Mercer University has been designated a 2017 Military Friendly School by Victory Media, the leader in successfully connecting the military and civilian worlds and publisher of G.I. Jobs, STEM Jobs and Military Spouse.
 
The Military Friendly Schools list, first published in 2009, is the most comprehensive, powerful resource for veterans today, helping them to select the best college, university or trade school to receive the education and training needed to pursue a civilian career.
 
Mercer works extensively to better assist military-connected prospective students through the enrollment process for traditional, non-traditional and graduate programs. These efforts have also resulted in the institution being named Georgia’s first Purple Heart University.
 
“Mercer’s designation as a 2017 Military Friendly School acknowledges university leadership and its strong, steadfast commitment in support of military-connected students, veterans and their families. The university’s participation in the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Yellow Ribbon Program, the Reserve and Veteran Education Assistance programs further signifies Mercer’s commitment to serve our veterans and service members and instill in them a passion to use their incredible military knowledge and Mercer education to shape their future and our world,” said Scott Mahone, assistant director of regional academic center operations and a retired Army lieutenant colonel.
 
Institutions earning the Military Friendly School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from Victory Media’s proprietary survey. More than 1,600 schools participated in the 2017 survey, and 1,160 were awarded the designation.
 
Ratings methodology, criteria and weightings were determined by Victory Media with input from the Military Friendly Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment communities. Final ratings were determined by combining an institution’s survey scores with assessment of its ability to meet thresholds for student retention, graduation, job placement, loan repayment, persistence (degree advancement or transfer) and loan default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.
 
“Our ability to apply a clear, consistent standard to the majority of colleges gives veterans a comprehensive view of which schools are striving to provide the best opportunities and conditions for our nation’s student veterans,” said Daniel Nichols, a Navy Reserve veteran and chief product officer at Victory Media. “Military Friendly helps military families make the best use of the Post-9/11 GI Bill and other federal benefits while allowing us to further our goal of assisting them in finding success in their chosen career fields.”