U.S. News & World Report has launched its first rankings of the "Best Colleges for Veterans," and Saint Leo placed 11 in the South region among the 234 schools included in the new list.

To qualify for the new rankings, schools first had to be ranked in the 2014 edition of the U.S. News Best Colleges. U.S. News & World Report ranked Saint Leo 55 among the top universities in the southern regional category in the 2014 Best Colleges edition.

In addition, schools included on the new ranking had to participate in federal initiatives that help veterans and active servicemembers apply, pay for, and complete their degrees. Saint Leo University:

  • Is certified for the GI Bill®
  • Participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program
  • Belongs to the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) Consortium, which facilitates the ability of mobile servicemembers and their families to complete degrees.

U.S. News then ranked these qualifying schools numerically and in descending order based on the 2014 Best Colleges ranks. Schools reported on their veteran benefits as part of the broader survey and data collection of undergraduate schools by U.S. News during spring 2013.

Other rankings from earlier this year also place Saint Leo among the top military-friendly colleges and universities nationwide:

  • Victory Media, included Saint Leo on its 2014 Military Friendly Schools list honoring the top 20 percent of schools with world-class programs and policies to support those who have served.
  • Saint Leo placed 19 among the 153 undergraduate programs included in U.S. News & World Report's inaugural "Best Online Programs for Veterans" ranking.
  • Saint Leo was selected by Military Advance Education for inclusion in its 2013 Guide to Military-Friendly Colleges and Universities for the sixth consecutive year.

Saint Leo has worked to provide educational services to the military dating back to 1973 and recently celebrated its 40-year anniversary of this partnership. During the past academic year, student-veterans and active-duty military and reservists comprised nearly 39 percent of the university's student body.

On Sept. 11th, Saint Leo University President Dr. Arthur F. Kirk, Jr. testified before a congressional hearing on military and veteran education, sharing some of the university's best practices for helping veterans and active-duty military in achieving success in college.

He spoke in support of the national imperative to assist active military servicemembers and veterans in their efforts to obtain post-secondary educations and to support vets with the transition from active duty to civilian life and higher education.

Are you a veteran? How has Saint Leo supported your efforts to earn a degree?

Image Credit: Department of Defense

*GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at www.benefits.va.gov/​gibill.

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Saint Leo Course Focuses On Military To Civilian Transition

Veterans In Higher Education

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Saint Leo Earns U.S. News & World Report Honors for Best Online Bachelor's Programs