UK receives Military Friendly designation for 3rd consecutive year
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 27, 2024) — The University of Kentucky has been recognized as a Military Friendly School and Military Spouse Friendly School for the third consecutive year by Military Friendly. For more than 20 years, the Military Friendly Schools list has set the standard for higher education institutions to provide the best educational opportunities for veterans, their spouses and the military community.
Institutions earning the Military Friendly School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,800 schools participated in the 2024-25 survey with 537 earning special awards for going above the standard. Methodology, criteria and weightings are determined by Viqtory with input from the Military Friendly Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community. Final ratings are 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 and loan default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.
“At the University of Kentucky, we are deeply honored to receive the Military Friendly and Military Spouse Friendly designation for the third year running,” said Gregory Judd, director of the Veterans Resource Center (VRC). “This recognition is a testament to our commitment to veterans and their families, and to the ongoing efforts of our dedicated staff who work tirelessly to ensure that our veterans have the resources they need to succeed.”
Central to the university’s support for veterans is the VRC. The VRC, housed in the Office for Student Success, serves as a hub for veterans on campus, offering a wide range of services designed to facilitate a smooth transition from military to academic life. These services include academic advising, career counseling, mental health support and assistance with accessing educational benefits.
“Our Veterans Resource Center plays a crucial role in the success of our student veterans,” Judd said. “We are committed to providing personalized support and creating an environment where our veterans can thrive academically, personally and professionally.”
In addition to the services provided by the VRC, UK offers a variety of programs tailored to the needs of military students, including specialized scholarships, mentoring opportunities and networking events.
This continued recognition reflects the university’s commitment to supporting veterans and their families as they pursue higher education. This ranking is another in a long list of accolades that distinguishes UK as an institution committed to sustained success for its students.
The Republic Bank VRC is located on the ground floor of Erickson Hall. For additional information about the VRC and its programs for military students, please visit www.uky.edu/veterans or contact the VRC at 859-218-2218.
At the University of Kentucky, students are at the center of all that we do. From the moment you become a Wildcat through graduation and beyond, the Office for Student Success is committed to supporting you. Comprised of five areas and 25 units, together, they have one vision — to help students live a life of meaning. Student Success works through an equitable, holistic and inclusive lens to design and deliver unparalleled services and support a diverse community of learners in achieving their wildest ambitions. In the Office for Student Success this is what we do — this is who we are. You can explore resources available to you here. If you have additional questions, you can reach a Student Success team member by calling the helpline 859-218-YouK (9685).