UM Listed Among Top Military-Friendly Online Universities

 

MISSOULA The University of Montana has been named among the top military- friendly online universities in the country by a national online ranking organization.

UM ranked No. 18 among 100 universities included in the 2020 Best Military-Friendly Online Colleges. Other top 20 universities in the ranking included Syracuse, Auburn and University of Arizona. About 450 veterans were enrolled at UM for the fall 2020 semester.

“There is a proud tradition of serving vets at UM,” said Daryl Lee, program coordinator of the UM Vets Office. “Recognition like this is not only deeply appreciated but indicative of the hard work we’ve put into making UM a place where vets can feel welcome and supported in their studies.”

To determine the rankings, OnlineU used an internal scoring system based on data from the federal government’s GI Bill Comparison Tool. This included the number of GI Bill students currently enrolled at each university, participation in the Yellow Ribbon program, which supports out-of-state vets with tuition, and involvement in other government programs designed specifically for military students.

UM’s Vets office assists military-affiliated students in utilizing their educational benefits to their advantage and connects them to wellness and academic support resources, along with veteran student organizations. The University’s transfer policy awards academic credits for prior military training and education. Additionally, tuition assistance is accepted for enrolled active-duty military students. 

UM President Seth Bodnar said the University is committed to the continued growth of the Vets program and services offered to veteran students. As a former Green Beret, Bodnar knows how important it is to support veterans in their academic studies.

“The programs we offer at UM are a bridge for vets transitioning not only into their professional careers but also to the next stages of their lives,” Bodnar says. “We certainly owe them our fullest support for all they have given to our country.”

UM’s online program continues to grow and now offers a large variety of undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs and courses that are fully online. When registering, students often have the option to select modality for many of the courses including an asynchronous study program that provides freedom and flexibility when engaging with course materials, reviewing pre-recorded lectures and submitting coursework and assignments.

“The University is also developing an AA/AS degree in collaboration with the Defense Critical Language and Culture Program (DCLCP), which is will be open to all students, especially students using Active Tuition Assistance, when released later in 2021.

For veterans interesting in pursuing their education at UM, visit the UM Vets Office at https://www.umt.edu/veterans/ or call 406-243-2744.

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Contact: Breanna Niekamp, marketing coordinator, UMOnline, 406-243-2502, breanna.niekamp@umontana.edu; Daryl Lee, Vets Office program coordinator, Missoula College Student Affairs, 406-243-7844, daryl.lee@umontana.edu.

Note: The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense uniform or information does not imply or constitute DOD endorsement.