East Tennessee State University has once again been recognized among the nation's top institutions for supporting military-affiliated students, earning Gold status in the 2026-27 Military Friendly® School rankings.

This marks the 16th consecutive year ETSU has earned the designation.

ETSU is one of a select group of universities nationwide to receive the Gold-level designation, which recognizes institutions that demonstrate exceptional commitment to recruiting, supporting and graduating veterans, active-duty service members, military spouses and their families.

For Dreya Cox, an ETSU College of Nursing student and Army ROTC cadet from Gray, Tennessee, the recognition reflects the opportunities she has found since arriving on campus.

The daughter of a retired U.S. Coast Guard helicopter pilot, Cox is preparing for a career of service while balancing the demands of nursing school and ROTC leadership.

“So many doors have opened since I started here at ETSU,” Cox said. “I've been able to grow as a leader and mentor in ROTC while furthering my education through Nursing school. My experience has been positive, but it's taken hard work and dedication to get to where I am now.”

Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated through a rigorous evaluation of public data, student feedback and institutional programs. More than 3,200 schools participated in this year's evaluation, with 878 earning the 2026-27 Military Friendly® School designation.

Services at ETSU designed specifically for military-affiliated students include personalized advising, priority registration, work-study opportunities and access to the Military-Affiliated Student Resource Center (MARC) in Lucille Clement Hall.

Last year, ETSU slashed tuition rates for active-duty military students by nearly 50%.

“Supporting military-affiliated students is part of who we are at ETSU,” said Col. Dan Bishop, director of Military and Veteran Services. “Every veteran, service member and military family member brings valuable leadership, resilience and perspective to our campus. Our goal is to ensure they have the resources, guidance and community they need to succeed.”

Bishop said the university's continued recognition reflects years of intentional investment in military-affiliated students.

“We're honored to continue this tradition of service,” Bishop said. “While we're proud to receive Gold status once again, what matters most is creating an environment where military-affiliated students feel welcomed, supported and empowered to achieve their goals.”

Need assistance? Visit Military and Veteran Services or contact va@etsu.edu or (423) 439-6819.