OSU Institute of Technology was named to the 2014 Military Friendly Schools list, which honors the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools in the country that best embrace America’s military service members, veterans and spouses as students and ensures their success on campus.

“This is OSUIT’s second consecutive year to achieve this coveted listing,” said Dr. Bill R. Path, OSUIT president. “We are proud of this distinction, and we know this speaks directly to our mission to serve veterans, one that we have been dedicated to since the university’s inception in 1946.”

After World War II, Oklahoma State University created a vocational-technical training facility for veterans to study under the G.I. Bill^® in Okmulgee at the site of a wartime veteran’s hospital. The facility offered courses for students geared towards preparation for immediate employment.

Today, there are 130 veteran students enrolled at OSUIT using their G.I. Bill benefits in order to earn an associate or bachelor’s degree, said Chenoa Worthington, the school’s veteran’s benefits coordinator and Student Veterans Association sponsor.

“The original mission to serve the nation’s veterans is still central today,” said Worthington. “We’re committed to continuing this legacy of offering technical, direct-to-workforce degrees and a job placement rate that makes our veterans immediately successful upon graduation.”

Now in its fifth year, Victory Media compiled the 2014 list of Military Friendly Schools through extensive research and a data-driven survey of more than 10,000 schools nationwide approved for VA tuition funding. The survey results that comprise the 2014 list were independently tested by Ernst & Young LLP based upon the weightings and methodology established by Victory Media. Each year schools taking the survey are held to a higher standard than the previous year via improved methodology, criteria and weightings developed with the assistance of an Academic Advisory Board consisting of educators from schools across the country.

“Inclusion on the 2014 list of Military Friendly Schools^® shows OSUIT’s commitment to providing a supportive environment for military students,” said Sean Collins, Vice President at Victory Media and a nine-year Navy veteran. “The need for education is growing and our mission is to provide the military community with transparent, world-class resources to assist in their search for schools.”

The Military Friendly Schools website features the complete list, interactive tools and search functionality. The 1,868 colleges, universities and trade schools on this year’s list exhibit leading practices in the recruitment and retention of students with military experience. These schools have world-class programs and policies for student support on campus, academic accreditation, credit policies, flexibility and other services to those who served.