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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned a prestigious place among the best institutions for veterans, ranking 100th overall and 15th in the Midwest in the 2023 Best For Vets Colleges list. This recognition underscores the University's commitment to providing high-quality education and comprehensive support services tailored to military-connected students.

The University's "Gold" Ranking as a Military Friendly® institution further highlights its dedication to veterans. This prestigious recognition honors organizations demonstrating outstanding support and commitment to the military community.

SIUE offers tailored career services and VA Work Study opportunities for veterans, supported by government funding. Military-connected students benefit from dedicated study spaces, counseling, financial support, career advising, social events, and service projects, fostering a strong community.

Kevin Wathen, EdD, director of Military and Veteran Services, stated, "We are extremely proud of our Gold Tier Military Friendly status. Enhancing our support for the military-connected doesn’t stop here. We recently implemented new virtual benefits workshops designed to assist veterans in transitioning smoothly and navigating their benefit applications. Additionally, we are excited to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the GI Bill with upcoming events, underscoring our commitment to honoring and supporting our veterans."

SIUE’s qualifications for this recognition are rooted in a comprehensive evaluation process that includes both public data and proprietary survey responses. The evaluation criteria cover several key areas, such as recruitment, retention, and advancement of veterans and military employees, as well as the organization’s culture and policies that support military-connected students. This robust approach ensures that SIUE excels in supporting veterans through various stages of their academic and professional journeys.

Recognizing the mental health challenges faced by many veterans, SIUE provides extensive mental health services. These include ADA compliance, on-campus counselors trained in military-related mental health issues and suicide prevention, peer support-group meetings, and referrals to VA and off-campus counseling services. The University also offers opportunities to connect with therapy or service animals, ensuring veterans receive comprehensive support for their well-being.

Veterans can benefit from SIUE’s flexible credit by exam policy, which includes Advanced Placement and/or International Baccalaureate exams, CLEP general and subject tests, DSST (DANTES) subject tests, and language proficiency tests. Additionally, SIUE provides a priority class registration process for military-connected students, ensuring they can secure the classes they need to stay on track for graduation.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville stands out in the Best For Vets Colleges listing in the Midwest as a top choice for veterans by demonstrating a strong commitment to helping military-connected students succeed academically, personally, and professionally.  

PHOTO:  2023 Military Times Best for Vets Colleges emblem