Did You Know All Three of Our Universities Have Been Recognized as Military Friendly Schools?

Alaska, a state defined by its vast wilderness and resilient communities, is also home to an educational system that stands out for its commitment to those who serve. The University of Alaska (UA) system—encompassing the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA), University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), and University of Alaska Southeast (UAS)—has earned a prestigious distinction: all three universities have been recognized as Military Friendly Schools. As of March 31, 2025, this accolade from Military Friendly®, a program assessing institutions on their support for military-connected students, underscores UA’s dedication to veterans, active-duty personnel, and their families. This article explores what this recognition means through the lenses of blogging, career guidance, exam preparation, scholarships and funding, student lifestyle, and study materials, revealing how UA’s military-friendly ethos attracts and supports Alaska’s military community.

Blog: Voices of Military Pride

Blogging within the UA system amplifies the Military Friendly Schools recognition, offering a platform for students, staff, and alumni to share their stories. The UA News Center has celebrated this achievement, with posts like a 2022 piece noting all three universities’ designations—UAA and UAS earning gold status by 2024-2025, and UAF securing silver. A UAA student veteran might blog, “From JBER to a Degree: How UAA Made It Possible,” detailing their transition from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) to campus life, supported by the Military and Veteran Student Services (MVSS) office.

These blogs resonate deeply in Alaska, where 18% of UAA’s students and over 20% of UAF’s are military-affiliated. A UAS student in Juneau might write about balancing Coast Guard duties with online classes, highlighting the gold distinction’s real-world impact. Blogs foster a virtual community, connecting military students across UA’s sprawling campuses and rural hubs. They also showcase tangible benefits—like UAA’s gold status for the second consecutive year in 2024-2025—making the Military Friendly recognition a lived experience, not just a title.

Career Guidance: Building Futures for Those Who Serve

The UA system’s Military Friendly status is rooted in robust career guidance tailored to military students. At UAA, the MVSS office provides one-on-one counseling, helping veterans like Yesi Calizo, a former Air Force Space Command member, uncover benefits to fund her marketing degree. Advisors align military experience—such as leadership from service—with UA programs in high-demand Alaska fields like aviation, oil and gas, or health sciences. UAF’s proximity to Fort Wainwright and Eielson Air Force Base enhances this, with on-base educational offices guiding soldiers into careers like engineering or environmental science.

UAS takes a unique approach with its College Student Pre-commissioning Initiative (CSPI) Coast Guard Scholarship, blending education with Coast Guard training—a pathway to officer roles. Across all three campuses, career services offer resume workshops, job placement support, and networking events, ensuring military students transition smoothly to civilian careers. This guidance reflects UA’s Military Friendly ethos: meeting students where they are and preparing them for where they want to go, with 60% of the designation’s score tied to retention, graduation, and job outcomes.

Exam Preparation: Equipping Military Students for Success

Exam preparation is a cornerstone of UA’s support for military students, reflecting its Military Friendly commitment to academic persistence. UAA’s MVSS partners with New Student Orientation to host military-specific sessions—nearly 100 students attended the inaugural 2024 event—covering GI Bill benefits and study strategies. A student at UAF might use the Department of Military and Veteran Services (DMVS) to access tutoring for Math 151 finals, while UAS students in remote Sitka rely on online proctoring for psychology exams.

UA’s reduced military tuition rate ($250/credit vs. $325 standard) eases financial stress, letting students focus on prep tools like ALEKS for math or Blackboard quizzes for humanities. Military-friendly policies—like UAA professors accommodating reserve training absences—ensure exam readiness isn’t derailed by service obligations. This flexibility, paired with resources like the Teaching and Learning Center’s free workshops, boosts confidence and performance, contributing to UA’s high marks in student retention and graduation—key Military Friendly metrics.

Scholarships & Funding: Affordability for Heroes

Affordability is a pillar of UA’s Military Friendly designation, with scholarships and funding options tailored to military students. All three universities cap undergraduate tuition at $250 per credit for active-duty, Guard, and Reserve members, waiving most fees to align with military tuition assistance. At UAA, this saves students hundreds per semester, while UAF’s discounted rates extend to dependents and veterans near military bases. UAS complements this with initiatives like the Forrer Family Dual Enrollment Scholarship, supporting high schoolers transitioning to college.

Beyond institutional aid, UA students tap into state and federal programs. The Alaska Performance Scholarship rewards academic excellence, with dual enrollment grads—56% of whom join UA—twice as likely to complete degrees. VA benefits, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill (funding over 1,400 UAA students in 2022-2023), and Yellow Ribbon contributions at some UA partners further reduce costs. These financial supports—backed by UA’s gold and silver statuses—ensure military students can pursue education without breaking the bank, reinforcing retention and attracting new enrollees.

Student Lifestyle: A Military-Friendly Culture

The student lifestyle at UA reflects its Military Friendly ethos, blending military and academic life into a supportive tapestry. At UAA, 11% of students are military-connected, thriving in a culture where professors respect service-related absences, as one Army veteran noted: “UAA gets it.” Events like Seawolf Boot Camp—an hourlong training for faculty and staff—deepen this understanding, fostering a campus-wide welcome. UAF, with its Purple Heart Campus designation since 2018, honors wounded veterans, while its 20% military population enjoys on-base resources and virtual clubs.

UAS in Juneau, despite its smaller size, builds community through partnerships with the Coast Guard and online forums for its dispersed students. Across UA, military students balance rigorous academics with service—think a UAF reservist studying late after drills or a UAS Coast Guard spouse managing kids and coursework. Socially, virtual career fairs and student veteran groups offer connection, while lifestyle perks like discounted gym access or Anchorage’s outdoor trails enhance well-being. This military-friendly lifestyle attracts students and keeps them engaged, aligning with UA’s high persistence rates.

Study Materials: Tools for Military Success

UA’s Military Friendly status shines through its provision of study materials, ensuring military students have the resources to excel. UAA’s MVSS sends monthly newsletters with GI Bill updates and links to Blackboard, where students access lectures, readings, and practice tests for courses like Business 101. UAF’s eCampus offers digital textbooks—crucial for rural or deployed students—while UAS provides online libraries with psychology journals or environmental science PDFs, vital for its coastal learners.

Free tools from the Teaching and Learning Center—tutoring, writing guides, and software training—level the playing field. A UAA marketing major might use Excel tutorials to ace a project, while a UAF vet studies Arctic biology via on-base proctoring. Textbooks, averaging $50-$150 per course, are often digital, minimizing delays for remote students. This robust support, tied to UA’s gold and silver designations, equips military students with materials that match their unique needs, boosting academic outcomes and reinforcing the system’s appeal.

A Day in the Life: Living the Military-Friendly Experience

Meet Sam, a UAF sophomore and Army reservist stationed near Fort Wainwright. His day starts at 7:00 AM with a blog draft—“Why UAF’s Military Discounts Changed My Life”—highlighting his $250/credit rate. At 9:00 AM, he attends an online Geology 111 lecture via eCampus, using study materials from Blackboard. Mid-morning, he meets a DMVS advisor for career guidance, eyeing a geoscience degree to pivot into energy jobs.

Afternoon brings exam prep—Sam reviews flashcards for a quiz, thanks to free tutoring—before a drill call at 3:00 PM. Back home, he unwinds with a discounted gym session, a perk of UAF’s military-friendly lifestyle. Evening finds him on a virtual veterans’ forum, connecting with peers across UA campuses, and prepping a scholarship application for next semester. By 10:00 PM, Sam’s day reflects how UA’s Military Friendly status weaves support into every facet of his life.

The Broader Impact: Alaska’s Military-Friendly Legacy

UA’s recognition isn’t just a badge—it’s a lifeline for Alaska’s military community. UAA’s gold status (16th year running), UAF’s silver (up from bronze), and UAS’s gold reflect a system-wide commitment. Over 3,667 students used Post-9/11 GI Bill funds across 29 Alaska schools in 2022, with UA leading the charge. This support retains talent—56% of Middle College dual enrollees join UA—and addresses equity, as rural and Alaska Native participation grows.

The Military Friendly® survey, evaluating 1,800+ schools in 2024-2025, awarded gold to 243, silver to others, and bronze to UAF, placing UA among the top 537 nationwide. Criteria like job placement (a UA strength with Alaska’s core industries) and loan repayment rates highlight why military students stay. This recognition attracts new students—especially from JBER, Fort Wainwright, and Coast Guard bases—building a legacy of service and education.

Conclusion: A Beacon for Military Students

All three University of Alaska institutions—UAA, UAF, and UAS—stand as Military Friendly Schools, a testament to their unwavering support for those who serve. Through blogging, they share their story; career guidance charts their paths; exam preparation builds their skills; scholarships and funding open doors; student lifestyle welcomes them home; and study materials ensure their success. As of March 31, 2025, this recognition isn’t just an honor—it’s a promise kept to Alaska’s military students, drawing them in and helping them thrive in a state they’ve sworn to protect.