KINGSTON, R.I. – March 9, 2022 – The University of Rhode Island has been named a Military Friendly® Gold School for 2022-2023 for its support of its military student population. Schools recognized as military friendly were evaluated using public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. The survey is the longest-running, most comprehensive review of college and university investments in serving military and veteran students.

The University enrolls close to 300 military veterans or active military, with approximately 140 military dependents. More than 1,800 schools participated in the 2022-2023 survey with just over 660 earning the Military Friendly® designation. URI was one of 25 tier two research institutions to receive a designation of gold or higher.

“This is really a wonderful affirmation of the work that we have been doing at URI to ensure our veteran and military-connected students feel welcome and supported,” says Rachael Garcia, assistant director of URI’s Center for Military and Veteran Education.

Under Garcia, the center serves as a resource for new and prospective students in understanding VA and military benefits, GI bill certification, financial aid and scholarships and much more. Importantly, the office provides a way to connect URI’s veteran and military community to one another and to the programs and support – both on campus and off – that will help them succeed.

In addition to having an active Student Veterans Organization that works closely with Garcia and her team to support veterans, current military, and their families, the University also employs a VetCorps Navigator through RI VetCorps. A program of the Rhode Island Office of Veterans Services in partnership with AmeriCorps, RI VetCorps is a veteran peer-to-peer program that helps veterans, service members, and their families navigate higher education as students adjust from military life to college life and beyond.

The Military Friendly® Schools list is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources for more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans, and survey responses. Schools were measured by their ability to meet thresholds for student retention, graduation, job placement, loan repayment, persistence, and loan default rates for all students and specifically for student veterans. Survey questions, methodology, criteria and weighting were developed with the assistance of an independent research firm and an advisory council of educators and employers.

For more information about the University of Rhode Island’s programs for student veterans, current military and military-connected students, visit uri.edu/veterans.