For Immediate Release

Contact:         Maryjane Briant
                        News and Media Relations Director
                        Galloway, N.J. 08205
                        Maryjane.Briant@stockton.edu
                        (609) 652-4593
                        stockton.edu/media

Galloway, N.J. - Stockton University today was ranked in the Top 20 among the best colleges and universities nationwide for veterans by the Military Times’ “Best for Vets: Colleges 2017,”  and by the Online College Plan’s “Top 20 Best 4-Year Colleges for Veterans.”

Online College Program ranked the university as #6 nationally, utilizing data and research from multiple sources including the National Center for Education Statistics and Military.com.

“Stockton has been recognized for being a terrific school for our nation’s veterans, and U.S. News & World Report, the Wall Street Journal and Forbes have rated Stockton as one of the nation’s top regional universities,” said Online College Plan. “With over 40 degree programs available for students as well as online courses and seven schools of study from which to choose, Stockton’s academic offerings and small class sizes are a great fit for students.”

The Military Times, a comprehensive school-by-school assessment of veteran and military student services and rates of academic achievement, ranked Stockton as #16 among four-year colleges and universities in the United States. More than 500 colleges took part in this year’s detailed survey, in which university culture and academic outcomes were weighted most heavily.

“Stockton University is proud to be recognized as one of the Top 20 four-year colleges and universities in the nation for veterans,” said President Harvey Kesselman. “Veterans have been an integral part of Stockton since our first classes in 1971, when many Vietnam veterans came here to further their educations. We celebrate the dedication and patriotism of our veterans and active-duty service members and are committed to providing them with strong academic and financial support and a community that understands their needs and experiences.”

The Stockton Office of Veteran Affairs opened in 2008 and provides a full-time veteran counselor, a faculty resource team, and a separate orientation for veteran students, as well as aveterans’ lounge. Through Veteran Affairs, veterans and service members can explore eligibility for G.I. education benefits, receive referrals to a wide range of support services and connect with their fellow veterans by becoming a part of Stockton’s Student Veterans Organization.

An honor chair remembering prisoners of war and those missing in action was permanently installed at Stockton earlier this year. A light shines 24/7 on the honor chair outside the Veterans Lounge, part of the national Rolling Thunder POW/MIA Honor Chair Program bringing daily reminders of the courageous men and women who have not returned home from war.

Stockton is the only higher education institution in the region to receive this honor.

Today Stockton will host a series of events on the main Galloway campus in honor of Veterans Day, beginning at 11 a.m. in front of the Campus Center. Assemblyman Chris Brown, who served in the U.S. Army from 1987-2009, is the keynote speaker.

The Military Times listing noted Stockton’s excellent retention and graduation rates and small class sizes, with a student/faculty ratio of 17:1. Staff support for veterans and active service people, participation in the G.I. Bill® and Yellow Ribbon program, which supplements G.I. Bill® funding, and extra-curricular activities were also cited.

“We are very proud of our Stockton University Veterans Team which has done such excellent work assisting in the academic success of our veteran students,” said Tom O’Donnell, assistant dean of Students/director of Veteran Affairs.

The Veterans Resource Team includes support from all of the offices that each veteran will have contact with during his or her time at Stockton, including Admissions, Academic Affairs, the Career Center, Student Records, Student Rights and Responsibilities and Counseling and Health Services.

Military Times is an organization serving Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps service members and their families. It is published by Sightline Media Group.

For “Best for Vets: Colleges 2017” rankings, visit http://www.militarytimes.com/bestforvets- colleges2017.

To learn more about Stockton’s programs for veterans and students who are currently serving,

visit the Office of Veteran Affairs.

*GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.