Suffolk County Community College has been recognized as a Military Friendly School for the 2025-2026 academic year, achieving a silver designation from militaryfriendly.com. The award is based on a detailed evaluation of the college’s services through public data and a proprietary survey. This recognition places Suffolk among 830 institutions that have been noted for their exemplary support of military and veteran students, out of more than 1,800 participating institutions.
“Suffolk County Community College has a proud history of helping veterans and military-connected students pursue their educational goals,” stated College President Dr. Edward Bonahue. The college aims to facilitate a smooth transition from military service to higher education for veterans and their families. Each campus features Veterans Resource Centers that provide support both in person and virtually. These centers are equipped with experts in military and veteran benefits. Additionally, application fees are waived for service members and their families.
Shannon O’Neill, Director of Veteran Services at Suffolk County Community College, commented, “Suffolk County Community College provides service members, veterans, and military families with the flexibility and convenience needed to excel.”
The college's designation resulted from an analysis considering various performance metrics such as student retention, graduation, job placement, loan repayment, persistence, and loan default rates, for the general student body and student veterans in particular.
The 2024-2025 Military Friendly Schools list will be featured in the May and October issues of G.I. Jobs magazine.
Suffolk County Community College, part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system, serves more than 21,000 students across over 100 degree and certificate programs. The college is focused on meeting local employers' needs through effective education and training programs.
Military Friendly Schools are selected annually based on research from over 8,800 schools nationwide. The process includes input from student veterans and a survey. The criteria and methodology are developed with guidance from an independent research firm and an advisory council of educators and employers.