The Top 25 Military Friendly Colleges for 2010

For the first time ever, Veterans Benefits GI Bill has compiled a list of the Top 25 Military-Friendly Colleges and Universities. By providing the community with this list, we hope to inform active duty, reserve, veterans, and other military service members and their dependents about the best colleges and universities for 2010.

Alternatively, if you’re just looking for information on military specific tuition assistance programs, scholarships and grants, then you’ll want to sign up for our Free Military Education Handbook. And if you’re ready to enroll at a top military friendly university now, then sign up for more information from some of our favorites: Saint Leo University, Hawaii Pacific University, and Colorado State University.

To return to the subject of this post, the Veterans Benefits GI Bill team got together and chose our Top 25 Military-Friendly Colleges based on a number of ranking factors, including each of the following conditions:

• Financial aid programs available for service members, such as participation in the Post 9/11 GI Bill’s Yellow Ribbon Program
• The percentage of overall student recruitment budget allocated toward military outreach
• Proximity to a military base, or availability of military friendly distance learning programs
• The school’s academic accreditations
• Availability of military specific scholarships and tuition assistance programs (like discounts or grants for military students)
• Participation in the MyCAA program

And the winners of our 2010 Top 25 Military-Friendly Colleges are:

1. Columbia College: A leader in military school education and a U.S. News America’s Best Colleges of 2010 university, Columbia College is an excellent choice for campus and online students alike. Not only is Columbia College tailoring programs for military family and service members across the nation, they are part of a green initiative program for the environment.
2. Excelsior College: Get maximum credits for your military training at Excelsior College. Excelsior College awards over 50,000 credits to military students every year through DANTES and CLEPS exams.
3. Bellevue University: Bellevue University welcomes both online and campus-based students and offers affordable, quality education from professors with “real world” experience.
4. TUI University: TUI welcomes active duty U.S. Armed Forces personnel. Advance your career and build your future at this accredited, prestigious university.
5. Saint Leo University: Saint Leo University is a military-friendly Catholic school in Florida. Campus-based programs have served students for over a century, and the Center for Online Learning is state-of-art. Experience quality, accredited education at this prestigious, military-friendly university.
6. Duquesne University: At Duquesne University, “students learn with mind, heart and spirit.” This Catholic-Spiritan school offers military-friendly education with a strong moral foundation. They are a a U.S. News America’s Best Colleges of 2010 university.
7. Southern Illinois University Carbondale: The Veterans Educational Services at Southern Illinois University Carbondale provides assistance for veterans and their families for the GI Bill, National Guard Grant, Illinous Veterans Grant, and more. The military-friendly educational programs are an ideal choice for the veteran student.
8. Jones International University: At Jones International, military family and service members may choose from accredited doctorate, graduate, and undergraduate academic programs that are delivered 100% online.
9. Kansas State University: Kansas State is home to over 250 undergraduate major options for the military family or service member.
10. Hawaii Pacific University: Hawaii Pacific University has military-friendly, accredited degree programs and scholarships available for military service and family members. Learn at the cusp of the United States with students from several countries, either at a campus or online.
11. Coastline Community College: Coastline Community College is part of the CCCD, including Coastline, Golden West, and Orange Coast Community Colleges. Affordable, accredited, quality programs are tailored for the Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and more.
12. American Sentinel University: American Sentinel University offers military-friendly programs 100% online, with military experience to credit options and affordable and flexible learning.
13. Western Governors University: Military-friendly programs at WGU are offered 100% online and may be accelerated with previous military experience. Study from accredited graduate and undergraduate programs.
14. The University of Oklahoma: The University of Oklahoma attracts students from across the nation and over 100 different countries. Their military-friendly programs are just the start of a wide array of accredited learning opportunities.
15. Strayer University: Strayer University is proud to work with military service and family members on their educational goals. Get credits for military experience and help with the GI Bill programs.
16. Grantham University: The 100% online military-friendly programs at Grantham University allow students to start with credits based upon previous military and professional experience.
17. Thomas Edison State College: At Thomas Edison State, military family and service members may prepare for a civilian career, advance rank, or earn a degree while serving the country. Get help utilizing your GI Bill at TESC.
18. Columbia Southern University: More than half the student body at Columbia Southern University are part of the military. Military discounts, CLEP, GI Bill assistance, and more are offered at this accredited, military-friendly college.
19. American Intercontinental University Online: American Intercontinental University Online has 100% online degree programs tailored for military family and service members across the nation. AIU offers military credits and career-oriented degrees.
20. Capella University: Capella University has earned the Military Advanced Education Gold Standard as a Yellow Ribbon Program supporting, military-friendly college.
21. Central Texas College: Central Texas College supports spouses of military service members with MyCAA. The military-friendly degree programs can be tried out with the free online career planning tool.
22. Colorado Technical University: At Colorado Tech, military family and service members can turn their career-oriented educational goals into a reality. Experience an exciting, accredited, and military-friendly university at CTU.
23. Webster University: Webster is a military-friendly college with both national and international campuses for military students looking for a worldly background.
24. San Diego City College: SDCC’s military outreach program brings education to the military base. Another excellent, military-friendly college.
25. Colorado State University Pueblo: At CSU-Pueblo, students may find assistance for their MGIB or Post 9/11 GI Bill and attend military-friendly classes in a rich and rewarding state.

Take some time to look at the colleges provided on this list and learn more about their educational programs. The best college choice is different for every student and your ideal college may not be part of this list, but we hope this guide will at least help point military family and service members in the right direction.