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Central Connecticut State University is among 127 new schools that were named Military Friendly institutions by VIQTORY, a service-disabled, veteran-owned company that publishes annual Military Friendly ratings lists of educational institutions and employers.
Military Friendly ratings are based on public data and responses from a 113-question proprietary survey. More than 1,800 schools participated in the 2024-2025 survey with 537 earning special awards for going above the standard. Special awards include Top 10 recognition and gold, silver, and bronze status.
Central was named a Gold institutions based on an overall survey score greater than 41 percent or score at or above .41 and have five or more qualifying benchmarks.
Central President Dr. Zulma R. Toro says, “Central is extremely supportive of students, especially our veterans. We have dedicated part of our mission at the university to helping our military members. Whether that is through, providing resources to our 400-current undergraduate students transitioning into campus life or expanding the Veterans Drop-In Center, we want our student veterans to know we care, and we want them to succeed.”
Central’s Veterans Drop-In Center is a dedicated space for student veterans to study, network, use computers, have lunch, share conversation, and participate in the Student Veterans Organization as well as other veteran-related activities.
“I am so proud of this designation, and I applaud my team for working so hard to make Central a Military Friendly institution,” says Vice President Student Affairs Dr. Kellie Byrd - Danso. “At Central we are deeply committed to helping our student veterans make the most of their education. Just as these students made it their duty to protect and defend the values of this country, we consider it ours to provide the support they need to thrive in college and to succeed after graduation.”
VIQTORY's ratings consider input from the Military Friendly Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community. Final ratings are determined by combining the institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the institution’s ability to meet thresholds for student retention, graduation, job placement, loan repayment, persistence (degree advancement or transfer), and loan default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans. Advertising and partner status is not a factor in the selection process.
The goal of the Military-Friendly Schools survey is to identify colleges, universities, and trade schools that have implemented best practices and policies to develop and support student veterans, with the goal of providing the tools they need to successfully take the next step in their lives.
The 2024-2025 Military Friendly Schools list will be published in an upcoming issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com.