OSU named a top 100 college for veterans

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Oklahoma State University has once again been named one of the top 100 colleges for veterans by the Military Times news agency.

In only its second year competing in the annual survey, OSU moved up to No. 57 from 85 last year.

The survey, released in October, took answers and federal data from hundreds of participating colleges and ranked the top schools based on university culture, academic outcomes/quality, student support and academic policies, along with cost and financial aid.

“OSUs inclusion on the Military Times Best for Vets list of colleges provides the university with a great deal of positive exposure,” said Rick Hansen, a retired Marine Corps captain and coordinator of OSU’s Veteran Student Academic Services, which was established in the summer of 2015.

OSU serves roughly 400 student veterans and 15 active-duty military personnel along with 93 reservists and National Guard personnel who are using Veteran Affairs educational benefits. The university serves hundreds of military dependents and has 178 faculty and staff who are veterans, according to Hansen.

OSU’s veteran services office helps veteran and military-affiliated students transition into and out of college through coordination on campus, in the community and with state and federal organizations. It offers reintegration counseling, help in filing benefit claims, emergency funding, monthly luncheons, Veterans Day week activities, a Women Veterans Symposium each spring, focused efforts during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and is a co-sponsor of the Warrior Walk Against Veteran Suicide each September.

Military Times — now in its ninth year compiling the best colleges for veterans — is an independent news agency covering issues of importance to service members and their families.

“While meeting the needs of our student veterans and other military-affiliated students we should continue to progress higher on the Military Times Best for Vets college list,” Hansen said.

To see the rankings, visit okla.st/top4vets.