SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State University, which serves over 3,200 active duty military and reserve students as well as military dependents, has been named a top school for military veterans by The Military Times newspaper.

In its annual Best for Vets: Colleges 2017 rankings, San Diego State is ranked No. 25 among four-year universities and is one of only two in California among the top 25, along with Cal State San Bernardino.

The survey ranks colleges and universities on an array of services, special rules, accommodations and financial incentives offered to students with military ties, and aspects of veteran culture on campus. Institutions are evaluated in several categories, with university culture and academic outcomes bearing the most weight.

SDSU is home to the Joan and Art Barron Veterans Center is a resource for current and former military members and their families. Also, the university's Student Veteran Organization, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, helps provide the personal camaraderie veterans were accustomed to during military service.

SDSU is also home to the Student Veterans House. Established in 2009, it is the first of its kind in the United States. The university continues to support the Student Veterans House, which provides military-affiliated students with a space for meetings, workshops and events.

In addition to programs for veterans, SDSU also strives to educate the campus community about the unique needs of the military population via the Joan and Art Barron Veterans Center-developed Military Ally program, a four-hour course that provides insight into the cultural and social background of the military community and generates a visible network of partners on campus.

SDSU was one of more than 500 colleges considered for this year’s Best for Vets rankings. The organization ranked 130 four-year schools, 25 online and nontraditional schools and 14 two-year schools.

The rankings are to be published in a special magazine issue of Military Times later this month, as well as online at MilitaryTimes.com, ArmyTimes.com, NavyTimes.com, AirForceTimes.com and MarineCorpsTimes.com.

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