Top Veteran Friendly Schools by State: Michigan
Top Veteran Friendly Schools: Michigan
The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) has awarded Veteran Friendly School status to 63 institutions of higher education for the 2021-2022 school year. This program recognizes postsecondary institutions that are committed to supporting the needs of military-connected students.
Since its inception in 2013, the Veteran Friendly School (VFS) program has increased in popularity. The program has had a steady increase in the number of schools dedicated to enrolling student veterans and ensuring that these students are supported throughout their entire educational journey. The Top Veteran Friendly Schools of Michigan help military-connected students transition from boots and a helmet to a cap and gown.
The program awards Gold, Silver, and Bronze level status to institutions of higher education based on seven criteria. Gold-level certification requires six or more of the criteria, while Silver schools must complete four and Bronze schools, three. The criteria to become a Top Veteran Friendly School are:
- Veteran-specific website
- Established process for identifying student veterans
- System to evaluate and award credit based on military training and experience
- Monitoring and evaluation system for student veteran academic retention, transfer and graduation rates
- Active student-operated veterans club or association
- Veteran-specific career services, resources, advising and/or outcome monitoring
- On-campus veteran’s coordinator and/or designated staff point of contact
Michigan Veteran Friendly Schools Awardees
The list for the 2021-2022 school year includes 63 universities, colleges, and trade schools across the state of Michigan. Awardees range from a boat-building school to community colleges to major universities.
These schools can be found in the CollegeRecon School Finder as well.
GOLD
- Alma College
- Central Michigan University
- Cleary University
- Concordia University, Ann Arbor
- Davenport University
- Delta College
- Eastern Michigan University
- Ferris State University
- Global Information Technology
- Grand Valley State University
- Henry Ford College
- Jackson College
- Kalamazoo Valley Community College
- Lake Superior State University
- Lansing Community College
- MIAT College of Technology
- Macomb Community College
- Michigan State University
- Michigan Technological University
- Mid-Michigan College
- Montcalm Community College
- Muskegon Community College
- Northern Michigan University
- Northwood University
- Oakland Community College
- Oakland University
- Olivet College
- Saginaw Valley State University
- Schoolcraft College
- University of Detroit Mercy
- University of Michigan
- University of Michigan-Dearborn
- University of Michigan-Flint
- Walsh College
- Washtenaw Community College
- Wayne State University
- Western Michigan University
SILVER
- Aquinas College
- Baker College
- Bay de Noc Community College
- Calvin University
- Compass College of Cinematic Arts
- Detroit School for Digital Technology
- Finlandia University
- Focus: HOPE
- Glen Oaks Community College
- Gogebic Community College
- Grace Christian University
- Grand Rapids Community College
- Kettering University
- Kirtland Community College
- Lake Michigan College
- Madonna University
- Monroe County Community College
- North Country Heavy Equipment School
- Rochester University
- Clair County Community College
- Suburban CDL
- West Shore Community College
- Western Michigan University – Cooley Law School
BRONZE
- Great Lakes Boat Building School
- North Central Michigan College
- Southwestern Michigan College
About the author
Lori Waddell serves as Co-director of an emergency response COAD in Montana, a freelance writer, and an Air Force Key Spouse. She is passionate about empowering communities and individuals through knowledge and resources. She currently lives in Montana with her husband and two children.