For the sixth consecutive year, Saint Leo University has been selected by Military Advance Education (MAE) magazine for inclusion in its 2013 Guide to Military-Friendly Colleges & Universities.

From community colleges to state universities, online universities and nationally known centers of higher learning, MAE's 2013 Guide to Military-Friendly Colleges & Universities provides potential students with information about institutions that go out of their way to implement military-friendly policies in support of men and women in uniform.

"The guide has become an invaluable tool for both education services officers and transition officers when advising servicemembers and their families about degree and certification opportunities currently available from institutions of higher learning," said Laural Hobbes, MAE's editor.

Saint Leo University has been included in the guide every year since its inception.

University celebrates 40-year partnership with the military.

"For veterans, active military servicemembers, and their families deciding which university to choose, the most important factors are educational benefits, accessibility, cost, and supportive faculty and staff." Said Jose Coll, Saint Leo University's director of Veteran Services.

According to Coll, at Saint Leo, every department contributes to the university's mission of serving veterans and military students. "It takes the entire university to do what we do so well, which is one reason why Saint Leo continues to be recognized as an institution that is military supportive."

Known as one of America's largest and most committed providers of higher education to the armed forces, Saint Leo is celebrating 40 years of partnering with the military. Today, Saint Leo serves students on military bases in seven states, and worldwide through the Center for Online Learning and distance learning opportunities. Thousands of students from all branches of military service, veterans and families have earned degrees from Saint Leo.

Saint Leo was also named to the coveted Military Friendly Schools list for 2013. Compiled by Victory Media, publisher of G.I. Jobs Magazine, the list honors the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace America's military servicemembers, veterans, and spouses as students and ensure their success on campus.

MAE Guide evaluates four areas.

The 2013 MAE Guide presents results of a questionnaire of the military-friendly policies enacted at more than 300 institutions including private, public, for-profit, not-for-profit, four-year, and two-year colleges. Institutions were evaluated in four areas:

  • Support: including on-campus child care, on-campus veterans center, faculty trained in veteran reintegration issues, full-time counselors trained in veteran-specific mental health concerns

  • Financial: including in-state tuition for active duty servicemembers, Yellow Ribbon program, veteran work-study program, military student-specific scholarships, tuition discounts/scholarships for dependents

  • Military Culture: including on-campus ROTC, MyCAA approved, membership in Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges

  • Flexibility: including online learning options, extent of transfer credits accepted by degree level, presence on military installations

Published by the KMI Media Group, Inc., Military Advanced Education serves education services officers) and transition officers at every U.S. military installation, along with the servicemembers they counsel.

Image Credit: Saint Leo University Communications