FORT PIERCE — Indian River State College announced today that it has earned the 2025-2026 Military Friendly® School designation. Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,800 schools participated in the 2025-2026 survey, with 830 earning special awards for going above the standard. The 2025-2026 Military Friendly® Schools list will be published in the May and October issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and found at www.militaryfriendly.com.

Methodology, criteria, and weightings were determined by Viqtory with input from the Military Friendly® Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community. Final ratings were 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.

“Congratulations to Indian River State College on your Military Friendly® School designation,” said Medal of Honor recipient SSG (ret.) David Bellavia, Special Assistant to the President for Veterans Issues at Indian River State College. “Your commitment to providing veterans, service members, and their families with the resources they need for educational success honors their service in the most meaningful way. By creating an environment where military students can thrive, you are changing individual lives and strengthening our nation. Thank you for recognizing the unique value and perspective that military-connected students bring to your college.”

“At Indian River State College, we are deeply honored to be recognized as a Military Friendly® School,” said Dr. Timothy E. Moore, Indian River State College President. “This designation reflects our unwavering commitment to serving those who have served our nation. At Indian River State College, we have dedicated ourselves to providing comprehensive support, resources, and a welcoming community that honors their service while empowering their academic success. This is more than an accolade—it is a responsibility we proudly embrace as we continue to enhance our programs and services for the brave men and women who have sacrificed for our country.”

Indian River State College proudly welcomes veterans and active-duty service members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their dependents into its educational programs. The College’s Department of Military and Veterans Services, based at the College’s Massey Campus in Fort Pierce, provides dedicated services to all active-duty personnel, reservists, members of the National Guard, veterans, and qualified dependents. The College also connects student veterans with academic, financial, physical, and support services at its Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success at the Pruitt Campus in Port St. Lucie.

“At Indian River State College, we understand the unique challenges faced by military students and have dedicated ourselves to creating pathways that honor their service through accessible, quality education,” said Dr. Calvin Williams, Associate Vice-President of Advising at Indian River State College. “This recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to supporting servicemembers, veterans, and their families in their educational pursuits.”

“Military Friendly® is committed to transparency and providing consistent data-driven standards in our designation process. Our standards provide a benchmark that promotes positive outcomes and support services that better the educational landscape and provide opportunity for the Military Community. This creates a competitive atmosphere that encourages Institutions to evolve and invest in their programs consistently. Schools that achieve awards designation show true commitment in their efforts, exceeding the standard,” said Kayla Lopez, Vice President, Military Friendly®.

Indian River State College continues to solidify its reputation as a premier institution for military-connected students with its latest recognition for being military friendly. This accolade joins a growing list of honors, including being named a top college by Military Advanced Education. The College’s commitment to serving veterans and military families is further evidenced by its perfect 100% compliance rating in the most recent 2023 VA compliance review—a testament to the College’s dedication to proper administration of veterans’ education benefits. Additionally, Indian River State College has earned the prestigious Florida Collegiate Purple Star designation, which acknowledges the institution’s comprehensive support services, dedicated resources, and inclusive policies designed specifically for active-duty service members, veterans, and their families as they pursue their educational and career goals.

For more information about Indian River State College’s student veteran programs, visit the Indian River State College website at irsc.edu. Contact us at veterans-info@irsc.edu or 772-462-7711.