University of Montevallo Earns Top Ten Distinction As Military Spouse Friendly School

August 18, 2023

The University of Montevallo has ranked 10th in the Top Ten Small Public Schools category for the Military Spouse Friendly Schools designation, which rates higher education institutions based on their ability to provide quality post-secondary education experiences for spouses of service members.

Earlier this year, UM earned the 2023-2024 Military Friendly Schools Award and Designation Status, marking the third consecutive year that the institution has received the honor. This year, UM ranked seventh in the Top Ten Small Public Schools category, the highest ranking the school has ever received.

“This is a huge recognition for all of the work the University of Montevallo has done to assure our veterans and their families are welcomed and valued at our school,” said Traci Crenshaw, director of the Office of Veteran & Military Affairs. “For many, it is their home away from home.”

Schools who have earned the Military Friendly Schools status were evaluated using public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. Over 1,800 schools participated in the 2023-2024 survey, with 530 schools earning the award level designations in gold, silver and bronze. Out of those, 250 were selected for gold award status for their leading practices, outcomes and effective programs.

Created in 2003 by VIQTORY, a service-disabled, veteran-owned business, Military Friendly rates companies and colleges on their programs to recruit and retain military veterans as employees and students. The organizations and institutions that choose to participate in the process earn their Military Friendly designation. Military Friendly’s mission is to create maximum professional opportunity for our nation’s military service members, veterans and military spouses.

The final ratings are determined by combining the institutions’ survey responses and government/agency public data sources within a logic-based assessment. Military Friendly Schools measures their ability to meet thresholds for retention, graduation, job placement, repayment, persistence and loan default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.

“We serve almost 10 percent of the University of Montevallo’s student base, so this truly is a campus award,” Crenshaw said. “We could not serve our students with such exceptional service without the support of UM’s Student Aid Office, Office of Student Accounts and Registrar’s Office.”

Click here to learn more information about UM Veteran and Military Affairs office.