App State maintains national top 10 ranking as a Military Friendly® School

View larger image — Appalachian State University has been recognized as a 2026–27 Military Friendly® School by VIQTORY — earning its fourth consecutive top 10 ranking and marking the 17th straight year the university has received the honor. Photo by Chase Reynolds

“Continued recognition as a Military Friendly® School highlights our strong commitment to those who make immeasurable sacrifices for our nation.”

App State Chancellor Heather Norris

“Our veterans, service members, and their families deserve a campus community that consistently shows up for them, and we intend to keep doing exactly that.”

Bethany Gonzalez, App State’s associate director of military-affiliated services

By J. Todd Coates

Posted March 27, 2026 at 2:30 p.m.

BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University has been designated a 2026–27 Military Friendly® School by VIQTORY, earning the distinction for the 17th consecutive year. The university also achieved its fourth consecutive top 10 ranking, earning the No. 6 spot in the Tier 2 schools category.

“Continued recognition as a Military Friendly® School highlights our strong commitment to those who make immeasurable sacrifices for our nation.”

App State Chancellor Heather Norris

According to VIQTORY, the Military Friendly® Schools list recognizes institutions that are committed to supporting the success of military-affiliated students, both in and outside the classroom — offering tailored services and programs that meet the unique needs of service members.

“We are proud to provide the resources, opportunities and support that help our military-affiliated students thrive at App State and beyond,” said App State Chancellor Heather Norris. “Continued recognition as a Military Friendly® School highlights our strong commitment to those who make immeasurable sacrifices for our nation.”

The annual Military Friendly® Schools survey is offered to more than 8,800 institutions nationwide and evaluates both public data about the institution and proprietary data gathered through the survey. Each year, participating schools are held to a higher standard than in previous years, via improved methodology, criteria and weighting. Survey responses are weighted according to the following categories:

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

“Our veterans, service members, and their families deserve a campus community that consistently shows up for them, and we intend to keep doing exactly that.”

Bethany Gonzalez, App State’s associate director of military-affiliated services

App State’s rankings were assessed at the Tier 2 Research level, based on the university’s Carnegie Research 2 classification. This moved the university up from its previous category of “Large Public” institution. App State was compared with institutions that exhibit a moderate level of research activity and scholarly productivity.

VIQTORY also recognizes schools nationwide for their dedication to supporting military families, with App State receiving its second consecutive Military Spouse Friendly School designation in spring 2025. The 2026–27 rankings will be released in June.

In fall 2025, App State enrolled 1,445 military-affiliated students, including 274 veterans, 128 active-duty service members, 74 spouses and 969 military dependents.

“Earning the Military Friendly® designation for the 17th consecutive year is a testament to the genuine commitment App State has made to our military-connected community,” said Bethany Gonzalez, associate director of military-affiliated services in App State Student Veteran Services.

She continued, “At this point, this recognition is not just an honor, it is an expectation we hold ourselves to. Our veterans, service members and their families deserve a campus community that consistently shows up for them, and we intend to keep doing exactly that.”

The 2026–27 Military Friendly® Schools list will be published in G.I. Jobs magazine. To view the list, visit militaryfriendly.com.

VIQTORY, founded in 2001, is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business that connects the military community to civilian employment, as well as educational and entrepreneurial opportunities. Learn more at 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.

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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.

“Continued recognition as a Military Friendly® School highlights our strong commitment to those who make immeasurable sacrifices for our nation.”

App State Chancellor Heather Norris

“Our veterans, service members, and their families deserve a campus community that consistently shows up for them, and we intend to keep doing exactly that.”

Bethany Gonzalez, App State’s associate director of military-affiliated 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.
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.