READING, Pa. — Military Times recently announced its "Best for Vets: Colleges 2019" rankings, and Penn State Berks ranked as one of the five best colleges for service members, military veterans and their families in Pennsylvania.
With an overall ranking at No. 124, Berks is the only Penn State campus — and one of just five colleges in the Commonwealth — to appear on the list in the 4-year-schools category. Currently, approximately 150 veterans and dependents are enrolled at Penn State Berks.
Best for Vets 2019 is an editorially independent news project that evaluates the many factors that help make colleges and universities a good fit for service members, military veterans and their families. The ranking, in its ninth year, factors in the results of Military Times’ annual survey, which the organization describes as “the most comprehensive school-by-school assessment of veteran and military student services and rates of academic achievement.”
Approximately 500 colleges took part in this year’s detailed survey.
The Office of Veteran Affairs at Penn State Berks offers:
- Support to help with the transition from military life to the college environment
- Peer mentoring (Veterans Outreach)
- Assistance with making the transition from college to the workforce
- VA certifying officials
- College credit for military experience
- Student Veterans of America – Penn State Berks Chapter
- Veterans and dependents information workshops
- Priority registration
In addition, the Student Veterans of America – Penn State Berks Chapter recently received a $10,000 grant from the Home Depot Foundation and Student Veterans of America (SVA), as part of the Vet Center Initiative. The grant was used to transform space in the Gaige Technology and Business Innovation Building into a new student veteran center on campus.
“Military Times' Best for Vets designation is trusted throughout the veteran community as the mark of excellence for schools and other organizations that work with veterans, service members and military families. It can't be bought with advertising dollars … only earned through a record of steadfast service and dedication to those who have served,” said George Altman, the Military Times editor in charge of the rankings.
Military Times annual Best for Vets: Colleges survey asks colleges and universities to disclose academic outcome and input data, describe many aspects of veteran culture on campus and meticulously document a wide array of services, special policies, accommodations and financial incentives offered to students with military ties. Military Times 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.
For the full list, visit the Military Times Best: Colleges 2019 rankings.
