UIW Once Again Ranked No. 1 “Best for Vets” by National Publication
“Military Times” Ranks UIW Tops for Third Year in a Row
The University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) is proud to announce that it has, once again, been ranked the No. 1 university in the nation by Military Times in its 2025 “Best for Vets: Colleges” list. This marks the third consecutive year that UIW has received the No. 1 ranking from the national publication.
“We are honored to be recognized, once again, as the country’s leading university for members of our military, veterans and military families. That is thanks to many efforts put forth by our UIW community, especially our broad, collective effort to build an environment where they are well supported and can thrive,” said Thomas M. Evans, PhD, UIW president. “While this honor is significant and humbling, the real proof of our commitment to serving military-affiliated students lies in their engagement, formation and success during their UIW journeys and beyond.”
UIW is proud to say that nearly one in five of Fall 2025 undergraduate and graduate students here are military affiliated. Many of them take advantage of the services provided by the UIW Military and Veterans Center, a one-stop place for military affiliated students that offers services and resources to our veteran community. The Center also helps to coordinate yearly events across campus including Veterans Day services, military commissioning ceremonies, the military appreciation game and more.
“This recognition is far more than an award; it’s a reflection of our deep and unwavering commitment to supporting service members, veterans and military families as they pursue their educational goals,” said Tila Jernigan, senior director of UIW Military and Veterans Affairs. “At UIW, we believe that those who have served our nation deserve every opportunity to thrive in their academic and professional journeys. That belief drives the work we do each day.”
“For 15 years, Best for Vets has helped transitioning service members find schools that not only welcome veterans but actively invest in their success,” said Jon Simkins, executive editor of Military Times. “The record-breaking participation this year shows that higher education leaders are listening and working to create environments where veterans can thrive academically and personally.”
This year’s Military Times list included 357 institutions, marking the largest field in the program’s history. The publication collects data from an extensive survey of colleges across the country. Institutions are evaluated on academic quality, student support services, affordability, and outcomes for veterans, including graduation and retention rates.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Michael Valdes, Assistant Director/Media and Public Relations, Office of Communications & Brand Marketing, (210) 829-6001, (210) 422-4052 or michael.valdes@uiwtx.edu