Azusa Pacific University has earned the 2026-2027 Military Friendly® School designation with Top 10 status, ranking No. 4 of all Tier 2 Research Institutions nationwide, for offering comprehensive services and support to veteran and military-connected students.
“Being selected for this Top 10 Military Friendly® designation underscores Azusa Pacific University’s deep commitment to our military-connected students,” said Adam J. Morris, PhD, president. “We strive to help these students successfully navigate their college experience so that they grow academically, spiritually, and professionally. Our veterans and service members along with their families enrich our campus immeasurably.”
Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,800 schools participated in the 2026-2027 survey with 830 earning special awards for going above the standard. Survey responses are weighted for the categories of Academic Policies and Compliance, Admissions and Orientation, Culture and Commitment, Financial Aid and Loan Repayment, Graduation and Career Outcomes, and Military Student Support and Retention.
“We have one of the strongest, most robust programs that I’ve seen, which supports not just veterans and military-connected students, but their families as well,” said Brent Theobald, executive director of APU’s Office of Military and Veteran Services.
This recognition is validation of the holistic program that we’ve built and the quality services we offer our students. We provide high touch services including life coaching, career preparation, and counseling to allow our veteran students to maximize their benefits and discover their higher calling.Brent Theobald
APU is committed to supporting these students and will celebrate the opening of its new $3.4 million Military and Veterans Center on April 14. The new 3,900 sq. ft. facility includes six offices, a conference room, a training room, a lounge and study space, and a kitchenette, with an outdoor patio space for general use and special events. This space is home to five staff members to support veteran and military connected students.
“APU has supported our veteran and military-connected students at a very high level for years, but we’re taking it to a whole new level,” Theobald said. “This new center, made possible by the largest gift in university history, will be a consolidated, one stop location for all resources—academic, career, counseling, everything—for veteran and military connected members of our community. Essentially, the center is a place not only for creating community, but for veterans and military students to discover their next mission.”
APU is home to more than 400 veteran and military-connected students, who can use their GI Bill® military education benefits to earn their degrees from a top-ranked university. APU’s services for military-connected students provide a network of support to ensure a smooth transition for students going from military to civilian life, while also helping students maximize their military education benefits. APU, including all regional campus locations, fully complies with Executive Order 13607 establishing Principles of Excellence for educational institutions serving servicemembers, veterans, spouses, and other family members.
The Military Friendly® Schools list is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources from more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans, and responses to the proprietary, data-driven Military Friendly® Schools survey from participating institutions. The survey questions, methodology, criteria and weighting were developed with the assistance of an independent research firm and an advisory council of educators and employers. The survey is administered for free and is open to all postsecondary schools that wish to participate.
Since 1899, Azusa Pacific University, a top Christian higher education institution in the nation, has helped students discover their higher calling to impact the world for Christ. Featuring world-class faculty, an APU education leads to lifelong transformation and eternal impact. APU offers 59 bachelor’s degrees, 34 master’s degrees, 35 certificates and credentials, and 7 doctoral programs to more than 7,000 students at the university’s main campus in Azusa, several regional locations across Southern California, and online. Learn more at apu.edu.