Defiance College Named Among
Top Military Friendly Schools in Nation

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Defiance College has been selected to the Military Friendly Schools list for 2010. This recognition, which is afforded to less than 15% of all colleges and universities in the nation, recognizes colleges and schools which both actively recruit veterans and also provide significant benefits and services to those veterans.

“Defiance College has had a long history of welcoming students with military experience. They bring a wealth of experience, leadership and diversity to the classroom,” said Mark Gordon, president. “We are particularly pleased that with our recent membership in the Yellow Ribbon program, Defiance College now provides the financial assistance necessary to enable veterans to attend the college tuition-free.  We are proud to be able to provide this service to those who have served us all so well.”

Criteria for making the Military Friendly Schools list include efforts to recruit and retain military and veteran students, results in recruiting military and veteran students and academic accreditations. Schools on the Military Friendly Schools list also offer additional benefits to student veterans such as on-campus veterans programs, credit for service, military spouse programs and more.

The list, created by G.I. Jobs, was developed by polling more than 7,000 schools nationwide. Methodology, criteria and weighting for the list were developed with the assistance of an Academic Advisory Committee (AAC) consisting of educators and administrators.

According to Rich McCormack, G.I. Jobs publisher, “Veterans need a trusted friend to help them decide where to get educated. The Military Friendly Schools list is that trusted friend.”

Defiance College’s participation in the Yellow Ribbon program follows a long tradition of the institution’s welcoming and support of military veterans as students of higher education. The new Yellow Ribbon program provides a mix of governmental and college-provided funding for tuition expenses at participating private institutions, allowing veterans to attend Defiance College tuition-free. Additionally, prospective students must meet all requirements for full-time admission to Defiance College and submit an application for admission.

G.I. Jobs (www.gijobs.com) is published by Victory Media, a veteran-owned business headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa. The company also publishes The Guide to Military Friendly Schools, Military Spouse and Vetrepreneur magazines and annually rates the nation’s “Military Friendly Employers,” “Military Spouse Friendly Employers” and “Best Corporations for Veteran- Owned Businesses.”

Defiance College, chartered in 1850, is an independent, liberal arts institution in Northwest Ohio offering more than 40 undergraduate majors as well as graduate programs in education and business. Defiance College has received national recognition for its educational experience of engagement. U. S. News & World Report ranks Defiance in the top tier of comprehensive colleges in the Midwest. The college website is www.defiance.edu.

August 19, 2009