University of Iowa ranked 6th place among best for veterans

A new U.S. News & World Report list of best colleges for military veterans ranks Iowa No. 6 among national universities for its efforts to help service members apply, pay for and complete degrees.

The list, which aims to help veterans and active service members identify schools offering the most benefits and assistance toward a degree, is the first of its kind for the national publication. The rankings looked only at schools listed in the 2014 edition of the U.S. News Best Colleges that also met certain criteria, including being certified for the G.I. Bill.

There were 234 ranked schools across 10 categories – including national universities, where Iowa was placed. The rankings were based on veteran benefits data collected as part of a broader survey that U.S. News administered in spring 2013.

Resources available to veterans on the UI campus include academic guidance, employment assistance, childcare, and mentoring through the GI Bill Certification Office and the Military and Veterans Student Services Office.

Georgina Dodge, UI chief diversity officer and a veteran herself, said in a news release that she's “delighted that the hard work we've been doing has been recognized.”

“We understand that veterans are an under-represented population and do our best to ensure that they have the tools and services they need to succeed in higher education and in the workforce,” Dodge said.

She also stressed the importance of providing a “transition space” for veterans.

For the current semester, the UI registrar's office reported about 500 enrolled veterans – including 349 men and 152 women. A majority of the veterans – 336 – are pursing liberal arts degrees, according to the registrar's office.

The number of UI veterans enrolled has jumped since 2008, when the registrar's office reported about 260 students attending Iowa under the G.I. Bill.

Dodge told The Gazette that increase is the result of a concerted UI effort to integrate veterans into campus life and help them get a degree as efficiently as possible. In addition to veteran-specific programming and resources, Dodge said, the UI is attractive due to its proximity to the Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System.

“And everyone across the country is seeing an uptick (in veteran students) as troops are being drawn down from conflicts in the Middle East,” Dodge said.

As that continues, UI Military and Veteran Education Specialist Allen Roberts said the UI will be ready.

“We really want to help folks develop the soft skills they need to get a job, and create a university culture that demonstrates we care and understand,” Roberts said in a news release.

Other national universities listed in the top 10 for veterans include Pennsylvania State University-University Park at No. 1, Tulane University and the University of Texas-Austin tied for No. 2, Syracuse University at No. 4, Texas A&M University-College Station at No. 5, Indiana University-Bloomington and Marquette University and Miami University-Oxford tied for No. 7, and the University of Vermont at No. 10.

To view a full list of the rankings, visit the U.S. News & World Report website.