AU named 2026 Top Veteran School by U.S. Veterans Magazine
ASHLAND, Ohio – Ashland University has been selected a 2026 Top Veteran School in the November issue of U.S. Veterans Magazine, a recognition reserved for those institutions that create environments where veterans and military-connected individuals can learn, grow and thrive.
U.S. Veterans Magazine’s evaluation consisted of five key criteria: veteran resources, academic support, career preparation, flexible options and campus connections.
AU, which serves more than 400 military-connected students across its undergraduate, graduate and online programs, was among the honorees featured in the magazine with a full-page article on the university’s commitment to military-connected students. The article praised Ashland’s “dedicated staff, specialized facilities and year-round programming (that) give veterans, service members and their families places to find answers—and each other.”
The cornerstone of AU’s support is the Jack W. Liebert Military & Veteran Resource Center. Established in 2020, “The Jack” is a hub for military-connected students where staff members provide guidance to help students successfully transition to college life and the center’s recreation and communal spaces offer opportunities to study, socialize and connect with others who share similar experiences and values.
AU holds a series of events each year in support of the military and veteran students, including the Battle of the Branches, ruck marches, R.E.D. (Remember Everyone Deployed) Fridays, and most recently, a Flights of Honor: 9/11 Remembrance Challenge.
The article also recognized AU’s wide-ranging support of military-connected students, extending from their time as a student through graduation and beyond. It highlighted the USA House, “a dedicated on-campus residence for military-connected students,” as one of AU’s most distinctive resources, as well as the university’s Career Center for Life Calling and outside partners that “connect students with potential employers interested in hiring veterans and service members.”
Being named a 2026 Top Veteran School is the latest in a series of honors that AU has received for its support of military-connected students and their families:
- In April 2026, AU was honored with the Seven Seals Award, an organization-wide recognition for meritorious leadership and initiative in support of the men and women who serve America in the National Guard and Reserve
- In May 2024, Randy Spade, now AU’s vice president for enrollment management, was recognized with the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve’s Patriot Award recognizing his efforts to support employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve
- AU was named one of 16 National Partner institutions in the National Veterans Leadership Foundation network, which helps veterans access educational opportunities
- In May 2022, AU was a member of the first class of Collegiate Purple Star campuses in Ohio, as awarded by the Ohio Department of Higher Education for being supportive and inclusive of military-connected students
U.S. Veterans Magazine is a trusted resource for employment, business and educational opportunities for veterans, transitioning service members and their families, service-disabled veterans and veteran business owners. Its 2026 Top Veteran Schools evaluation included independent research, publicly available information and materials submitted during the review period.