UTC selected to 2023 Military Times Best for Vets: Colleges list

The Greater Chattanooga Navy League’s Sea Cadets visited the UTC Veteran and Military Affairs Salute to Heroes Military Appreciation game day tailgate on Nov. 4, 2023.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has been recognized as one of the country’s top schools for military veterans by Military Times, a trusted source for independent news and information for service members and their families.

UTC placed 54th out of 325 institutions nationwide selected for Military Times’ 2023 Best for Vets: Colleges list, described as the largest and most comprehensive annual ranking of schools for military service members and veterans.

“Recognition on the Military Times’ Best for Vets list is like a giant pat on the back—not for us, but to the students. The students support us by saying, ‘These resources we have, some of them we’ve never experienced in our life,’” said Sylvana Matthews, UTC director of veteran and military affairs. “This recognition represents that our community is growing and getting stronger.

“Military community often speaks word-of-mouth. They tell each other, they tell family, they tell their brothers and sisters, their next-of-kin. When they come to UTC and Chattanooga, they build a close-knit community here.”

Approximately 600 veterans, military-affiliated students, spouses and dependents of veterans are enrolled at UTC this fall, comprising more than 5% of the student population.

UTC’s military-connected programs and initiatives include:

Veteran and Military Affairs Student Ambassador Program
Military Student Advisory Council
Military Science (ROTC)
Veterans Entrepreneurship Program
Chancellor’s Annual Veterans Day Luncheon

Each year, the Military Times survey is sent to colleges and universities across the nation asking about their programs for veterans. The survey results are then analyzed, along with public data about colleges and universities obtained from the Department of Education and Department of Veterans Affairs, and turned into an official ranking.

Methodology includes student success metrics such as completion, retention, persistence, GPA and graduation—followed by the range of military-specific resources and the level of financial assistance offered. Admissions and registration policies, human resources and assorted miscellaneous considerations also factor into the scoring rubric.

According to Military Times, the rankings have become a go-to resource for schools to spread the word about their veteran programs and help veterans make important decisions about their educational planning and how to use the education benefits they earned through military service.

“Our comprehensive survey and thoughtful methodology make our rankings best in class,” said Mike Gruss, editor-in-chief at Sightline Media Group, the parent company of Military Times.

To learn more about the Best for Vets: Colleges list and other UTC stories, visit UTC News.