Every institution has a strategic plan centered on “student success,” “inclusive excellence,” or “global perspective.” Yet, in the race to diversify our campuses, we often overlook the most potent form of diversity available to higher education: Cognitive Diversity born from Lived Experience.
It is time to shift our lens. We need to stop viewing military-connected students merely as a population to be serviced and start recognizing them as essential pedagogical assets who actively improve the value of a degree for your entire student body.
The “Force Multiplier” in the Classroom: In an era where higher education is criticized for being too theoretical, military students are the bridge to reality.
- When a political science professor discusses geopolitics, the 19-year-old takes notes. The 26-year-old veteran adds context.
- When a nursing instructor teaches triage, the former medic models grace under pressure.
This is the “Peer Effect.” Research consistently shows that placing high-performing, resilient students in a cohort lifts the performance of those around them. With an average GPA of 3.34 (NVEST data) and a completion/persistence rate of 72%, military students are statistically the “anchors” of the modern classroom. They inject maturity, challenge groupthink, and model the resilience that many traditional students currently lack.
Creating “Super-Alumni”: The value proposition extends to your institutional legacy. Military students are uniquely positioned to become your most engaged alumni.
- Civic Leadership: Veterans are statistically more likely to vote, volunteer, and hold local office than their non-military peers.
- Brand Ambassadors: They graduate with a dual identity—Military Veteran and [Your School] Alum—creating a powerful bridge between your institution and the defense/government sectors.
The New Mandate: Being “Military Friendly” isn’t just about being kind to veterans; it is about curating a richer intellectual environment. If your recruitment strategy treats military students as a siloed quota, you are depriving your traditional students of the mentors and peers they need to succeed in a volatile world.
Military students don’t just attend your university. They elevate it.
Upgrade your membership today to access the demographic data and recruitment tools you need to bring this vital “lived experience” to your campus this spring: https://www.militaryfriendly.com/school/membership/
