Mercer University tops the 2023-2024 Military Spouse Friendly® School designation list, which rates higher education institutions based on their ability to provide quality post-secondary education experiences for spouses of service members. This year 196 schools earned this prestigious designation.
“We are sincerely honored to be recognized as a Rank 1 Top 10 Gold Military Friendly® Spouse School,” said Dr. Penny L. Elkins, senior vice president of enrollment management. “This achievement is a testament to our institution’s commitment to providing military spouses with the highest quality education and support they deserve. We are proud to contribute to the advancement of military families and are dedicated to ensuring their academic journey is marked by success and fulfillment.”
Since 2009, the Military Spouse Friendly® Schools list has been a reliable resource for military spouses and has set a standard for higher education institutions to provide the best post-secondary education experiences for spouses of service members. The recognition is given to schools for having policies that address the needs of military spouses and their families. This includes admissions, retention, career counseling and mentoring programs, as well as flexible learning options and degree continuation programs designed to accommodate deployments and relocation.
“The Military Friendly® Spouse School designation is a testament to Mercer University’s dedication to fostering a supportive environment that recognizes and addresses the unique challenges military spouses face while pursuing higher education,” said Mercer Director of Strategic Operations and Student Success Jamie V. Brown. “This accomplishment demonstrates Mercer’s effectiveness in providing valuable resources, services and programs that empower military spouses to excel in their academic pursuits and beyond.”
Brown went on to explain that Mercer’s top-tier Rank 1 status among the Military Friendly® Spouse Schools reflects the institution’s comprehensive efforts to create an inclusive and welcoming campus community for military families.
“With a robust range of academic offerings, flexible learning formats, and dedicated staff who understand the specific needs of military spouses, Mercer stands as a beacon of educational excellence and support,” she said.
Earlier this year, Mercer ranked No. 1 — its highest-ever placement — as a Military Friendly® School for the 2023-2024 award year. The rankings, announced in March by Viqtory, placed Mercer at the top of its category and among 665 institutions across the country recognized for their military and veteran programs and initiatives. Mercer first received the Military Friendly® designation in 2017 and earned rankings in one of the four exemplary categories — Top 10 Gold, Gold, Silver or Bronze — each of the past four years.
About Military Friendly® Schools
The Military Friendly® Schools list is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources from more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans, and responses to the proprietary, data-driven Military Friendly® Schools survey from participating institutions. The survey questions, methodology, criteria and weighting were developed with the assistance of an independent research firm and an advisory council of educators and employers. The survey is administered for free and is open to all postsecondary schools that wish to participate. Criteria for consideration can be found at militaryfriendly.com.
About Viqtory
Founded in 2001, VIQTORY is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) that connects the military community to civilian employment, educational and entrepreneurial opportunities through its G.I. Jobs® and Military Friendly® brands. VIQTORY and its brands are not a part of or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or any federal government entity. Learn more about VIQTORY at viqtory.com.
