“First and foremost, we help them get the most out of their military and veteran education benefits,”
University of Wisconsin-Stout’s long tradition of serving the military community has once again earned the university high honors as a Military Friendly® School.
Its silver designation through the program marked the 16th consecutive year that UW-Stout has been named a Military Friendly® School because of its efforts to offer service and support to meet the needs of military students.
UW-Stout is one of only five Wisconsin institutions to rank on the Military Friendly® small public university list this year. It was also named a Military Spouse Friendly School. The 2025-26 Military Friendly® School list was published in the April issue of G.I. Jobs Magazine.
Retired Army Lt. Col. Brian Hackner, military education benefits coordinator with UW-Stout’s Veteran Services, said the repeated achievement helps draw veterans’ attention to the university. As a polytechnic university, “There are a lot of programs we have that match with the experience and careers that the military students have,” Hackner said. Fields such as engineering, manufacturing, information technology, supply chain management and administration are designed to parallel military jobs and roles and recognize the skills, leadership and technical expertise that are gained through military service, he said.
“UW-Stout’s focus on applied learning resonates with veteran and military students, because of the many similarities to their military experience,” added Veterans Services Consultant Christopher Engen, a retired U.S. Army colonel.
The Military Friendly® designation stems from a combination of other factors in addition to the university’s academic programs, Engen added.
“First and foremost, we help them get the most out of their military and veteran education benefits,” he said. From the Federal G.I. Bill® to Department of Defense tuition assistance and Wisconsin National Guard tuition grants, the office helps eligible students access nine federal and state military education benefits.
Veteran Services also serves as a one-stop shop for all the military students’ needs, connecting them with other campus services and providing a sense of camaraderie, Engen added.
Each year, as part of the Military Friendly® program, the university undergoes a rigorous evaluation of areas impacting military students, including academic policies and compliance; financial aid and tuition assistance; campus and student support services; student retention and outcomes; military-friendly campus culture; military-related community engagement and partnerships; flexibility for active-duty military students; institutional commitment and military friendly leadership; and training for faculty and staff.
The Military Friendly ranking isn’t the only such honor that UW-Stout has earned repeatedly. Last November, Military Times again placed UW-Stout on its 2024 Best for Vets Colleges list. UW-Stout ranked first among public universities or colleges in Wisconsin, was 12th in the Midwest, and 112th among the 304 schools nationwide that qualified.
UW-Stout is also ranked among the Best Schools for Veterans by U.S. News & World Report.
UW-Stout Veteran Services exists to serve military-affiliated students, including veterans, current servicemembers (both active and reserve) and the children and spouses of current or former members of the U.S. military.
Hackner explains that his office provides a wide range of services to these students. They advise students about federal and state military education benefits, assist them in applying for those benefits, certify their enrollment as well as coordinate with internal and external agencies. Veteran Services also works to ensure military students’ success by building a sense of community among military-affiliated students, provides counseling and resources, offers a Veterans Mentorship Program, and operates a Military and Veterans Resources Center in Bowman Hall. Veteran Services also provides resources for faculty and staff and supports on- and off-campus partnerships for military affiliated students.
As of fall 2024, there were nearly 200 self-identified veteran and military students on campus – including veterans, those on active duty, and National Guard and Reserve members – and another 629 students who were the spouses or dependent children of veterans or military members.
The university’s most recent First Destination Report stated that 100% of veteran graduates were employed within six months of graduation.
UW-Stout Veteran Services can provide advice on veteran and military education benefits and assists with applying for benefits, and can be reached by calling 715-232-1659 or emailing veteranstudents@uwstout.edu.
