Morgan State University Earns Multiple National Distinctions for Excellence in Supporting Veterans and Military-Connected Students

University Secures 2026–2027 Military Friendly Gold Status, Military Friendly Spouse School Designation and Recognition Among Nation’s Best Colleges for Veterans

BALTIMORE — Continuing its longstanding commitment to serving those who have served the nation, Morgan State University has earned a new slate of national recognitions honoring its support of veterans, active-duty service members and military-connected students. The University, through the efforts of its Veterans Engagement Services program, has secured the 2026–2027 Military Friendly® School designation with Gold Status, along with recognition as a Military Friendly® Spouse School, while also earning distinctions from Military Times and U.S. Veterans Magazine among the nation’s leading institutions for veterans pursuing higher education.

The latest honors include Morgan’s selection for the 2026 Best for Vets: Colleges rankings by Military Times and recognition by U.S. Veterans Magazine as a 2026 Top Veteran School, complementing the University’s previously announced 2026 Top Yellow Ribbon School designation. Collectively, the distinctions underscore Morgan’s sustained investment in academic accessibility, educational benefits assistance and comprehensive student support services that help military-affiliated students successfully transition to higher education, complete their degrees and pursue new professional opportunities.

The recognitions further reinforce Morgan’s standing among institutions nationally acknowledged for creating supportive educational environments for veterans and their families, reflecting a commitment to military-connected student success that has earned the University Military Friendly Gold Status dating back to 2016.

“Veteran and military-connected student support is an institutional commitment here at Morgan State that is deeply rooted in our campus community’s great appreciation for the service of the uniformed men and women,” said Shirleene Prioleau, assistant registrar for Veterans Engagement Services at Morgan. “We take great value and responsibility in ensuring that their pursuit of higher education is met with meaningful opportunity and support. These national distinctions affirm our efforts in meeting this charge and we look forward to continuing to create an environment where veterans, service members and their families can successfully pursue their educational and professional aspirations.”

National Recognition for Veteran Student Success

Morgan’s inclusion in the Military Times 2026 Best for Vets: Colleges rankings places the University among 370 colleges and universities across all 50 states recognized for their commitment to military-connected students. The 2026 rankings represent the largest field of recognized institutions in the program’s history, increasing from 357 schools in 2025, according to Military Times, which has evaluated colleges and universities for more than a decade.

The annual rankings assess institutional policies, academic programs, university culture, financial assistance, student support services and educational outcomes, with particular attention to how effectively institutions meet the evolving needs of military-connected students.

The 2026 rankings also reflect a changing military student population, including growing numbers of military spouses and dependents pursuing degrees while balancing family responsibilities, employment and military obligations. Participating institutions are evaluated on their ability to address these circumstances through responsive academic policies, streamlined educational benefits processing and targeted career development services.

Accompanying to this latest recognition, U.S. Veterans Magazine recognized Morgan among its 2026 Top Veteran Schools in the publication’s November issue, released in observance of Veterans Day. The annual recognition highlights colleges and universities demonstrating a commitment to veterans, transitioning service members and military-connected students through supportive campus environments, academic resources and programs responsive to their educational needs.

The recognition follows Morgan’s selection as a 2026 Top Yellow Ribbon School, announced earlier this year by the same publication. That distinction acknowledges institutions providing      dedicated resources and services that facilitate access to higher education for veterans and eligible military-connected students.

Sustaining a Gold Standard in Military-Friendly Education

Adding to its growing portfolio of national military-related honors, Morgan has once again earned the 2026–2027 Military Friendly® School designation at the Gold Status level, along with the Military Friendly® Spouse School designation.

Awarded through the Military Friendly® program, the designations recognize institutions demonstrating measurable commitments to recruiting, retaining and supporting veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses throughout their educational journeys.

Institutions are evaluated through a combination of public data and proprietary survey responses, with final ratings assessing performance across student recruitment, retention, academic progress, graduation, career placement and support services. Gold Status recognizes institutions exceeding established performance benchmarks and demonstrating a sustained commitment to military-affiliated student success.

Morgan’s continued Gold Status designation reflects its consistent performance against these standards, while its recognition as a Military Friendly® Spouse School acknowledges the University’s commitment to extending educational opportunities and support to military families.

“Earning the Military Friendly® designation is more than a badge of honor; it is a reflection of an institution’s deep-rooted values and strategic commitment to those who served,” said Kayla Lopez, vice president of memberships for Military Friendly®. “These schools don’t just open doors for veterans and military spouses, they build sustainable pathways for academic success and long-term impact.”

Morgan is featured in the 2026–2027 Guide to Schools and on MilitaryFriendly.com, where additional information about the designations and evaluation methodology is available.

Advancing Educational Opportunities for Those Who Serve

Central to Morgan’s continued recognition is its Veterans Engagement Services, housed within the University’s Office of the Registrar. The office serves as a primary resource for student veterans, active-duty service members, military spouses, dependents and eligible survivors, providing individualized assistance and access to services that support their academic progress.

Through educational benefits guidance, assistance navigating veterans’ education programs and coordination with campus resources, Veterans Engagement Services helps military-connected students address the challenges associated with transitioning to and navigating university life. Its work supports Morgan’s broader institutional commitment to educational access, student retention, degree completion and career readiness.

Together, the latest recognitions affirm the University’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that military-connected students and their families have access to the resources, guidance and educational opportunities necessary to achieve success beyond their service.

For more information about Morgan’s Veterans Engagement Services, visit morgan.edu/veteranservices or call 443-885-3017.

About Morgan

Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 150 baccalaureate, master’s degree, doctorate and certificate programs. As Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu. 

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Media Contacts:

Larry Jones, Dell Jackson or Cheryl Stewart for Morgan State University PR
443-885-3022

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