Pensacola State College named a Military Friendly® School for 15th year

College earns gold designation for 3rd year

Pensacola State College has been named a 2024-2025 Gold Military Friendly® School by Viqtory Media.

This is the 15th year the College has received the Military Friendly® School title and the third consecutive year earning the gold designation in the “Large Public” school category.

Over 1,800 colleges, universities and trade schools participated in the 2024-2025 survey, with 537 earning special awards for going above the standard. Institutions earning the Military Friendly® designation were evaluated using public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey.

“Providing exceptional support to our military service members and their families is what we do at Pensacola State College, and we are very proud to be recognized by Viqtory Media,” said Pensacola State President Ed Meadows. “Earning the gold designation for a third consecutive year speaks well of the College.”

Methodology, criteria and weightings were determined by Viqtory with input from the Military Friendly® Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community. Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey scores with the assessment of 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.

U.S. Air Force veteran Nikki Wilson, an administrative assistant in the College’s TRIO-Veterans Student Support Services (VSSS) office, says the Gold Military Friendly®  designation is well-deserved.

“Pensacola State’s military support system helped me tremendously when I decided to return to college. The administrators, faculty and staff members made it a seamless process. They helped me with the appropriate paperwork and set up appointments with veteran, career and academic advisors,” explained the 33-year-old mother of two, who earned an associate degree in exercise science in 2023.

“Choosing to go back to college and continue my education at an older age came with quite a few struggles, considering it had been over 10 years since I was a Pensacola State student.”

Wilson added she excelled academically because of the endless support. A mostly “A” student, she is a member of the Robinson Honors Program and is pursuing a baccalaureate degree in business management with a concentration in project management.

“I can truly say this would not have been possible without PCS’s outstanding military support system,” she said.

Administrators of the College’s veteran support services expressed pride in the gold designation.

“The 2025 Gold Military Friendly® designation shows PSC’s devotion to better outcomes for its veterans and military-affiliated students,” said Rob Gregg, director of TRIO-Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) and U.S. Navy veteran.

“Being named a Military Friendly® School 15 times – including three gold designations – demonstrates how serious PSC staff and faculty take in its obligation to ensuring the academic success of its active duty and veteran-student populations.”

VUB provides veterans with diverse services – free of charge. The program is open to veterans who are first-generation-in-college students and considered low-income according to federal guidelines.

Kevin Kropp, coordinator of the Veteran Student Success Center (VSSC), added receiving the gold designation for three consecutive years is a clear sign that PSC’s current programs have codified a consistent high-performing level of support for the area’s military community.

“We are committed to adapting and evolving our programs to meet the growing and ever-changing needs of our current and future students,” said Kropp, a Navy veteran.

The VSSC ensures student-veterans are informed of all available resources and provides guidance and support for a successful college transition. The VSSC also partners with the PSC Student Veterans Association Chapter for workshops, fundraising, career fairs and other events.

TRIO-Veterans Student Support Services Director Bill Tice joined other Pensacola State administrators in congratulating the College on the recognition.

“I love working with veterans. They are the backbone of our community,” said Tice, a Navy veteran. “The Military Friendly® gold designation proves that Pensacola State is meeting the needs of these invaluable community members and has been for the past 15 years.”

Serving first-generation-in-college students, the VSSS offers academic advising, career counseling, financial aid counseling, disability counseling, and other services to low-income military veterans.

Pensacola State also participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, where the College, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, provides matching funds to cover all or a portion of the outstanding charges not covered under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

During the 2023-2024 academic year, 10 military students are enrolled in classes at Pensacola State under the Yellow Ribbon Program.

The Pensacola State College Charter Academy, which opened in August 2022, also serves military dependents. In Spring 2022-2023, six 10^th–  through 12^th-grade military dependents were enrolled in the Charter Academy. This Spring (2024), 11 military dependents are enrolled in the Charter Academy.

“Military Friendly® is committed to transparency and providing consistent data-driven standards in our designation process. Our standards provide a benchmark that promotes positive outcomes and support services that better the educational landscape and provide opportunity for the Military Community,” said Kayla Lopez, national director of Military Partnerships, Military Friendly®, in a prepared statement.

“This creates a competitive atmosphere that encourages Institutions to consistently evolve and invest in their programs. Schools that achieve awards designation show true commitment in their efforts, going over and above that standard.”

The 2024-2025 Military Friendly® listing will be published in G.I. Jobs magazine’s May and October editions. It also can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com.

For more information, contact Sheila Nichols, executive director of marketing and information, at 850-484-1428 or snichols@pensacolastate.edu.

At a glance

TRIO Veterans Upward Bound

Rob Gregg, TRIO-Veterans Upward Bound director: 850-484-1438 or rgregg@pensacolastate.edu

Veteran Student Success Center

Kevin Kropp, Veteran Student Success Center coordinator: 850-484-2005 or kkropp@pensacolastate.edu

TRIO Veterans Student Support Services

Bill Tice, TRIO-Veterans Student Support Services director: 850-484-2047 or at btice@pensacolastate.edu

With logo: 2024-2025 Military Friendly® gold logo