UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State World Campus has been ranked as the top choice nationwide for military learners who want to earn their college degree online. Military Times released on Nov. 17 its "Best for Vets: 2025 Colleges," a ranking of higher education institutions based on schools' programs and services for veterans.
The rankings include 357 institutions, including public and private universities, community colleges, and online institutions.
In "Best for Vets: 2025 Colleges," Penn State World Campus ranks:
- No. 1 for online education nationwide
- No. 1 among all higher education institutions in Pennsylvania
- No. 3 among all institutions in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S.
- No. 22 among all 357 ranked colleges and universities nationally
Penn State World Campus has been offering a Penn State education online since 1998 and provides more than 200 degrees and certificates. It has developed dedicated services, educational benefits and resources for its military learners.
Military Times calls its annual "Best for Vets: Colleges" list the largest and most comprehensive ranking of schools for military service members and veterans. The publication compiles the rankings based on surveys sent to colleges and universities about their programs for veterans as well as public data from the U.S. Department of Education and Department of Veterans Affairs.
“Penn State has a long tradition of serving those who serve our country, and at Penn State World Campus, we provide a high-quality education that fits the lives of military learners as they transition to new goals,” said Karen Pollack, acting vice provost for Online Education at Penn State. “This ranking reflects the trust veterans place in us and our unwavering commitment to support them from enrollment to graduation.”
The recognition from Military Times adds to the long-standing reputation Penn State World Campus has for serving military learners. Its programs are consistently ranked among the top online institutions’ programs by U.S. News & World Report, and it has been named a Guard-Friendly School by the Pennsylvania National Guard Association. In 2023, World Campus partnered with the USO to further its support for military service members and, in 2025, partnered with the Association of the United States Army (AUSA).
In Military Times’ 2024 edition of "Best for Vets: Colleges," World Campus was ranked No. 1 for Pennsylvania and No. 5 nationwide among online institutions.
Find out more about the "Best for Vets: 2025 Colleges" rankings here.
Support for military students
Military students in all branches have access to the Penn State World Campus military support team — many team members are veterans or military spouses. Students can utilize specialized services and resources designed to support their academic success while they are on active duty or deployed.
To make education more affordable, World Campus offers a Military Grant-in-Aid program that reduces undergraduate tuition by more than 40% per credit. This can be combined with military tuition assistance from the Department of Defense.
Visit the Penn State World Campus website to learn more about how it serves military learners.