Six New Jersey colleges and universities, plus Berkeley College with campuses in New Jersey and New York City, have earned a spot on the Military Times’ Best Colleges for Vets list, which recognizes higher education institutions with outstanding services for military service members and veterans.
Additionally, seven New Jersey employers were also recognized as Best Employers for Vets because of their military-connected employment programs, benefits and support efforts. These included Johnson & Johnson; Merck & Co.; Prudential Financial Inc.; and the Withum accounting firm, which were all listed among the Top 100. Other New Jersey employers recognized on the Best Employers for Vets list were Beckton Dickinson and Company, Conduent, and Suburban Propane.
The New Jersey schools on the Best Colleges for Vets in the Mid-Atlantic Region included Rutgers University; Stockton University; Rowan College of South Jersey; Ocean County College, New Jersey City University; and Rowan University. Berkeley College, which has several locations in New Jersey as well as a Midtown Manhattan campus, was ranked No. 20 in the Northeast and No. 180 nationally.
More than 250 military-aligned students are enrolled at Berkeley College for the fall 2023 semester. Berkeley College military-aligned students, faculty, staff, and their families will continue the College’s annual tradition of marching in the New York City Veterans Day Parade on Saturday, Nov. 11.
The best colleges for vets’ list is based on responses from 325 schools that answered questions about services and programs for military and veteran students. According to the Military Times, survey results are then analyzed alongside public data from the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Student success metrics, including degree completion and grade-point average, as well as military-specific resources and financial assistance, are used to determine rankings.
The employer rankings identify and highlight efforts that companies and organizations make to recruit, retain and support current and former service members, military spouses and military caregivers. The survey questions and scoring rubric were developed in consultation with veterans and subject matter experts to identify the support employers should provide active-duty and veteran service members.
