SMSU Earns 2025-2026 Military Friendly® School GOLD Designation

Published Wednesday, July 09, 2025

2025-2026 Military Friendly® Gold School

Southwest Minnesota State University announced that it has earned the 2025-2026 Military Friendly® School GOLD and 2025-2026 Military Spouse Friendly^® School designations in the Small Public university category.

Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,800 schools participated in the 2025-2026 survey, with 830 earning special awards for going service above the standard. Southwest Minnesota State University has consistently received the Military Friendly® School designation, demonstrating the university’s commitment to serving and supporting veterans and their spouses.

To be named a Military Friendly® GOLD School, the institution must meet at least five of the following benchmarks:

– Graduation rate is 50% or higher

– Graduation rate for all veteran students is greater than non-military students

– The 1-year retention rate is 50% or higher

– The 2-year retention rate is 50% or higher

– Retention rate for all veteran students is greater than non-military students

– Loan default rate is 20% or lower

– Job placement rate is 50% or higher

– Job placement rate for all veterans is greater than non-military students

– Transfer rate is 20% or lower

“At Southwest Minnesota State University, we remain committed to providing the resources needed to help veterans transition into civilian life by supporting their academic and professional success,” said Dr. David Jones, Interim President of SMSU. “This recognition reflects our dedication to our military-connected community and the continuous growth we strive for. It is an honor for SMSU to support veterans and their spouses who have served our nation so selflessly.”

The 2025-2026 Military Friendly® Schools list is published in the 2025 issues of G.I. Jobs magazine and found at www.militaryfriendly.com. Methodology, criteria, and weightings were determined by Viqtory with input from the Military Friendly® Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community.

Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the institution’s ability to meet thresholds for Student Retention, Graduation, Job Placement, Loan Repayment, Persistence (Degree Advancement or Transfer), and Loan Default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans, as outlined above in the benchmarks listed above.

For more information about SMSU’s Veterans Resources programs, visit www.smsu.edu/go/veterans.