Mercer University is now ranked No. 1 — its highest-ever placement — as a Military Friendly® School for the 2023-2024 award year.

The rankings, announced March 8, place Mercer in the top 10 among tier 2 research institutions and among 665 institutions across the country recognized for their military and veteran programs and initiatives.

“We often say, ‘Every day at Mercer University is Armed Forces Appreciation Day,’ and this ranking certainly validates that commitment. Our faculty, staff and administration hold our military and their families in high regard, and we are grateful to be able to provide pathways to meet their educational needs as a small expression of gratitude to them for their service to our country,” said Dr. Penny Elkins, senior vice president for enrollment management.

Mercer first received the Military Friendly® designation in 2017 and earned rankings in one of the four exemplary categories — Top 10 Gold, Gold, Silver or Bronze — each of the past four years.

Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,800 schools participated in the 2023-2024 survey.

“This honor serves as a testament to our mission of serving our military-connected students and their families. Each year, we are so excited to demonstrate how we engage, encourage and inspire these wonderful students,” said Jamie Brown, interim director of operations for Mercer’s Regional Academic Centers.

Mercer works extensively to better assist military-connected prospective students through the enrollment process in traditional residential undergraduate, adult undergraduate and graduate programs. In addition to being a Military Friendly® School, these efforts resulted in the institution being named Georgia’s first Purple Heart University and one of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges for Veterans. More information on Mercer’s alliance with the military is available at mercer.edu/military.

The 2023-2024 Military Friendly® Schools list will be published in G.I. Jobs magazine’s May and October issues and can be found at militaryfriendly.com.

Methodology, criteria, and weightings were determined by Viqtory with input from the Military Friendly® Advisory Council of independent leaders in higher education. Final ratings were determined by

combining the institution’s survey responses and government/agency public data sources within a logic- based assessment of the institution’s 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, student veterans.