Many Military-Friendly Schools Here

G.I. Jobs announced the launch of its new Web site. The site, loaded with interactive tools and search functionality, helps military veterans find the schools that best meet their educational needs.

The 1,000 schools on the new Web site are those selected to G.I. Jobs “Military Friendly Schools” list in August. They represent the top 15 percent most “military friendly” of the nation’s 7,000 schools.

Here are Washington State’s (and Pierce County’s) rated Military Friendly (Higher-Ed) Schools:
Argosy University Seattle
Bellevue College
Cascadia Community College
Central Washington University
City University of Seattle
Clover Park Technical College
Eastern Washington University
Edmonds Community College
Green River Community College
Heritage University
Lake Washington Technical College
North Seattle Community College
Northwest Aviation College
Olympic College
Pacific Lutheran University
Pierce College at Fort Steilacoom
Pierce College Military Program
Saint Martin's University
Skagit Valley College
South Puget Sound Community College
Spokane Falls Community College
Tacoma Community College
The Art Institute of Seattle
Washington State University
Washington State University, Graduate School
Whatcom Community College

The Military Friendly Schools list is determined through research by the G.I. Jobs Military Friendly Schools team. This research includes government agencies and private entities which administer education benefits and a comprehensive survey administered by G.I. Jobs. A Military Friendly Schools Academic Advisory Panel, consisting of five higher education administrators, helps determine survey questions and weightings.

Research findings are compiled and weighted according to the following categories to determine a final score:

• 45% for Effort 1, defined as certifications, programs and policies, which measures a school’s non-financial efforts to recruit and retain military and veteran students. This category includes things like VA-approval to accept the GI Bill, SOC membership, academic credit for CLEP and ACE, flexible learning programs and much more.

• 35% for Effort 2, defined as financial commitment, which measures a school’s financial efforts to recruit and retain military and veteran students. This category includes things like Yellow Ribbon program membership, tuition benefits and % of overall recruitment budget allocated to recruiting military students.

• 15% for a school’s results, or success, in recruiting military and veteran students. This category includes the number and % of military and veteran students enrolled.

• 5% allocated to other categories including a school’s academic accreditations.

As always with ratings or rankings, the reader should be aware that his/her priorities are not necessarily the same as those of the sponsor.

G.I. Jobs annually rates the nation’s “Military Friendly Employers,” “Military Friendly Franchises” and “Military Spouse Friendly Employers.”