Morgan State University Earns 2025–2026 Military Friendly School Designation and Recognized as a ‘Best for Vets’ Gold Star Institution

Morgan State Athletics Hosts ‘Military and First Responder Appreciation Day’ at Hughes Memorial Stadium for the Bears vs. Delaware State Hornets Game on November 7

BALTIMORE — Morgan State University has once again been recognized among the nation’s top institutions for its commitment to serving military students, earning the distinguished 2025–2026 Military Friendly School designation, Military Friendly Spouse School designation, and being named a “Best for Vets” Gold Star College by Military Times.

These honors highlight Morgan’s ongoing dedication to supporting active-duty service members, veterans, and their families through comprehensive academic, financial, and personal support services tailored to the military community.

“Morgan State University is proud to be a place where those who have served our country can thrive academically and personally,” said Shirleene Prioleau, assistant registrar for Veterans Engagement Services. “These distinctions are a reflection of our commitment to ensuring that our veterans, their spouses, and dependents have access to the resources and opportunities they need to succeed beyond their military service. Having held Military Friendly Gold Status since 2016, this latest designation underscores our disciplined and unwavering approach to serving those who serve.”

Morgan’s Gold Status Military Friendly® School designation—awarded by Viqtory Media, a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB)—recognizes higher education institutions that demonstrate leading practices in recruiting, supporting, and retaining military-affiliated students.

Institutions were evaluated using public data and proprietary survey responses, with more than 1,800 schools participating in the 2025–2026 cycle. Only 830 institutions, including Morgan, received awards for exceeding standards across key measures such as student retention, graduation, job placement, loan repayment, and persistence rates for veterans. The 2025–2026 list will be published in the October issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and available online at www.militaryfriendly.com.

Viqtory’s Vice President, Kayla Lopez, praised awardees like Morgan, noting, “Our standards provide a benchmark that promotes positive outcomes and support services that better the educational landscape and provide opportunity for the Military Community. This creates a competitive atmosphere that encourages Institutions to evolve and invest in their programs consistently.”

Morgan’s recognition as a Military Friendly® Spouse School further highlights the University’s inclusive approach to the entire military family, offering academic flexibility, financial support, and a community that values the unique experiences of military spouses and dependents. 

In addition to being heralded as “Military Friendly,” Morgan currently holds the distinction as a “Best for Vets” Gold Star-ranked institution for 2024 by the Military Times. The “Best for Vets” ranking is an honor awarded to colleges that excel in creating a welcoming and successful environment for veterans pursuing higher education. Institutions earning the Best for Vets designation are subject to a survey of their school’s veteran-focused programs. The survey responses, along with public data sourced from the Department of Education and Department of Veterans Affairs, undergo a rigorous analysis by the Military Times data team to produce a trusted, unbiased ranking. Morgan was among an impressive 304 schools that made the list in 2024, marking its fourth time earning the honor, demonstrating the University’s commitment to supporting the military community in their educational journeys. 

Housed within Morgan’s Office of the Registrar, Veterans Engagement Services is a primary resource for student veterans, their spouses or dependents and their survivors who choose to come to Morgan State University. The office provides student support services internally and externally while providing a veteran-friendly atmosphere and a keen understanding of the challenges associated with military service members’ and veterans’ efforts to fulfill their college educational needs. Morgan offers a variety of veteran-focused programs and services to assist in this regard.

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

Honoring Military and First Responders

In recognition of the men and women in uniform, Morgan State Athletics will host a Military and First Responder Appreciation Day on November 7, 2025, when the Morgan State Bears face off against the Hornets of Delaware State University at Hughes Memorial Stadium. The event, held on the Friday before Veterans Day, will feature special tributes during the ESPN-broadcast game. Tickets are available online.

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, or Dell Jackson, for Morgan State University PR
443-885-3022