View larger image — App State Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets are pictured in November 2024, participating in a field training exercise at App State’s Teaching and Research Farm in Ashe County. App State’s ROTC program — the Mountaineer Battalion — recently received the General Douglas MacArthur Award, which honors the top eight ROTC programs in the nation. Photo by Chase Reynolds

App State named Military Friendly School for 16th consecutive year, ranked a top 10 institution for 2025–26

“Earning this distinction year after year speaks to App State’s strong culture of support for our military-affiliated students, who bring valuable perspectives and leadership to our campus community. We are proud to be recognized for our continued efforts to provide the resources, opportunities and support that help them succeed.”

App State Chancellor Heather Norris

Edited by Brian Miller

Posted April 15, 2025 at 3:35 p.m.

BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University has been designated a 2025–26 Military Friendly® School by VIQTORY, earning the distinction for the 16th consecutive year. The university also achieved its third consecutive top 10 ranking, placing as No. 7 in the large public schools category.

“Earning this distinction year after year speaks to App State’s strong culture of support for our military-affiliated students, who bring valuable perspectives and leadership to our campus community. We are proud to be recognized for our continued efforts to provide the resources, opportunities and support that help them succeed.”

App State Chancellor Heather Norris

The Military Friendly Schools list 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.”

Schools are recognized for their leading practices, outcomes and effective programs for military-affiliated students. In fall 2024, App State enrolled 1,403 military-affiliated students, including 262 veterans, 112 active-duty service members, 40 spouses and 989 military dependents.

“Earning this distinction year after year speaks to App State’s strong culture of support for our military-affiliated students, who bring valuable perspectives and leadership to our campus community,” said App State Chancellor Heather Norris. “We are proud to be recognized for our continued efforts to provide the resources, opportunities and support that help them succeed.”

More than 1,800 schools were surveyed, with those earning the Military Friendly School designation evaluated using both public data sources and responses from the survey. Each school was assessed based on the following criteria:

Academic policies and compliance
Admissions and orientation
Culture and commitment
Financial aid and loan repayment
Graduation and career outcomes
Military student support and retention

App State also received its second consecutive Military Spouse Friendly School designation, which recognizes the university’s dedication to supporting military families.

“Being named a Military Friendly School for the 16th year in a row reflects the care, intention and community that App State offers our military-connected students,” said Bethany Gonzalez, associate director of military-affiliated services App State Student Veteran Services. “We are focused on building a culture where veterans and their families are supported and equipped to succeed academically and personally.”

The 2025–26 Military Friendly Schools list will be published in G.I. Jobs magazine and can be found at militaryfriendly.com/2025-2026-mfs.

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

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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.
The University of North Carolina System’s Military Equivalency System, which contains thousands of equivalencies between military occupations and training and academic courses at the System’s 16 universities. Prospective students can use this resource to determine how experience from their Joint Services Transcript equates to specific courses at App State.

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 ROTC program honored with Army’s General Douglas MacArthur Award

The award recognizes the top 8 ROTC programs in the country

April 8, 2025

App State’s ROTC program — the Mountaineer Battalion — has received the General Douglas MacArthur Award, recognizing the program’s exceptional contributions to military leadership and training. Conferred by the U.S. Army Cadet Command, the award honors the top eight ROTC programs in the nation.

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App State earns 15th consecutive Military Friendly School designation, ranked a top 10 school for 2024–25

The university also received a top 10 Military Spouse Friendly School designation

March 27, 2024

Appalachian State University has been designated a 2024–25 Military Friendly® School by VIQTORY, marking the 15th consecutive year the university has received the honor. App State once again received a top 10 ranking from the organization.

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Military Times ranks App State among the nation’s best schools for military service members, veterans for 2024

Nov. 8, 2024

App State has been recognized among the nation’s top higher education institutions for military service members and veterans, placing among the top 13% of schools named to Military Times’ 2024 “Best for Vets: Colleges” rankings list.

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 a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

“Earning this distinction year after year speaks to App State’s strong culture of support for our military-affiliated students, who bring valuable perspectives and leadership to our campus community. We are proud to be recognized for our continued efforts to provide the resources, opportunities and support that help them succeed.”

App State Chancellor Heather Norris

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.
The University of North Carolina System’s Military Equivalency System, which contains thousands of equivalencies between military occupations and training and academic courses at the System’s 16 universities. Prospective students can use this resource to determine how experience from their Joint Services Transcript equates to specific courses at App State.