Widener Named a Military Friendly Institution

Widener University has been named to the prestigious national 2019-2020 Military Friendly ® Schools list announced by VIQTORY, publisher of G.I. Jobs ®, Military Spouse, and Military Friendly ®.

Military Friendly® Schools is the most comprehensive, powerful resource for veterans today. Each year, the list of Military Friendly® Schools is provided to service members and their families to help them select the best college, university or trade school that delivers the education and training they need to pursue civilian careers.

“I am delighted to announce that Widener University has been named to this prestigious list,” President Julie E. Wollman said. “This is especially meaningful given our proud history as Pennsylvania Military College, and our outstanding ROTC program, which serves cadets from Widener and surrounding institutions of higher education. Widener is a place that values our veteran and military students, and recognizes their role as courageous leaders. We are proud to welcome them to our university and to provide a supportive learning environment that leads to successful careers.”

Military Friendly Schools evaluates colleges and universities through a detailed survey completed by the schools, along with information from public data sources for more than 8,800 schools nationwide. Widener was one of only 766 institutions to earn the designation for 2019-2020. The list will be published in the May issue of G.I. Jobs magazine. It can also be found at MilitaryFriendly.com.

Methodology, criteria, and weightings were determined by VIQTORY with input from the Military Friendly ® Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment communities. Final ratings were determined by combining an institution’s survey scores with the assessment of its ability to meet thresholds for student retention, graduation, job placement, loan repayment, persistence (degree advancement or transfer) and loan default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.

Widener participates in the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® Yellow Ribbon Program and the Montgomery G.I. Bill® for all qualified veterans. The university also has a designated VA certifying official and support services in place to help veterans transition to college life.

Known as Pennsylvania Military College until 1972, Widener University has a rich military history. The university maintains an Army ROTC program and serves as the host institution for Army ROTC cadets from several Philadelphia-area colleges and universities. These partnerships help make Widener’s ROTC program one of the largest in the region with 129 active cadets this academic year.

In addition, Widener University’s two law schools have a history of welcoming U.S. military veterans as students and using school resources to support U.S. veterans with free legal aid. Widener University Delaware Law School in Wilmington, Delaware operates a Veterans Law Clinic that assists disabled veterans and their dependents who have been denied veterans benefits.

Widener University Commonwealth Law School in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania launched a Veterans Initiative in 2016 that strives to provide veteran law students with academic, career, and financial support tailored to each veteran’s unique needs and experience.