Auburn University earns 2021-2022 Military Friendly® School designation

Auburn University has once again been recognized nationally for its support of military students, earning the 2021-2022 Military Friendly^® School designation.

Institutions earning the Military Friendly^® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. Over 1,200 schools participated in the 2021-2022 survey, with 747 earning the designation. The 2021-2022 Military Friendly^® Schools list will be published in the May issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com. 

Methodology, criteria and weightings were determined by Viqtory—a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business—with input from the Military Friendly^® Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community. Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey response set and government/agency public data sources, within a logic-based scoring assessment. An institution was measured based on its ability to meet thresholds for student retention, graduation, job placement, loan repayment, persistence (degree advancement or transfer) and loan default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.

Paul “Puck” Esposito, director of the Auburn University Veterans Resource Center and a retired U.S. Navy captain, said it’s great to have Auburn listed as a Military Friendly^® School but his office works hard daily to go even further, providing service above and beyond the standards of such rankings and offering a “holistic approach” for the military clients they serve.

“There’s so much more to it that doesn’t go into that rating that we offer,” he said, adding that everyone on his office’s staff has past military experience or is the spouse of a veteran.

Kayla Lopez, national director of Military Partnerships associated with the Military Friendly^® designation, said the listing “creates a competitive atmosphere that encourages colleges to consistently evolve and invest in their programs. Schools who achieve designation show true commitment and dedication in their efforts. Our standards assist schools by providing a benchmark that promotes positive educational outcomes, resources and support services that better the educational landscape and provide opportunity for the military community.” 

To read more about Auburn’s commitment to veterans, visit the university’s Veterans Resource Center website.