ASU was named among the top institutions in the country for servicemembers and veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan by a military magazine that focuses on veterans’ transitions back to private life.

G.I. Jobs magazine published a guide on its Web site on Aug. 17, listing ASU as a “Military Friendly School” after the University finished in the top 15 percent of more than 7,000 institutions surveyed.

The list is not ranked, but a total of 864 schools were honored, and the University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University did not appear on the list.

The magazine based its list on the quality of a school’s programs and policies for servicemembers, focusing specifically on financial offerings, individual recruitment results and related honors, such as the institution’s academic accreditations.

The list is a resource for today’s military servicemembers looking to begin or complete their college educations, G.I. Jobs publisher Rich McCormack said in a statement.

“Veterans need a trusted friend to help them decide where to get educated,” McCormack said.

The main requirement for “military friendly” schools is the existence and success of programs that help enlisted and veteran students beyond just providing financial assistance, according to the magazine’s Web site.

One of the ways ASU met the requirement was through its Servicemembers Opportunity College (SOC) association membership, which helps provide military families across the country find college opportunities.

At ASU, some degree-completion and online programs are targeted toward veterans.

Other ASU services include the Veterans Upward Bound program, which provides special academic advising for first-generation or low-income veterans. Work-study placement at select Veterans Affairs facilities and approved state offices is also available.

ASU’s inclusion on the list is also a result of its financial offerings to veteran students through the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill.

The bill provides financial assistance for education to veterans that, during or following Sept. 11, served for at least 90 days or were discharged after 30 days for a service-linked disability.

On Aug. 1, the G.I. Bill began covering the full cost of tuition and fees at a public institution, a monthly allowance for housing within the same zip code as the institution, a yearly $1,000 stipend for books and related expenses, and a one-time $500 stipend to students who relocate from rural areas.

ASU also offers the Yellow Ribbon program to assist a limited number of students — 500, according to ASU’s Veterans Services office — whose costs, due to non-resident or graduate student status, are not covered by the G.I. Bill.

Jeff Steiner, an environmental engineering sophomore, said ASU’s “military friendly” opportunities contributed to his decision to enter into the Air Force ROTC program.

“Financial help doesn’t hurt, but I’m doing this for the educational benefits and for my future,” he said.
As part of the program, Steiner will serve immediately in the Air Force following his graduation from ASU in May 2012.

Steiner also plans to utilize G.I. Bill opportunities, he said.

“After my service, I’d like to go back to school for my master’s degree. The G.I. Bill helps me do that,” he said. “For me, the military is a crucial step in getting my life and future on track. ASU helps provide me with that opportunity.”

Maj. Brian Witcher, an enrollment and scholarship officer for ASU’s department of military science, said though other schools offer similar programs, ASU stands out because of its all-around accomplishments.
“ASU’s additional honors, like its ranking as a top ‘Green School’ also help set us apart,” Witcher said.
“Servicemembers return home to Arizona, and say, ‘Wow. [ASU] is a great place to go to school.’”

Reach the reporter at jessica.testa@asu.edu.