about post-military education and career opportunities.
“Post-secondary institutions earning the 2016 Military Friendly Schools® award have exceptionally strong programs for transitioning service members and spouses,” said Daniel Nichols, chief product officer of Victory Media and a Navy Reserve veteran. “Our Military Friendly Schools® are truly aligning their military programs and services with employers to help students translate military experience, skills and training into successful careers after graduation.”
The Military Friendly Schools® media and website feature the list, interactive tools and search functionality to help military students find the best school to suit their unique needs and preferences. The schools on this year’s list have world-class programs and policies for student support on campus, academic accreditation, credit policies, flexibility, and other services for those who served.