UNC Pembroke Earns Top National Military-Friendly Rankings

The University of North Carolina Pembroke has been named the No. 1 Military Friendly® School among small public institutions for 2026–2027, as well as the No. 2 Military Spouse Friendly® School by Militaryfriendly.com, reinforcing its national leadership in serving military-connected students.

“To be number one and number two is an honor and a responsibility,” said Jasmine Coleman, director of Academic and Military Outreach. “It reflects the trust our military-affiliated students place in us to understand their unique challenges and the university's commitment to helping them succeed.”

A veteran and military spouse, Coleman said the distinction also fuels her work.

“These rankings push me to keep expanding programs, partnerships, and resources so every military-connected student at UNCP can go beyond their goals,” she said.

About 25% of UNCP's current student body are veterans or military-affiliated, and the number served both on campus and online continues to grow each year. Plus, UNCP offers a convenient location at the Bragg Training and Education Center designed to serve soldiers, families and civilians stationed at Fort Bragg and Pope Army Airfield. 

Militaryfriendly.com uses public data and a survey completed by each school to gauge an institution's military student resources, retention, graduation, career outcomes, financial aid support and culture, among other data points.

Dr. Kelly Brennan, vice chancellor for Enrollment Management, said the recognition sends a strong message to prospective students.

Military-connected students are looking for a place where they can continue to grow and see a clear path forward after their service

"This designation signals that UNC Pembroke is a place they can choose with confidence," Brennan said.

For Corey and Rita Beal, a married couple and student veterans at UNCP, the rankings are more than accolades — they reflect a lived experience.

“This has absolutely been true to our experience,” said Corey Beal, a U.S. Army veteran and junior majoring in philosophy and religion. “The Academic and Military Outreach office has been incredibly helpful, engaging and walking us through the entire process. They made everything very easy and user-friendly.”

Corey, who served from 1997 to 2021 and retired as a sergeant first class after combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, is beginning his first semester at UNCP after accumulating college credit over the years at other institutions. Now on track to graduate in May 2027, he said he intentionally pursued the opportunity to be a full-time student.

“I never got the opportunity to be a full-time college student before,” he said. “Now I have the time and ability to do it, and I wanted to take advantage of that for personal growth.”

His wife, Rita, is also a student veteran and is pursuing her second degree at UNCP. A former administrative specialist with the 525th Military Intelligence Brigade, she enlisted in 1999 and was medically discharged in 2001 after sustaining severe injuries during service.

For her, returning to the classroom decades later came with some uncertainty.

“It had been 30 years since I had been in a classroom,” Rita said. “I wasn't nervous about the coursework — I was asking myself, ‘Do I still have it in me?' But the support here has been incredible.”

Now a sophomore majoring in exercise and sport science with a focus on health advocacy, she is scheduled to graduate in May 2028.

From navigating VA benefits to transferring military credits, the Academic and Military Outreach office has played a central role in their transition.

“Making sure our benefits were applied correctly and our credits counted — that eliminated a lot of the burden that someone new to this process might feel,” Corey said.

The clear support and the welcoming community, the couple says, are what define UNCP's military-friendly culture.

“They were always calm and steady — like, ‘We've got you. Not a problem.' And that made a huge difference,” Rita said.

The couple's journey to UNCP is truly a family affair. Their daughter, Cecilia, is also a student at UNCP, and is who first introduced them to campus.

The Beals commute together to campus, even sharing a psychology class. It's a unique experience, they say, that has strengthened both their academic and personal journey.

“We're on different academic paths, but we get to do this together,” Corey said. “It's been a really great experience.”

Their presence on campus also reflects a broader sense of community among military-connected students.

“Our primary goal is to be students first,” Corey said. “But there's this quiet recognition among veterans — a sense of trust and understanding. That speaks highly of the environment here.”

For Rita, UNCP's recognition as a military spouse-friendly school is equally meaningful.

“Professors have been incredibly respectful of both our experiences and the fact that we're still undergraduate students,” she said. “They meet you where you are. That's been huge.”

As they continue their academic journeys, both Corey and Rita say UNCP has provided not just access, but confidence.

“These are well-earned accolades for UNC Pembroke,” Corey said. “This is a place where veterans and their families can succeed.”

UNC Pembroke will be showcased in the 2026-2027 Guide to Military Friendly Schools® in the April issue of G.I. Jobs ® magazine and on MilitaryFriendly.com.

More information about Militaryfriendly.com and the methodology for their rankings can be found on their website.