RICHMOND, Ky. — Once again, Eastern Kentucky University is among the leading four-year schools nationally in the annual Military Times: Best for Vets rankings.
EKU finished 12th (tops in Kentucky and adjacent states) in the recently announced 2019 rankings, up from 14th a year ago. The rankings measure schools on their commitment to helping military veterans further their education. The next-highest-ranking institution in Kentucky came in at No. 40.
The rankings are determined by a survey of 150 questions as well as data from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense and Department of Education databases for information ranging from veteran-related policies to average salaries after graduation.
To see the full list of four-year schools, visit charts.militarytimes.com/chart/9.
EKU, home to more than 1,000 military-affiliated students, has earned national recognition from several other sources in recent years for the services it provides U.S. military veterans and their dependents. EKU also has been recognized by Victory Media/G.I. Jobs magazine as a Military Friendly School each of the past nine years. U.S. Veterans magazine has also ranked EKU among its leading Veteran-Friendly Schools.
In 2010, Eastern launched Operation Veteran Success, a series of initiatives designed to make the University even more veteran-helpful. The initiatives now include:
- no admission fees for undergraduate veterans
- in-state tuition for all out-of-state veterans nationwide
- maximum credit hours for military experience
- priority registration and assistance
- an on-site Vet Success on Campus Coordinator
- book vouchers and Books for Boots Exchange Library
- Veterans Bridge to College Success cohort classes
- veterans orientation course
- veteran-helpful withdrawal and readmission policies
- active Vets Club
- recreational and other extracurricular activities. Annual events include a “welcome back” and end-of-year picnics, recognition at home football and basketball games, a separate graduation ceremony for veterans and job fair.
- specially designated housing for student veterans. (EKU partnered with Kentucky River Foothills, a local non-profit organization, to obtain federal funding to help veterans in transition find and maintain suitable housing. Since the grant’s implementation, the funds have helped more than 100 student veterans.)
- Veteran Studies minor, believed to be the nation’s first, to help those who haven’t served in the military to better understand the issues that veterans face, and to help the veterans themselves deal with those issues.
- participation in the Colonels Cupboard initiative, with some of the donated food assisting veterans and their families.
- VA work-study employment opportunities.
- participation in the National Roll Call, at which campus volunteers read the names of military members who paid the ultimate cost for their service.
Earlier this year, EKU announced that active-duty service members on federal orders for at least 180 days are eligible for EKU’s Military Reduced Tuition, which is $250 per credit hour for undergraduate courses and $325 per credit hour for graduate courses. In addition, students remain eligible to qualify for federal financial aid and have the opportunity to use their GI Bill benefits to cover any remaining costs. The reduced tuition rate will make education possible for service members on active duty, regardless of where they are located. EKU Online offers more than 40 degree and certificate options that can be completed from home or while stationed abroad.
For more information about services available at EKU for veterans and their dependents or active military, contact the EKU Office of Military and Veterans Affairs at 859-622-2345 or [email protected] or visit va.eku.edu.
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