UND receives Gold award for Military Friendly schools
Award honors universities that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members, veterans and their families as students and ensure their success
The University of North Dakota has earned Gold recognition as a 2025-26 Military Friendly® School, an honor placing the school among the top 10% of institutions nationwide for its commitment to serving military service members, veterans and their family members.
In addition, the University was listed as a Top 10 Military Spouse Friendly® School, also with Gold recognition. Top 10 schools “are the guidon bearers for military/veteran programs and initiatives,” MilitaryFriendly.com reports. “They set the standard for other designations and are programs that continue to improve every year.”
Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a survey. More than 1,800 schools participated in the 2025-2026 survey, with 830 earning special awards for going above the standard.
“I am extremely proud that UND has earned these important recognitions, especially our advancement from Silver to Gold this year,” said UND President Andy Armacost.
“This reflects the strength of our support for the military-connected community, and it is evident in the 2,001 currently enrolled military-affiliated students, the highest number ever recorded.
“Consistent with our UND core values, we take great pride in fostering a campus community that understands the importance of supporting our military students and family members as they pursue their goals and continue their legacy of service and leadership,” Armacost continued.
“Many thanks to all at UND who make this support happen.”
UND has been named as a top Military Friendly school for more than 15 years, but the earning of the Gold award this year was especially meaningful, said Angie Carpenter, director of Veteran & Military Affairs for UND.
Above and beyond
The Gold award came about because UND is going even further above and beyond: “There are so many things we’ve added, as we’ve kept enhancing our Veteran/Military services on campus,” she said.
“For example, we added our Military Affiliated Peer Support or MAPS students to our lineup, which means we now have students in the office who help support their fellow military-affiliated students, especially with onboarding. Our MAPS students reach out and make phone calls to all new military-affiliated students – just asking, ‘How’s the transition going? What can we help you with? Any questions that you might have?’ ”
Another example is the Military 101 development sessions that are now offered to UND faculty and staff, Carpenter said. Each session helps individuals gain an understanding of the Unversity’s military-affiliated student population, their transition experiences, and policies and procedures UND has in place to best serve those who have served or are serving our country.
It’s all of a piece with UND’s longstanding commitment to military-affiliated students and their families, which in fact dates back to the founding of the University, Carpenter said. As was noted recently in connection with that UND Military History Display that Carpenter’s office helped mount, the original “Act for Establishing a Territorial University at Grand Forks, North Dakota” – which was passed by the Territorial Legislature in 1883 – required military instruction of all male students.
Col. Homer B. Sprague, a former Union Army officer, served as the second president of UND, and the University’s current Army ROTC Battalion traces its origins to his tenure.
Since then, UND students, graduates, faculty and staff by the thousands have served their country, rendering distinguished service during wartime and peacetime alike, Carpenter said.
Carpenter leads a team whose members have completed required training for school certifying officers and federal compliance, and who are committed to maximizing tuition and Veterans Affairs education benefits as well as providing advising support, advocacy and building a supportive community.
To cite just one example of the benefits UND offers, veterans, active-duty military, members of the National Guard or Reserves and their dependents get the North Dakota tuition rate for all on-campus programs, regardless of their actual state of legal residency.
As the office’s website states, “We are honored to serve you.”
