MSU again named among Military Times ‘Best for Vets’ rankings

Contact: Allison Matthews

Officials broke ground in May for a new premier facility for Mississippi State’s G. V. “Sonny” Montgomery Center for America’s Veterans, set to open in 2016. MSU again is listed among the Military Times Best for Vets: College 2016 rankings. (Photo by Russ Houston)

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State University again is listed among the Military Times Best for Vets: College 2016 rankings.

Released this week, the Military Times Best for Vets distinction recognizes MSU at No. 44 for its commitment to educating and providing opportunities to America’s veterans.

The independent news project evaluates the many factors that help make colleges and universities a good fit for service members, military veterans and their families. More than 600 colleges took part in a detailed survey and comprehensive assessment of veteran and military student services and rates of academic achievement.

“We award the Best for Vets designation to the very best – the colleges that really are setting the example,” said Amanda Miller, editor of Military Times Best for Vets rankings and special editions.

About 450 veterans and service members are students at MSU, and the veteran community, which includes dependents, comprises more than 2,100 students on campus.

MSU has long been recognized as one of the nation’s most veteran-friendly universities. Earlier this year, the Military Order of the Purple Heart designated MSU as a “Purple Heart University” for outstanding service to military veterans, service members, dependents and survivors. Official presentation of this award takes place Saturday [Nov. 14] during a military-themed halftime show at the MSU vs. Alabama football game.

The Famous Maroon Band performance will honor each military branch. Other military appreciation elements include a flyover of T-30s from Columbus Air Force Base and recognition of the top-ranking commanding officers of CAFB; a video by soldiers from Kuwait; the national anthem led by a military trio; special recognition of Bradley Freeman, one of the only living World War II “Band of Brothers” soldiers; and special recognition of veterans as part of the Wounded Warriors Project.

A new premier facility for MSU’s G. V. “Sonny” Montgomery Center for America’s Veterans currently is under construction on campus and set to open in 2016. The building will include 7,500 square-feet and feature administrative offices, a meeting area and student-support spaces, including a computer lab, study rooms and a “day room.”

Military Times’ annual Best for Vets: Colleges survey asks colleges and universities to meticulously document an array of services, rules, accommodations and financial incentives offered to students with military ties, and to describe aspects of veteran culture on campus.

The evaluation also factors in data from the Veterans Affairs and Defense Departments, as well as three Education Department sources – the IPEDS Data Center, College Scorecard data and the Cohort Default Rate Database.

The rankings are published in full in the issues of Army Times, Navy Times, Air Force Times and Marine Corps Times on newsstands this week and online at MilitaryTimes.com and other online editions of the various military publications.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.

Friday, November 13, 2015 - 11:19 am