Purdue Global advances in Military Times’ 2023 Best for Vets rankings

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Thanks to innovation and continued commitment to serving military-affiliated students, Purdue Global was No. 8 overall nationally among primarily online universities in the Military Times’ 2023 Best for Vets rankings. Military Times produces the largest and most comprehensive annual rankings of colleges for veterans and military-affiliated students.

The Military Times surveys colleges and universities across the nation each year. The results are analyzed and, along with public data about colleges and universities obtained from the departments of Education and Veterans Affairs, are used to create the rankings. Student success metrics (completion, retention, persistence, GPA and graduation) are the most important factors in determining schools’ relative rankings, followed closely by the range of military-specific resources, level of financial support offered, policies and campus culture.

Additional Information

• Veterans Day: Purdue Global faculty, student reflect on their military service
• Purdue Global cuts ribbon on first military base extension
• Purdue Global expands opportunities through Community College of the Air Force program
• New Military Advisory Board to boost Purdue’s Online Learning 2.0 initiative
• Purdue delegation embarks on USS Nimitz, gains insights into naval operations
• A lesson in dedication: Cancer couldn’t stop this Army veteran from pursuing a Purdue Global degree

Purdue Global, in a marked increase over last year’s rankings, placed in 2023 as follows (out of 325 participating institutions):

• 8 in online universities
• 16 in the Midwest
• 93 in four or more years
• 100 in general education
• 105 overall (which includes both primarily in-person and primarily online institutions)

The Military Times’ rankings have become a go-to resource for schools to spread the word about their military programs and help veterans and military-affiliated students make important decisions about their educational planning and use of the education benefits they earned through military service.

“We are excited about these rankings as they validate the increased focus our faculty and staff have been doing to support our military students as they earn their degrees and look to their future careers and continuing education,” said Purdue Global Chancellor Frank Dooley.

Purdue Global is committed to those who have served or are currently serving, recognizing the cultural and social perspective they bring to the classroom. For example, the Office of Military Student Relations was created in 2023 to ensure an inclusive, high-quality, compliant experience for military students across key components of their educational journey and serves veterans, active-duty, Guard and Reserve, spouses and dependents. There are approximately 10,000 military-related students enrolled at Purdue Global.

Barbara Kent, director of Military Student Experience and an Army veteran, said the ranking not only reflects the exceptional commitment from Purdue Global leadership, but also demonstrates and celebrates the success of this special population.

“The resources, world-class faculty and programs that Purdue Global has provided to support these students has one goal in mind — to assist them in their educational journey so they can persist to graduation and then go on to serve their families and communities,” Kent said. 

Kelvin Gumbs, executive director of educational partnerships at Purdue, a 22-year Navy veteran and a Purdue Global alumnus, said there are many elements that demonstrate Purdue Global’s deep commitment to supporting military-affiliated students.

“Building on work of previous years, Purdue Global devoted an increased effort in 2023 to reestablish and focus deeper on military-related relationships by working across branches to ensure that our educational offerings are aligned to both professional development and post-military service career outcomes,” Gumbs said. “Establishing the Military Advisory Board composed of retired senior military officials has helped us think more strategically about how we fully support our military-affiliated students as they persist toward degree completion.”