‘Bama, MSU, MUW Among Tops for Veterans

Three area universities get high rankings as among the best providing services to veterans.

U.S. News and World Report has ranked Alabama 11th and Mississippi State 29th among the best national universities in the country for veterans. Among regional universities in the South, MUW ranks 10th.

The magazine is nationally recognized for its rankings of universities and launched the new listing for veterans this year.

The survey looks at services provided veterans, faculty resources, financial assistance and other factors.

Penn State was tops among national universities while Spring Hill College in Mobile, Ala., was tops among regional universities in the South.

To qualify for the new rankings, colleges had to participate in federal initiatives that help veterans reduce the cost of school, according to U.S. News & World Report. Some of those programs include being certified for the GI Bill and participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Schools also were required to be members of the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges Consortium, which works to simplify credit transfers and give veterans credit for military training and national tests such as the College-Level Examination Program.

The report noted that at least 773,000 veterans and their families have participated in the Post-9/11 Bill since it was implemented in August 2009.

The new rankings include the following categories: National Universities, National Liberal Arts Colleges, Regional Universities (North, South, Midwest and West) and Regional Colleges (North, South, Midwest and West). The list can be found at www.usnews.com