The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has been awarded a Gold ranking as a Military Friendly School by the organization Military Friendly in recognition of its commitment to creating meaningful education pathways for the military community. The university was also named a Military Spouse Friendly School in recognition of its academic and job placement support for military spouses.
With the Gold designation, the university ranks among the nation’s top institutions for assisting student veterans and military-connected students.
“This Gold designation sends a clear message — our commitment to military-connected students is strong, measurable and making a difference,” said Amber Williams, senior vice provost for student success. “It reflects the intentional work happening across our division and beyond to remove barriers, expand opportunity and deliver an unparalleled experience. We are proud of this recognition, which we see not as a finish line but as a standard we will continue to pursue for those who have served.”
UT is home to a sizable military-connected community, including more than 750 student veterans and service members, about 1,000 military family members, approximately 236 faculty and staff members who have served in the armed forces, and more than 6,400 alumni with military service.
The university also supports more than 370 ROTC cadets who are training to serve the nation as officers in the U.S. Army, Air Force or Space Force. UT is home to one of the country’s oldest Army ROTC programs.
UT’s Veterans Success Center, established in 2017, supports student veterans in their transition from service member to student. The center offers a range of resources to enhance academic success and holistic development for both student veterans and military-affiliated students.
In 2022, UT established the Vols of Honor scholarship endowment, becoming the first university to partner with the Folds of Honor Foundation to help remove financial barriers for students whose parents were killed or suffered a life-altering disability during their military service.
“Receiving a Gold ranking from Military Friendly is a strong affirmation of UT’s commitment to serving those who have served,” said Thomas Cruise, veteran and director of the Veterans Success Center. “This designation reflects a comprehensive evidence-based review of our programs, policies and outcomes. And, more importantly, it confirms that our work is making a meaningful difference for our student veterans and military-connected students. I’m proud of this recognition because it represents the collective effort across our campus and reinforces our responsibility to keep expanding access, opportunity and success for the military-connected community.”
UT previously held Silver status from Military Friendly.
Resources to help student veterans thrive
In addition to the Veterans Success Center, the university offers numerous resources to support military-affiliated students. To meet the needs of UT’s growing veteran and military student population, the Division of Student Success established the Office of Veteran Benefits Administration in 2024. In 2022, the Board of Trustees approved in-state tuition for veterans, active-duty military personnel, reservists, Tennessee National Guard members, and Army and Air Force ROTC cadets, regardless of residency status.
Last year Military Friendly named UT sophomore Kevin Ho its Veteran of the Year in Higher Education. In December, the Tennessee Department of Veteran Services recognized UT as a Veteran Ready Business for the second consecutive year. In addition, UT is certified as a Tennessee VETS campusfor its focus on helping veterans transition successfully from military service to college enrollment. The latest U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings placed UT 48th among public institutions and 67th nationally as a best college for veterans.
About Military Friendly Schools
The Military Friendly Schools list and ratings are based on public data and responses to the annual Military Friendly Schools survey. Each year, participating schools are evaluated using methodology and standards developed with input from an independent research firm and the Military Friendly Advisory Council.
Survey results are weighted across key categories, and final ratings are based on survey performance and the institution’s success in meeting benchmarks for student retention, graduation, job placement, loan repayment and loan default rates — for all students and specifically for student veterans.
To learn more about the university’s programs and support services for veterans and military-affiliated students, visit Veterans at UT.
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