Military Friendly Schools Survey Taker Guide

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Timeline

The expanded timeline that includes designation release dates and future survey openings

Methodology

Breakdown how we create our rigorous Military Friendly® Schools List

Understand Your Designation

Understanding where you need to improve is important. We are here to help. Historical information.

Awards & Categories

Understand the Top 10, Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards, the Categorical breakdowns, and more.

Resources

Logos, PDF of the survey, Plaques, Profile Needs, Press Releases, and more.

Survey Support

Survey questions, help, assistance, logos, press releases, and more.

Survey Help

New to the survey process or in need more information about data, metrics, or specific questions in the survey?

Logos and Press Information

Logos and Press Releases for the current survey cycle.

Survey Rescores or Rolling Submissions

Survey questions, help, assistance, logos, press releases, and more.



Current Cycle: 2024-2025 Military Friendly Schools
Initial Deadline for Top 10: December 16th 2023

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Timeline

The expanded timeline that includes designation release dates and future survey openings ​

Click below for more details

Cycles and timelines

Click here to view the cycle dates and submission timelines. Reference MFS for the school’s cycle. 

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Publishing Dates

Click here to view the publish timelines for GIJOBS and the online list. Reference MFS for the school’s cycle. 

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Embargo Dates

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Methodology

Breakdown how we create our rigorous Military Friendly® Schools List
The list of Military Friendly® Schools and Military Friendly® Schools ratings are assessed through the evaluation of both public data about the institution and proprietary data gathered through our free Military Friendly® Schools survey. The annual, data-driven Military Friendly® Schools survey assessment is offered at no cost to more than 8,800 institutions nationwide. Each year, schools taking the survey are held to a higher standard than in previous years via improved methodology, criteria and weightings developed with the assistance of an independent research firm and our Advisory Council. Survey responses are weighted according to the categories below. Final survey results and ratings are determined by combining an institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the institution’s ability to meet minimum thresholds for Student Retention, Graduation, Job Placement, Loan Repayment and Loan Default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans. EY, a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services, independently evaluated the scoring methodology used for the  Military Friendly® Schools list using the criteria set forth by VIQTORY. The services performed by EY  were limited to advisory procedures and do not provide assurance over the scoring methodology.

Survey Categories & Weightings

Military Friendly® Schools designation requires the following:

  • Accreditation and federal programs must be in good standing 
  • Must meet or exceed minimum standards in the Metrical Benchmarks 
  • Clear of any federal flags or have not been cited in any state or federal law enforcement actions 
  • No more than five veteran complaints or 5% of the student veteran population, whichever is lower, registered against the school in the VA’s GI Bill comparison tool. Schools exceeding the complaint threshold may request a survey for their Veteran students and receive 20% of the surveys back with a net-promoter score. These institutions are not eligible for an award.

One of the most important components of the Survey is meeting the metrical benchmarks. Many institutions fall short or do not even fill this sections out. An institution must meet 3/6 of the benchmarks below:
– Graduation rate for all students or veteran students alone is 50% or higher
– 1 year retention rate for all students or veteran students alone is 50% or higher
– 2 year retention rate for all students or veteran students alone is 50% or higher
– Loan default rate for all students or veteran students alone is 20% or lower
– Job placement rate for all students or veteran students alone is 50% or higher
– Transfer rate for all students or veteran students alone is 50% or higher

We use public data sources to check that the institution has three or more of the following federal programs in operation and good standing:

  • Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program (provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill)
  • Official commitment to the Eight Keys to Veterans’ Success
  • VA’s Principles of Excellence
  • Federal Financial Aid Shopping Sheet
  • Armed Forces Tuition Assistance (TA) Funding
  • DoD Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Tuition Assistance
  • Veteran Success on Campus (VSOC) Program

Finally, we use public data sources to check that the institution does not have any federal precautionary flags against it, such as those listed below.

  • The number of veteran student complaints reported by the VA is greater than or equal to 5% of total enrolled veterans at the school.
  • The institution is currently or was under one or more federal precautionary flags within the last 12 months.
  • The institution’s accreditation has not been suspended.
  • The institution’s federal programs have not been suspended.

Understand Your Designation

Understanding where you need to improve is important. We are here to help.

We are here to help.

Every institution dedicates itself to the military and veteran community when they participate in the Military Friendly® Schools Survey. Understanding where you need to improve is important. We are here to help. Click on your designation below to find out more.

Click below to access designation and award information for your school.

For This Years Designations or Awards CLICK HERE
For Past Years Designations or Awards CLICK HERE
Click for Award Category definitions

Click on Your Current Status

There is a multitude of reason why your designation my have dropped or you are ranked lower this year than last. This section will go over some of the reasons why your status may be lower this year. 

  • More schools took the survey in your scoring category
    • This is the most common reason why institutions drop in rank or award level. The more scores in your category, the more possibility your score will be adjusted regardless of change in performance.
    • This adjustment is a result of how we rank institutions. To understand how institutions get ranks please go to our Awards & Categories section.
  • Your Metrical Benchmarks are lower this year than last:
    • Metrical Benchmarks play a pivotal role in your designation. To learn more about these benchmarks please see our Methodology Section.
  • Your Metrical Benchmarks and Data points did not improve this year compared to last;
    • In order to encourage institutions to continuously improve their military programs, our algorithm accounts for continued progression and advancement of your metrics. 

Find out how to expand and improve your military program and ensure you meet requirements of the survey.

Here are the most common reasons why institutions receive the not-friendly designation:

  • Incomplete
    • Countless institutions do not complete their survey. Make sure you submit the survey and if you want confirmation, send the Survey Team an email! Extensions will not be accepted under any circumstances. If you find yourself stuck on a section, just go to militaryfriendly.com/support and we will be happy to help.
  • Metrical benchmarks
    • One of the most important components of the Survey is meeting the metrical benchmarks. Many institutions fall short or do not even fill this sections out. An institution must meet 3/6 of the benchmarks below:
      – Graduation rate for all students or veteran students alone is 50% or higher
      – 1 year retention rate for all students or veteran students alone is 50% or higher
      – 2 year retention rate for all students or veteran students alone is 50% or higher
      – Loan default rate for all students or veteran students alone is 20% or lower
      – Job placement rate for all students or veteran students alone is 50% or higher
      – Transfer rate for all students or veteran students alone is 50% or higher
  • Federal Caution Flags
    • Federal Caution Flags are found via public databases. You can see if your institution is flagged on https://www.vets.gov/gi-bill-comparison-tool. If you do not believe that your institution should have these flags, contact the VA directly.
      – Heightened Cash Monitoring (F/S Late/Missing)
      – Heightened Cash Monitoring (Audit Late/Missing)
      – Heightened Cash Monitoring (Financial Responsibility)
      – Flight Program – Suspended for 85/15 violation
      – Heightened Cash Monitoring (Administrative Capability)
      You can also find if you are on the HCM list via the Dept. of Education here: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/about/data-center/school/hcm
  • Academic Accreditation on Probation
    • Institution will not be designated Military Friendly® if it has their accreditation on probation, regardless of reason.
    • Any present Caution flags or DOD Alerts present through the VA, DOD, DOE, or an additional recognized agency. 

Here is a list of the possible reasons your institution could end up on the Bad Actors List. If you have any questions about this, please reach out to the Survey Support Team.

  • Department of Education
    • Violations of Dept. of Education laws and regulations regarding Veterans, the GI Bill, or any other action (That may not involve Veterans) that the DoE considers negative.
  • Department of Veteran Affairs
    • Violations of Dept. of Veteran Affairs laws and regulations regarding Veterans, the GI Bill, or any other action that the VA considers negative.
  • Accreditation
    • Accreditation issues or loss of Accreditation on any level due to findings of the Dept. of Education.
  • Predatory Practices
    • For-Profit entity or any institution that takes advantage of students with predatory practices.
  • Federal Flag, Title IV Violations, Student Complaints
  • Falsification of statistics, metrics, or information 

Awards & Categories

Scoring Categories

  • Graduate School 
  • Large Community College 
  • Large Public
  • Non-Traditional
  • Online / Vocational
  • Private not offering Doctorate
  • Private Offering Doctorate
  • Small Community College
  • Small Public
  • Tier 1 Research
  • Tier 2 Research

Awards

Our Military Friendly® Awards provide a more competitive view of how an organization is performing compared with similar organizations.
An organization can be awarded:
Award Categories
Top Ten 
Gold – fell within the point bracket representing 27% and above in comparison to an arrogate of  Top Scores within the aggregate scores from leading institutions trailing 3 years.
Silver – fell within the point bracket representing 28%-40% and above in comparison to an arrogate of  Top Scores within the aggregate scores from leading institutions trailing 3 years.
Designated – Scores met and exceeded the minimal benchmarks for qualification. 

We group Military Friendly®-designated organizations into award categories based on revenue (for companies) or enrollment size and type (for colleges). An organization may earn one or several awards, or they may simply meet the standard and be designated Military Friendly® with no award.

Resources

Logos, PDF of the survey, Plaques, Profile Needs, Press Releases, and more. 

PDF

Get a PDF of the 2024-2025 Military Friendly® Schools Survey.

Click here

Order Plaques

Order your plaque and display your dedication to the Military / Veteran Community.

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Press Kit

Logo Guidelines and Usage

Click to download our logo guidelines for use and publishing

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Logos

Get your logo to share your designation with the nation and show everyone you earned the honor of being labeled a Military Friendly® School.​

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Press Release Standards and Boilerplate

Click to download the press Boilerplate and standard verbiage.

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© 2024 VIQTORY | Military Friendly® is owned and operated by VIQTORY, a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business. | VIQTORY, Military Friendly®, trademarks and logos are not affiliated with nor the property of the Department of Defense or any other federal agency. | The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.

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