April 22, 2025
SIU Carbondale named a friendly university to military students, vets, families
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois University Carbondale continues to be among the top universities in providing educational opportunities to military veterans, active duty personnel and their families on campus, online and in extended campus offerings.
SIU Carbondale, along with two SIU Online and Extended Campus locations in Florida and California earned “2025-2026 Military Friendly® School” by VIQTORY, a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business. The list will be published in the May and October issues of G.I. Jobs magazine.
The designation follows SIU Carbondale’s designation in fall 2024 on Military Times magazine’s “Best for Vets: Colleges” list, where SIU ranked third among colleges and universities in the Midwest and first in Illinois.
Paul S. Copeland, SIU Carbondale Veterans Services coordinator, said continuing to focus on student success, which permeates throughout the university, is key. SIU has consistently appeared in the rankings for more than a decade. Copeland is also the university’s veterans services coordinator for the SIU School of Medicine, where three veteran students are working toward medical degrees, he said.
“We attract and retain military and veteran students and their family members because we offer degree program that meet their needs, and we provide support to help them achieve their academic goals,” Copeland said. “It is nice to receive external recognition, but I don’t get nearly as much satisfaction from earning Gold status on this list as I do from recognizing a veteran student receiving their diploma at the graduation ceremony.”
Solid rankings
The list is based on public data sources from more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans and responses to a survey from participating institutions.
SIU’s Naval Air Station Jacksonville program is ranked eighth among the top 10 military friendly schools and sixth among the top 10 for military spouse friendly schools 2024-2025 list. SIU Carbondale, the SIU Online and Extended Campus program at Naval Base San Diego, and the SIU School of Medicine are each in the organization’s Gold category. Since the rankings were calculated, SIU has been designated a Research 1 university in the Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher Education, joining the ranks of flagship and elite schools.
Ongoing commitment
SIU Carbondale serves around 542 active duty personnel, veterans and military family members.
SIU Online and Extended Campus serves 365 of these students who are on active duty and are veterans taking courses online and/or at off-campus locations while using Veterans Affairs educational benefits, said Christina Lawrence, Extended Campus VA school certifying official.
Susan Wegmann, executive director of SIU Online and Extended Campus, said that school experiences are different for everyone, especially military students.
“We are committed to providing an environment where military students can thrive and be successful,” Wegmann she said. “With tailored support services, flexible learning options and a welcoming community, SIU ensures that military students have the resources they need to achieve their academic and career goals.”
SIU Online and Extended Campus offers bachelor’s degrees in 22 programs at 14 off-campus locations in California, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Washington. In addition to Naval Base San Diego and Naval Air Station Jacksonville, SIU is also at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor in Washington.
Lawrence noted the same commitment found with on-campus programming extends to SIU Online and Extended Campus students, “many of whom balance military service, family responsibilities and careers while pursuing their education remotely.”
“Even from miles away, these students benefit from the same personalized academic advising, tailored resources, and dedicated support services that our on-campus Salukis receive. Their success stories are a powerful reminder that distance does not diminish determination — or achievement,” she said.
More information on the comprehensive programs offered by SIU Carbondale’s Veterans Services is available at veterans.siu.edu, by calling 618-453-1335 or email at vets@siu.edu.