View larger image — App State Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadets map out specific grid points they will find on a land navigation course at App State’s State Farm Fields sports complex. App State was recognized for the 14th consecutive year as a Military Friendly School. This year, App State ranked ninth in the large public schools division for its support of military-affiliated students. Photo by Chase Reynolds

App State earns designation as a Top 10 Military Friendly School for 2023–24

“At App State, we are committed to supporting military-affiliated students and investing in their educational success. We consider it a privilege to serve our military community, and our distinction as a Top 10 Military Friendly School highlights the efforts of our faculty and staff to champion our student veterans, active-duty service members and their families.”

App State Chancellor Sheri Everts

By J. Todd Coates

Posted May 26, 2023 at 12:30 p.m.

BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University has been designated by VIQTORY as a Military Friendly® School for the 14th year in a row, ranking among the top 10 in the large public schools category for the 2023–24 academic year.

“At App State, we are committed to supporting military-affiliated students and investing in their educational success. We consider it a privilege to serve our military community, and our distinction as a Top 10 Military Friendly School highlights the efforts of our faculty and staff to champion our student veterans, active-duty service members and their families.”

App State Chancellor Sheri Everts

App State ranked No. 9 among large public schools on the Military Friendly Schools list, which features institutions that “strive toward and succeed in the areas that matter most in helping veterans make the transition from the military to school and, ultimately, satisfying careers in the civilian world.”

Institutions are recognized for their leading practices, outcomes and effective programs for military-affiliated students. The 2023–24 Military Friendly Schools list is published in the May issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and can be found at militaryfriendly.com/schools.

“At App State, we are committed to supporting military-affiliated students and investing in their educational success,” App State Chancellor Sheri Everts said. “We consider it a privilege to serve our military community, and our distinction as a Top 10 Military Friendly School highlights the efforts of our faculty and staff to champion our student veterans and active-duty service members and their families.”

In fall 2022, App State enrolled 1,027 military-affiliated students, including 255 veterans, 93 active-duty service members and 679 military dependents.

“Student Veteran Services is strongly committed to ensuring that each student has the tools and resources to be successful. We believe creating a strong sense of community and belonging on campus is vital to student veteran success.”

Bethany Gonzalez, associate director, App State Student Veteran Services

More than 1,800 schools participated in the 2023–24 survey. Institutions earning the Military Friendly School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from the survey and were assessed based on the following six categories:

Academic policies and compliance.
Admissions and orientation.
Culture and commitment.
Financial aid and assistance.
Graduation rates and career placement.
Military support and retention.

“Our military student community brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Appalachian State University,” said Bethany Gonzalez, associate director of App State Student Veteran Services. “Student Veteran Services is strongly committed to ensuring that each student has the tools and resources to be successful. We believe creating a strong sense of community and belonging on campus is vital to student veteran success.”

VIQTORY (formerly known as Victory Media) was founded in 2001. It is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business that connects the military community to civilian employment, as well as educational and entrepreneurial opportunities. To learn more, visit viqtory.com.

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

Resources and services available for App State’s military-affiliated students

The Major General Edward M. Reeder Jr. Student Veteran Resource Center, which serves the needs of App State’s military-affiliated students who are active-duty military personnel and veterans.
In-state tuition without residency requirements for some recently discharged service members and military students who are in the N.C. National Guard or on active duty at a military base within North Carolina.
Dedicated Office of Admissions assistance for veterans and military service members considering enrolling at the university.
Targeted orientation and advising sessions for veterans and military-affiliated students.
The Career Development Center, which assists student veterans with career planning and veterans preference programs.
The App State Student Veterans Association — an official chapter of the Student Veterans of America national organization. The university chapter provides military veterans and their families with the resources, support and advocacy needed to succeed at App State, and also raises awareness for veterans issues and promotes community service and volunteerism.
The Military Affairs Committee, which supports the success of military-affiliated students, staff and faculty by advocating for veterans, their dependents and other military-affiliated community members.
Student veteran-specific financial aid opportunities.
The GY6 Emergency Scholarship, made possible by the generosity of Student Veteran Services’ supporters, provides aid to student veterans experiencing financial hardship or emergencies. Student veterans who are experiencing hardship may apply for GY6 Emergency Scholarship funds through App State’s Office of Case Management.

Student Veteran Services

Student Veteran Services at Appalachian State University is dedicated to helping the university’s military-affiliated students thrive on campus and in the Boone community. The unit does so by connecting student veterans and military-affiliated students with services and resources that are commensurate with their needs, capabilities and contributions. These resources and services include the Major General Edward M. Reeder Jr. Student Veteran Resource Center, priority registration, scholarship opportunities, a Student Veteran Association and others.

Learn more

App State earns Gold distinction as Military Friendly School for 2022–23

University announces new emergency scholarship for student veterans

April 7, 2022

For more than a decade, App State’s support of military-affiliated students has earned it national recognition from VIQTORY as a Military Friendly School. App State has been named a Military Friendly School with Gold distinction for 2022–23.

Read the story

App State earns 2nd consecutive Top 10 Military Friendly School designation

March 30, 2021

App State has earned the No. 6 spot among large public schools receiving the Top 10 Military Friendly® Schools honor for 2021–22. This designation, awarded by VIQTORY, recognizes U.S. higher education institutions for their support of and resources for student veterans and active-duty military members. App State has been named among the nation’s Military Friendly Schools for more than a decade.

Read the story

A Military Friendly® School since 2010

Since 2010, VIQTORY (formerly known as Victory Media), the premier media entity for military personnel transitioning into civilian life, has awarded Appalachian State University the designation of Military Friendly® School. The designation places App State in the top 15% of colleges, universities and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace military students, and to dedicate resources to ensure their success in the classroom and after graduation. In addition to a number of existing services, the university opened the Major General Edward M. Reeder Jr. Student Veteran Resource Center in November 2016.

About Appalachian State University

As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls nearly 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.

“At App State, we are committed to supporting military-affiliated students and investing in their educational success. We consider it a privilege to serve our military community, and our distinction as a Top 10 Military Friendly School highlights the efforts of our faculty and staff to champion our student veterans, active-duty service members and their families.”

App State Chancellor Sheri Everts

“Student Veteran Services is strongly committed to ensuring that each student has the tools and resources to be successful. We believe creating a strong sense of community and belonging on campus is vital to student veteran success.”

Bethany Gonzalez, associate director, App State Student Veteran Services

Resources and services available for App State’s military-affiliated students

The Major General Edward M. Reeder Jr. Student Veteran Resource Center, which serves the needs of App State’s military-affiliated students who are active-duty military personnel and veterans.
In-state tuition without residency requirements for some recently discharged service members and military students who are in the N.C. National Guard or on active duty at a military base within North Carolina.
Dedicated Office of Admissions assistance for veterans and military service members considering enrolling at the university.
Targeted orientation and advising sessions for veterans and military-affiliated students.
The Career Development Center, which assists student veterans with career planning and veterans preference programs.
The App State Student Veterans Association — an official chapter of the Student Veterans of America national organization. The university chapter provides military veterans and their families with the resources, support and advocacy needed to succeed at App State, and also raises awareness for veterans issues and promotes community service and volunteerism.
The Military Affairs Committee, which supports the success of military-affiliated students, staff and faculty by advocating for veterans, their dependents and other military-affiliated community members.
Student veteran-specific financial aid opportunities.
The GY6 Emergency Scholarship, made possible by the generosity of Student Veteran Services’ supporters, provides aid to student veterans experiencing financial hardship or emergencies. Student veterans who are experiencing hardship may apply for GY6 Emergency Scholarship funds through App State’s Office of Case Management.