AUM rises to No. 6 nationally among Military Friendly® Schools for 2026–27
Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) continues its upward momentum among the nation’s top institutions serving the military community, climbing three spots to earn another Top 10 national ranking.
For 2026–27, AUM ranks No. 6 nationally as a Military Friendly® School in the Small Public School category — up from No. 9 last year — and No. 4 nationally as a Military Spouse Friendly School. These recognitions reflect the university’s growing impact in supporting veterans, active-duty service members and their families.
“AUM’s new designation reflects the intentional work happening across our campus to support military-affiliated students at every stage of their academic journey,” said AUM Chancellor Carl A. Stockton. “From scholarships to dedicated support services, we are committed to creating an environment where military-affiliated students and their families can thrive, succeed and reach their full potential.”
AUM serves more than 800 military-affiliated students, including spouses and dependents, and has become a trusted academic partner for Alabama’s military community — particularly given its proximity to Maxwell Air Force Base. The designation, awarded by Viqtory Media, highlights the university’s commitment to accessibility, academic excellence and tailored student support.
The Military Friendly® designation recognizes institutions that create meaningful educational pathways for the military community and meet rigorous standards across federal program participation and student success outcomes. Participating institutions must demonstrate involvement in key initiatives such as the Yellow Ribbon Program, Department of Defense Tuition Assistance and the VA’s Principles of Excellence.
Institutions are also evaluated on critical performance indicators, including:
- Student retention and graduation rates
- Job placement outcomes
- Loan repayment and default rates
- Comparative success rates for veteran and non-military students
AUM’s continued Top 10 ranking reflects its ability to meet and exceed these benchmarks through comprehensive, student-centered support services. These include the Veteran & Military Resource Center (VMRC) — a one-stop hub for navigating GI Bill benefits, academic advising and veteran resources.
The university also supports an active chapter of Student Veterans of America, a highly engaged student organization and repeat winner of AUM’s Chancellor’s Cup during Homecoming Week.
In addition to support services, AUM offers a range of financial resources tailored to military-affiliated students. These include the Military & Dependent Scholarship, which offers a 15% undergraduate tuition discount and 35% discount on graduate tuition for eligible service members and their dependents. Additional opportunities include Army ROTC Campus-Based Scholarships, the Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) Scholarship and the Green to Gold Scholarship, which supports active-duty soldiers transitioning to college life.
More than 8,800 institutions nationwide take part in the annual Military Friendly® Schools assessment, which evaluates both public data and institutional survey responses to identify schools making the greatest impact for military-connected students.
Military Friendly® Schools designations are published annually in G.I. Jobs magazine, with full rankings available at MilitaryFriendly.com.
