​(Orange, CA) – For the third consecutive year, Santiago Canyon College (SCC) announced today that it has earned the 2020-2021 Military Friendly® School, Bronze distinction designation.

Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. The Bronze distinction is awarded to schools who scored within 30% of the 10th best school in their category. These institutions have exceptional military/veteran programs and this award showcases their dedication.

The 2020-­2021 Military Friendly® Schools list will be published in the May issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com.

"We are so proud of achieving the Bronze distinction this year! Providing the best support to our veterans is our No. 1 priority. Our continued efforts to expand services and build a larger sense of community has had a positive impact on our students. This would not have been possible without the advocacy and support of the entire VSO team," Elizabeth Bergara, student services coordinator, SCC Veterans Service Office.

Methodology, criteria, and weightings were determined by VIQTORY with input from the Military Friendly® Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community. Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the institution’s ability to meet thresholds for Student Retention, Graduation, Job Placement, Loan Repayment, Persistence (Degree Advancement or Transfer) and Loan Default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.

"I have been attending SCC since the spring of 2017. The Veterans Service Office staff has been incredibly helpful with assisting with financial aid documents, helping with Post 9/11-GI Bill benefits paperwork, and connecting me with other veterans. I am very grateful for the Veterans Service Office and truly believe the staff has helped me in my success at SCC," said Vanessa Herrera, SCC student and 8.5-year U.S. Army veteran.

Military Friendly’s National Director Josh Rosen stated, “Our ability to apply a clear, consistent standard to colleges creates a competitive atmosphere that encourages colleges to invest in programs to provide educational outcomes that are better for the military community as a whole.”

For more information about SCC's student veteran programs, visit SCC's Veterans Service Office website at https://www.sccollege.edu/Departments/VRC/Pages/default.aspx.

About Santiago Canyon College
Santiago Canyon College (SCC) serves more than 17,000 credit and noncredit students each semester. In 2017, SCC was ranked No. 13 among the 50 Best Community Colleges in the U.S. by College Choice and is currently ranked No. 3 in California by bestcolleges.com, a leading authority in college and university rankings and resources. The college prepares students for transfer to four-year institutions and careers, and provides courses for personal and professional development, as well as customized training for business and industry. The college is recognized for its adult education program which keeps the working adult - and senior - in mind by offering flexible schedules, and community locations. Serving the residents of Anaheim Hills, Orange, Tustin, and Villa Park, SCC is one of two comprehensive colleges under the auspices of the Rancho Santiago Community College District.

About Military Friendly® Schools
The Military Friendly® Schools list is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources for more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans, and responses to the proprietary, data­-driven Military Friendly® Schools survey from participating institutions. The survey questions, methodology, criteria and weighting were developed with the assistance of an independent research firm and an advisory council of educators and employers. The survey is administered for free and is open to all post­secondary schools that wish to participate. Criteria for consideration can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com.
About VIQTORY
Founded in 2001, VIQTORY is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) that connects the military community to civilian employment, educational and entrepreneurial opportunities through its G.I. Jobs® and Military Friendly® brands. VIQTORY and its brands are not a part of or endorsed by the U.S. Dept of Defense or any federal government entity. Learn more about VIQTORY at www.viqtory.com.

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