For the first time, Daemen University has been named to the Military Times Best for Vets: Colleges list, the largest and most comprehensive annual ranking of schools for military service members and veterans.

This year, 325 schools made the list. Daemen is one of only three institutions in Western New York to be included and one of only 41 in the Northeast. 

“We are thrilled to be included on the Military Times Best for Vets list this year,” said Mark Martinez, the director of veteran and family services at Daemen. “Making this list spotlights our continued efforts in serving our veterans, dependents, and military community and how we’re continuously working on improving those efforts.” 

Each year, a Military Times survey is sent to colleges and universities across the nation asking about their programs for veterans. The results are then analyzed, along with public data about colleges and universities obtained from the Department of Education and Department of Veterans Affairs, and turned into an official ranking. Schools were asked to complete the survey, and the responses were then analyzed by the Military Times data team, producing the annual ranking.

“Our comprehensive survey and thoughtful methodology make our rankings best in class,” said Mike Gruss, editor-in-chief at Sightline Media Group, the parent company of Military Times.

“This distinction recognizes Daemen’s long-standing commitment to providing veterans with the support and resources they need and deserve as they transition to civilian and academic life,” President Gary A. Olson said. 

The university opened the Foundation 214 Veterans Success Center within the Alfiero School of Business last month, creating a central location for coordinated services, support, and programming for veteran and military-aligned students. The center was funded through a $1.5 million grant from Foundation 214, a charitable foundation that supports United States military veterans. 

The grant will also fund the new Accelerated Business Online Veteran Education (ABOVE) program, an expedited online bachelor of science in Business Administration degree program.