Military Times ranks UB among ‘Best for Vets’ for second consecutive year

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Military Times for the second consecutive year has ranked the University at Buffalo as one of the nation’s best universities for military veterans.

The eighth annual “Best for Vets” rankings factor in the results of Military Times’ comprehensive school-by-school survey of veteran and military student offerings and rates of academic achievement at colleges and universities nationwide. The ranking evaluates the many factors that help make colleges and universities a good fit for service members, military veterans and their families.

More than 500 colleges and universities took part in this year’s survey. UB is ranked No. 77 among four-year institutions. It is the second national ranking earned by UB this fall.  In September, U.S. News and World Report ranked UB No. 64 among the Best Colleges for Veterans.

“While it is rewarding to have our work recognized by the Military Times and other national publications, what is most rewarding is being able to serve these men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country and help them be successful here at the university,” said Daniel Ryan, UB’s director of veteran services.

According to Ryan, UB assists about 300 graduate and undergraduate students —150 who are veterans or on active duty and 150 who are a spouse or dependent of a service member. UB opened an Office of Veteran Services in 2013 to ease the transition of veterans to the university and to serve as a central point of contact and referral for veterans and family members looking for resources and information about academic advisement, financial aid and career services.  

Military Times’ annual Best for Vets: Colleges survey asks colleges and universities to meticulously document a tremendous array of services, special rules, accommodations and financial incentives offered to students with military ties; and to describe many aspects of veteran culture on a campus. These institutions were evaluated in several categories, with university culture and academic outcomes bearing the most weight.

Military Times also factors in data from the Veterans Affairs and Defense departments, as well as three Education Department sources: the IPEDS Data Center, College Scorecard data and the Cohort Default Rate Database.

For the full Best for Vets: Colleges 2017 rankings, and survey methodology, go to: www.militarytimes.com/bestforvets-colleges2017.