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VWU Awarded 2026-2027 Military Friendly Schools® Designation
The University takes pride in supporting the educational needs of veterans and those in active duty service
University News | March 26, 2026
Virginia Wesleyan University has earned the 2026-2027 Military Friendly® Schools Designation recognized as a Gold Status School. Institutions like VWU, earning the Military Friendly Schools® designations, were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. Over 3,200 companies participated in the Military Friendly® survey. Methodology, criteria, and weightings were determined by Military Friendly®, in consultation with the Military Friendly® Advisory Council, a group of independent leaders in the military community.
Final ratings were determined by combining an organization’s survey score, public data, and an assessment of the institution’s ability to meet and exceed thresholds for student recruitment, retention, academic progress, graduation rates, career placement, and support services for veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses.
“Virginia Wesleyan University is proud to serve our military! We want to make it simple and advantageous for veterans and active duty personnel to earn their degrees with us,” said Jennifer Sands, assistant director of financial aid and VA certifying official. “We welcome the opportunity to assist our military personnel in finding the best support and pathways for continuing their education.”
“Earning the Military Friendly® designation is more than a badge of honor; it is a reflection of an institution’s deep-rooted values and strategic commitment to those who served,” noted Kayla Lopez, vice president of memberships, Military Friendly®. “These schools don’t just open doors for veterans and military spouses, they build sustainable pathways for academic success and long-term impact. Their support is transformative, proving that investing in military-connected students is both a moral imperative and a standard for educational excellence.”
Virginia Wesleyan will be showcased in the 2026-2027 Guide to Military Friendly Schools® in the April issue of G.I. Jobs ® magazine and on MilitaryFriendly.com. Military Friendly® is the standard that measures an organization’s commitment, effort, and success in creating sustainable and meaningful benefits for the military community. Over 3,200 organizations compete annually for the Military Friendly Schools® designation. Military Friendly® is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business. Military Friendly® is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or the federal government. Results are produced via a rules-based algorithm. The data-driven Military Friendly® lists and methodology can be found at https://www.militaryfriendly.com
View the full list of Military Friendly®Schools.
Learn more about Veterans Support Services at VWU.