UB ranked a top military-friendly research institution

UB has been rated among the top military-friendly Tier 1 research institutions in the U.S. for 2025-26 by MilitaryFriendly.com.

The designation honors institutions that provide the best opportunities for veterans and their spouses by evaluating the various factors that help make colleges, universities and other institutions a good fit for military veterans and their families.

“This recognition provides another great example of the University at Buffalo’s commitment to serve as a national leader in supporting veteran students and their families as they transition to our university,” says Brian Hamluk, vice president for student life. “Our Veteran Services department continues to provide the exceptional resources necessary to help these students navigate the unique challenges presented transitioning from military service to a thriving college experience.”

In addition to being considered a military-friendly school, institutions can be designated as a Top 10 or a gold, silver or bronze institution. UB received a silver designation within the Tier 1 research institutions. Tier 1 research institutions are doctoral degree-granting universities that engage in the highest research activity.

Those institutions considered military-friendly were evaluated using public data sources and a survey completed by the school, as well as student survey data. Student retention, graduation, job placement, loan repayment, persistence and loan default rates were also taken into account.

“Our goal is to ease the transition of veterans and help them balance college life with their military, career, family and personal goals,” says Daniel Ryan, director of veteran services. “We feel like we have been successful in continually improving our services to military-connected students. It’s gratifying when an independent third party validates that feeling.”

UB enrolled 768 military-connected students in spring 2025, which includes students who are veterans and those who remain in active service, as well as their dependents.

In addition to helping students shift to civilian life, Veteran Services assists students with the paperwork required to obtain benefits, connects them to local and national groups that support veterans and celebrates their academic accomplishments.

Here are some of the ways UB supports its military and veteran students:

• Twice a year, the Veterans Services hosts a “Veteran’s Welcome” information session where attendees learn how to tap veteran-specific campus resources, receive educational credit for military service and maximize their GI Bill benefits.
• Accessibility Resources provides assistance for those dealing with deployment-related injuries, disabilities and mental illnesses so that they can access and benefit from all programs, services and activities.
• The Efner “Lucky” Davis Lounge, located in 321 Student Union, provides a meeting place for veterans, a quiet study area and a resource for veteran services on campus and in the community. The lounge is equipped with a kitchen, a group study area with laptop connection and a wide-screen TV.
• The lounge and nearby conference room also serve as a home base for the UB Chapter of the Student Veterans of America, a student group formed to foster camaraderie and community service, particularly in service to fellow vets.
• UB currently offers an Army ROTC program in conjunction with Canisius University, which allows all qualified individuals to achieve an officer’s commission into the U.S. Army, Army Reserves or National Guard.
• To help close gaps in the quality of health care received by veterans and their families, the School of Social Work and the School of Nursing have collaborated to form Joining Forces-UB. Under this project, UB has developed a comprehensive veteran care educational program for nursing and social work students, and is improving training and service delivery for health care providers who serve veterans and military families.

UB is also ranked one of the best colleges for veterans by U.S. News – at No. 45 in 2025 -- is recognized as a “Best for Vets” School by the Military Times and is an institutional member of both the Service Opportunity Colleges (SOC) and the Concurrent Admissions Program (ConAP).

The 2025-2026 Military Friendly Schools list was published in the April 2025 issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and can be found online at MilitaryFriendly.com. MilitaryFriendly.com is a part of Victory Media, which offers private-sector resources for the approximately 250,000 people who leave military service each year.