Tucson Standard

The University of Arizona has been recognized as one of the top universities for service members by Military Times. In the latest edition of the Military Times Best for Vets: Colleges 2024 ranking, released on Monday, the university climbed to No. 4 overall and No. 3 among public universities. This marks its highest performance in this ranking and a significant rise from its initial appearance in 2018.

A total of 304 colleges and universities were included in this year's list. The University of Arizona's Veterans Education and Transition Services (VETS) provides comprehensive services to support over 5,000 students transitioning to university life. Since its inception in 2008, VETS has been recognized as one of the top programs for student veterans nationwide.

Blaze Smith, director of the VETS and ROTC programs, stated, "Our community at Veterans Education and Transition Services strives to engage, educate, empower and employ our military-connected students as well as their families." He added that their improvement in rankings reflects the tangible impact of their team's efforts.

The university has a long-standing relationship with the United States military. Established under the Morrill Act of 1885 as a land-grant university requiring military training, it trained 11,000 service members during World War II. Recently, University Libraries' Special Collections received materials related to the USS Arizona from a sailor's family who served before Pearl Harbor.

In recent years, several initiatives have been introduced to support military families. In 2022, spouses of honorably discharged veterans enrolled at an Arizona public institution became eligible for free tuition on a first-come basis. Additionally, active-duty military undergraduate students benefit from U.S. Department of Defense tuition assistance set at $250 per credit hour since 2018.

Arizona Online was also ranked No. 4 for its bachelor's program offerings for veterans by U.S. News & World Report's 2024 Best Online Bachelor's Programs.

The methodology for this year's Best for Vets: Colleges includes information on services specific to active-duty military or veteran students and their families. Student success metrics are crucial in determining school rankings along with available resources and financial assistance.