University of Georgia named a National Top Five Military Friendly® school for seventh year

The University of Georgia is again recognized for providing exceptional support to student veterans and their families. According to the 2026-2027 Military Friendly® survey, UGA performs extremely well in student support, retention, graduation and career outcomes – scoring above 95 percent in these areas.

Military Friendly® designations are determined through data gleaned from both public sources as well as through an annual organizational survey. Institutions of higher education are evaluated across seven aspects of veteran and military family care from admissions to completion of a degree. This year, over 3,200 institutions participated.

Jon Segars, director of the Student Veteran Resource Center Director (SVRC), notes, “We have a tremendous track record of national rankings with Military Friendly® dating back to 2017, and we are very proud of our ability to support our veterans year after year. The University of Georgia has always been a leader in caring for veterans. It is part of the Bulldog culture, as reflected in this newest ranking.”

UGA student veterans have continuous and holistic support in the SVRC, and they also find outstanding financial services support with those who manage their education benefits in the UGA Bursar’s office and the Registrar’s office. Currently, UGA has more than 900 students; veterans, service members and military dependents who use one of six forms of the GI Bill or military tuition assistance.

Segars shares, “We have wonderful UGA partners who make these rankings possible, and it is truly a team effort in caring for our veterans, service members and military families.”

The individualized support provided from inside the SVRC extends beyond the staff leaders and is strengthened by three current student veterans known as Berkman Scholars. The Berkman Scholars’ program, made possible by a grant from the Harold & Muriel Berkman Charitable Foundation, Inc., has been in existence since 2024.

Berkman Scholars are skilled communicators with military leadership experience who are focused on their fellow veterans’ welfare and success. With full-spectrum knowledge of available resources, they check-in with our nearly 400 student veterans each semester. In addition to offering well-being support and resources, they address any needs or challenges the veterans may have.

Blaze Fleeman, current student veteran, served in the Marine Corps for four years as a Cryptologic Linguist. He shares, “My experience with the Berkman Scholars began at a time when I was still learning how to navigate the academic world after transitioning from the military. The support I received from Berkman Scholars was instrumental in helping me find my footing at UGA. Whether through guidance on coursework, opportunities to connect at social events, or simply having people willing to invest in my success, they gave me a sense of direction and belonging.”

Now paying it forward as a Berkman Scholar himself this semester, Blaze is committed to recognizing the unique experiences of student veterans and understands that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to the challenges they may face. He advocates for a holistic perspective that considers each individual’s background and life context in order to provide meaningful and effective support.

Established in 2013, the UGA Student Veterans Resource Center (SVRC) is a Division of Student Affairs which helps veterans ease their transition, ensures access to resources, and facilitates career readiness. The SVRC staff consists of a director, assistant director and approximately ten students each semester who provide reception and transaction assistance, well-being support, and engagement experiences.

For more information, contact the UGA Student Veterans Resource Center.

Military Friendly® is the standard that measures an organization’s commitment, effort, and success in creating sustainable and meaningful benefits for the military community. Over 2,900 organizations compete annually for the Military Friendly® designation. Military Friendly® is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business. Military Friendly® is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or the federal government. Results are produced via a rules-based algorithm. The data-driven Military Friendly® lists and methodology can be found at https://www.militaryfriendly.com