OHIO Online programs continue to climb in veteran rankings

Ohio University’s online programs continue to rank highly, especially for the veteran student population.  The U.S. News and World Report has released its 2026 Best Online Programs rankings, and Ohio University ranked #4 in Best Online Master’s in Nursing Programs for Veterans, #19 in Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans (up 12 spots since 2025), and #30 in Best Online Master’s in Business Programs for Veterans. 

OHIO’s continuous rise in the rankings demonstrates its dedication not only to our veterans, but also to our other military-connected students. In addition to high-quality online programs and experienced faculty, increased support from the Veterans and Military Student Services Center and efforts from OHIO Online staff also play a huge role in this success.  

Over the past several years, OHIO’s Veterans and Military Student Services Center has strengthened its engagement with online military-connected students through intentional, proactive programming. Under the leadership of Director Terry St. Peter and Assistant Director Ray Dixson, the Center has implemented initiatives designed to address the needs of this population. One of those initiatives is a program called S.E.R.V.E (Serve, Empower, Reward Veterans Education). 

According to Center leadership, the S.E.R.V.E program is a student-led initiative designed to enhance the academic and social experience of student veterans at Ohio University. The program focuses on peer-to-peer engagement, resource accessibility, and fostering a strong veteran community—both online and on campus. 

St. Peter mentioned that for students who cannot make it to campus, “S.E.R.V.E has an optional bi-weekly virtual coffee break meeting that allows military-connected students to gather, chat, and ask any questions that they might have.” These virtual sessions are particularly valuable for OHIO Online students who live outside the Athens area and rely on remote engagement to stay connected to their military community. For student veterans who want to take on a leadership role in S.E.R.V.E, they have the opportunity to join the VALOR squad. Students on the squad focus specifically on improving the veteran student experience. Some of their tasks include facilitating engagement opportunities, organizing virtual and in-person check-ins, gathering student feedback, and advocating for improved services and programming. The VALOR squad also has an Online Team, underscoring the center’s commitment to improving the OHIO Online experience for veterans.

In addition to these student-led initiatives, Dixson proposed that the Center create a Canvas course for students who identify as military-connected. All military-connected students are automatically enrolled in this resource course, so they can receive updates about VA education benefits, upcoming events hosted by the Veterans Center or the Student Veterans of America (SVA), and other initiatives and resources that support this student population. These proactive communications help prevent students from missing important information they may have otherwise overlooked. For OHIO Online students who already use Canvas daily to access their coursework, the resource course integrates seamlessly into their existing routines.

Another way that the Center is meeting students' needs proactively is by raising awareness for faculty and staff. Dixson teaches a voluntary faculty-staff awareness training series called Landing Zone every fall and spring semester. According to St. Peter, “Landing Zone was created to help faculty and administrators understand veterans and military connected students, their needs, their experiences, and things they bring to the table.” These training courses are held virtually via Microsoft Teams, so that online staff and faculty can attend.

For Dixson, who is a veteran himself, teaching these trainings is personal: “When I transitioned out of military service more than 30 years ago, veterans centers were not common on college campuses, and there was very little guidance . . .Today’s students  deserve to be supported by faculty and staff who understand what it means to volunteer to serve in our nation’s military.” He hopes that through these courses, staff and faculty can begin to “understand the challenges that some—not all—veterans face when transitioning from service to college [which] can help create a more welcoming and supportive environment for students who may already be navigating the uncertainty of leaving a structured and familiar way of life.”

The center currently serves 980 online military-connected students, and those numbers are expected to grow in the coming years. St. Peter, expressed appreciation for the work his team has accomplished, especially regarding online student involvement: “We’re proud of the long way we’ve come.”

St. Peter worked closely with OHIO Online’s Senior Director of Affinity Programs and Student Engagement Kathy Wilson to develop the OHIO Online Military Incentive Scholarship. This scholarship is available to current active duty, guardsmen, reservists, and veterans of the United States Armed Forces, including the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard. For students that meet this requirement, they are eligible for a 10% incentive scholarship for online undergraduate programs, and a 15% incentive scholarship for the eligible online graduate programs. 

OHIO Online is proud to offer this scholarship each year. Wilson says, “It is an honor to be able to provide these scholarships to veteran and active military students.  They have given so much to our country; it only feels right to lighten the financial burden in a small way for these students. The scholarship can be used alongside any additional benefits that these students receive, allowing their benefits to get them further.” Last year, 126 students received this scholarship to help fund their studies.  

Wilson said, “In addition to the scholarships, we are proud to be a Yellow Ribbon school and a Military Friendly designated school. This designation along with our dedicated staff in our Veterans and Military Student Services Center make Ohio University a great option for military-connected students.” 

Ohio University has continued to earn a Military Friendly Schools® designation for the 2025–2026 academic year. This is the 14th consecutive year the institution has received this distinction. The Military Friendly Schools® designation is awarded each year based on an evaluation conducted by Viqtory Media, a veteran-owned company that also publishes G.I. Jobs magazine. Ohio University is also recognized as an Ohio Collegiate Purple Star school.

With an Ohio University degree, veterans and military-connected students can be assured that they will attain a high-quality degree and be supported throughout their entire academic journey.