NDSU earns gold status Military Friendly school designation

NDSU has earned the designation of a gold status Military Friendly School for the 2026-27 year for its commitment to supporting military service members, veterans and their families. The university has also been recognized as a Military Spouse Friendly School.

“This recognition and increased status are both humbling and deeply personal because they reflect the trust our military-connected students place in us and reaffirm that the work we do truly matters,” said Jodi Pierce, military and veterans certification specialist. “Collaborating closely with campus partners allows us to remove barriers and ensure our military-connected students feel supported every step of the way.”

Pierce credits the hire of a second school certifying official for enabling the university to be more responsive and build deeper relationships with our students.

“It’s very rewarding to have an outside agency that reviews hundreds of programs validate that NDSU’s military support efforts are among the best in their class,” said James E. Stoddard, assistant director for veterans educational training and a retired Air Force major.

Stoddard noted the importance of supporting military families as well. “Military family members didn’t always choose the crazy military life; they were born into it or married into it,” Stoddard said. “But this life creates stresses and challenges for them, too, although the support they need may be a slightly different kind from a student who is an actual military member.”

The Military Friendly Schools designation is determined through evaluating public and institutional data gathered through surveys. An institution’s ability to meet benchmarks in student retention, graduation rates, job placement and financial assistance for military-affiliated students is also considered. Each year, the methodology is improved, holding schools to a higher standard. The third-party platform VIQTORY executes and audits the scoring and methodology used for the Military Friendly Schools. This list is published annually to help service members and their families make informed decisions about higher education.

Professor of Military Science William Friedline added, “It encourages me to see the university taking such a serious, proactive approach to improving the quality of life for our military service members, veterans, ROTC cadets and families.”

NDSU offers assistance with GI Bill benefits, academic advising, career support and a Veterans Educational Training Program for military-connected students. For more information about the military and veteran services at NDSU, visit NDSU's veterans page.