PirateQ 
Mary Mabins, Pensacola State College
Pensacola State College has been named a 2021 Military Friendly® School by Viqtory Media.
This is the 12th consecutive year that the College has received the designation awarded to U.S. colleges, universities and trade schools that dedicate resources to military students to ensure success in the classroom and after graduation.
The College ─ one of 747 schools to be recognized ─ received the Bronze designation for the 2021-2022 academic year.
Institutions earning the Military Friendly® designation were evaluated using public data sources along with responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,200 schools participated in the 2021-2022 survey.
Pensacola State has more than 2,000 veterans, active duty personnel and their dependents enrolled in classes.
Pensacola State President Ed Meadows said the College strives to provide outstanding support to military service members and their families as demonstrated by Viqtory Media’s 12 consecutive years of recognition.
“Members of the armed forces and their dependents play a vital role in our College community as well as that of Northwest Florida,” he said.
Military Friendly® ratings are based on six categories: Academic Policies and Compliance, Admissions and Orientation, Culture and Commitment, Financial Aid and Assistance, Graduation and Career, and Military Student Support and Retention.
“Military Friendly® is committed to transparency and providing consistent data driven standards in our designation process. This creates a competitive atmosphere that encourages colleges to consistently evolve and invest in their programs,” explained said Kayla Lopez, national director of Military Partnerships, Military Friendly® in a prepared statement.
“Schools who achieve designation show true commitment and dedication in their efforts. Our standards assist schools by providing a benchmark that promotes positive educational outcomes, resources, and support services that better the educational landscape and provide opportunity for the Military Community.”
Also, the Military Friendly® Schools listing is based on extensive research using public data from more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student-veterans, and responses to a data-driven survey. Final rankings were determined by combining survey scores with the assessment of an institution’s ability to meet thresholds for Student Retention, Graduation, Job Placement, Loan Repayment and Persistence (degree advancement or transfer rates) for all students and specifically student-veterans.
The 2021-2022 listing will be published in G.I. Jobs magazine’s May edition. It also can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com.
This is the second accolade Pensacola State veterans’ programs have received this year. U.S. News and World Report also ranked the College 37th in the 2021 Best Online Bachelor’s Program for Veterans category.
Pensacola State’s participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program was key to the U.S. News ranking. Under the program, the College, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, provides matching funds to cover all or a portion of the outstanding amount of established charges not covered under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
For more information about veterans’ programs at Pensacola State, contact Veteran Services at 850-484-1670 or veterans@pensacolastate.edu, TRIO Veterans Upward Bound at 850-484-1438 or TRIO Veterans Student Support Services at 850-484-2047.