NICEVILLE — Northwest Florida State College has been named a Gold-level Military Friendly School for the 2025-26 academic year, one of only six Florida schools to attain that distinction.
The designation, awarded following an independent evaluation of more than 1,800 colleges and universities nationwide by militaryfriendly.com, recognizes institutions that excel in providing services and resources to veterans, active-duty service members and their families.
The five other public colleges or universities in Florida to receive Gold-level status this year are Florida International University, Indian River State College, Palm Beach State College, the University of West Florida and the University of North Florida.
“We are honored to be recognized as a Gold-level Military Friendly School,” said NWFSC President Mel Ponder in a prepared statement. “This distinction reflects our deep commitment to those who serve and have served our nation, and it underscores the inclusive, supportive environment we strive to foster at Northwest Florida State College.”
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The Military Friendly Schools list is compiled annually based on publicly available data and responses to a proprietary survey. Final ratings consider several factors, including student retention, graduation and job placement rates, loan repayment, and default rates, particularly concerning outcomes for military and veteran students.
According to 2023 data, more than 5% of NWFSC students receive Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits — nearly three times the average for Florida College System institutions.
This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: NWFSC named gold-level military friendly school for 2025-26