For the second consecutive year, Military Times magazine has named the University of South Florida the second best four-year institution for student veterans in the U.S.
The magazine recently released its 2019 ranking of four-year public and private institutions. USF was one of four Florida schools in the Top 50, along with Florida State University (20th), University of West Florida (48th), and Jacksonville University (50th). Georgia Southern University topped Military Times’ 2019 list.
To create the rankings, Military Times invited higher education institutions throughout the U.S. to fill out a 150-question survey that sought to gauge their operations involving current and former service members and their families. Among other factors, institutions were evaluated in five categories: university culture, academic outcomes/quality, student support, academic policies, and cost and financial aid.
USF has become a fixture on Military Times’ annual ranking. On top of finishing in the number two spot for the second straight year, USF topped the magazine’s 2017 list and has landed in the Top 5 each year since 2013.
With a Fall 2017 enrollment of 1,846 military or veteran students, USF has streamlined its admissions assistance process for veterans and military applicants in the past year. The university’s Veteran Achievement Center is in the process of being converted into a tutoring and learning center, while USF’s Office of Veteran Success has been developing a partnership with the Veterans Alternative to provide an Accelerated Wellness Program for USF student veterans.
“It is an honor to be recognized again by Military Times,” said Larry Braue, director of the Office of Veteran Success at USF, in a statement. “At USF, student success is the priority and focus for all students. Our services and programs for veteran and military students are both innovative and comprehensive, as they support these students through their transition out of the military into academia and then into careers.”