College of Education and Behavioral Sciences News

Western Kentucky University is excited to announce that it has been designated a 2025-2026 Military Friendly® School, a distinction that recognizes the institution’s outstanding commitment to serving military-connected students. WKU has been named a Gold School for the fourth year in a row and has made the list for the past 16 years. WKU was also awarded the Designated rank as a Military Spouse Friendly School.

The Military Friendly® School designation is awarded based on public data and responses to a comprehensive survey administered by Viqtory. More than 1,800 institutions participated in the 2025-2026 survey, with only 830 schools receiving special recognition for exceeding the standard in military student support.

The full list of 2025-2026 Military Friendly® Schools will be featured in the May and October issues of G.I. Jobs® magazine and is also available online at www.militaryfriendly.com.

Kent Johnson, Director of WKU Military Student Services say, “We are extremely proud to continue the long tradition of being recognized as a Military Friendly® School. This honor is a testament to the dedicated efforts of our faculty, staff, and administrators, who consistently work towards ensuring that WKU continues to provide a culture of support for those who have served, and are currently serving our country, as well as their children and spouses. We want to recognize their service and sacrifice. We understand that continuing their education in the midst of all that they are doing can be a challenge, but we are consistently inspired by their dedication. We wish to model that dedication by supporting them along their educational journey and providing any assistance we can to ensure they reach their goals.”

The designation process incorporates input from the Military Friendly® Advisory Council—composed of independent leaders in higher education and military recruitment—and evaluates schools based on criteria such as student retention, graduation rates, job placement, loan repayment, persistence, and default rates for all students, especially veterans.

WKU’s Military Student Services office offers a variety of dedicated support programs designed to meet the needs of military-connected students. One of its flagship initiatives, the Textbooks for Troops® program, provides textbook support to eligible students, helping to reduce financial barriers and support academic success”.

In addition, the office assists students with navigating federal tuition assistance programs and offers access to a comprehensive Veteran Resource Center, which serves as a hub for support, community, and connection.

WKU also provides a discounted tuition rate of $250 per credit hour for all active duty, reserve, and National Guard members—an offering that extends to both undergraduate and graduate students.

To learn more about WKU’s services for military-affiliated students or to find out how you can support these initiatives, visit wku.edu/veterans.