SUNY New Paltz earns 2025-2026 Military Friendly® School Designation
SUNY New Paltz has received Military Friendly® School designation for 2025-26, a recognition reserved for the U.S. colleges and universities that provide the most comprehensive support for veteran, active-military and dependent students.
New Paltz earned a Military Friendly® School – Silver award and was also honored as a Military Spouse Friendly® School for supporting family members of those who have served.
“The Office of Veteran & Military Services at New Paltz consistently provides high level guidance and advocacy for our veteran and military affiliated students,” said Vice President for Enrollment Management Stella Turk. “We are honored to receive this latest Military Friendly® recognition and to be also acknowledged as a Military Spouse Friendly® school. We will continue this important work to support our students in reaching their goals.”
The data-driven Military Friendly® School designation is conferred based on assessment of both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey.
Methodology, criteria and weightings are defined by VIQTORY with input from the Military Friendly® Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community.
“Military Friendly® is committed to transparency and providing consistent data-driven standards in our designation process,” said Kayla Lopez, Vice President, Military Friendly®. “Our standards provide a benchmark that promotes positive outcomes and support services that better the educational landscape and provide opportunity for the Military Community. This creates a competitive atmosphere that encourages Institutions to evolve and invest in their programs consistently. Schools who achieve awards designation show true commitment in their efforts, exceeding the standard.”
The assessment combines survey scores with measures of institutions’ ability to meet thresholds for key areas of veteran and military student success, including:
Retention
Graduation
Job Placement
Loan Repayment
Persistence
Loan Default Rates
These have been consistent areas of emphasis in New Paltz’s Office of Veteran & Military Services, which has supported thousands of military-affiliated students since it was established in 2014.
The office coordinates a wide variety of resources for military-affiliated students, including early course registration, free parking permits, smooth credit transfer, team-building events and help navigating the complexes processes for receiving benefits earned through service.
They also work closely with civilian students, faculty and staff, providing trainings on unique challenges faced by veterans and service members in their pursuit of higher education.
“The Military Friendly® honor is a testament to the campus community’s efforts to support our student veterans, service members and their families in achieving their educational goals,” said Donnie Martin ’11 (Adolescence Education), Assistant Director of Veteran & Military Services at SUNY New Paltz. “We are proud to be a part of that network of support.”
Visit the Office of Veteran & Military Services online to learn more.
About Military Friendly® Schools
The Military Friendly® Schools list is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources from more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans, and responses to the proprietary, data-driven Military Friendly® Schools survey from participating institutions. The survey questions, methodology, criteria and weighting were developed with the assistance of an independent research firm and an advisory council of educators and employers. The survey is administered for free and is open to all postsecondary schools that wish to participate. Criteria for consideration can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com.
About VIQTORY
Founded in 2001, VIQTORY is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) that connects the military community to civilian employment, educational and entrepreneurial opportunities through its G.I. Jobs® and Military Friendly® brands. VIQTORY and its brands are not a part of or endorsed by the U.S. Dept of Defense or any federal government entity. Learn more at www.viqtory.com.