CSUSM Earns Gold Military Friendly® School Designation
Cal State San Marcos has earned the 2026-27 Military Friendly® School designation and was recognized as a Gold Award school for its exemplary work on behalf of military-connected students and their families.
Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 3,200 companies participated in the Military Friendly® survey.
“I am very proud of what Cal State San Marcos is doing for our military community," said Josh Loop, director of CSUSM's Veterans Services. “The results of the MFS survey reinforce that this is a campuswide effort and that the entire university is dedicated to serving and supporting our active-duty service members, our veterans and their families.”
Methodology, criteria and weightings were determined in consultation with the Military Friendly® Advisory Council, a group of independent leaders in the military community. Final ratings were determined by combining an organization’s survey score, public data and an assessment of the institution’s ability to meet and exceed thresholds for student recruitment, retention, academic progress, graduation rates, career placement and support services for veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses.
“Earning the Military Friendly® designation is more than a badge of honor; it is a reflection of an institution’s deep-rooted values and strategic commitment to those who served,” said Kayla Lopez, vice president of memberships for Military Friendly®. “These schools don’t just open doors for veterans and military spouses, they build sustainable pathways for academic success and long-term impact. Their support is transformative, proving that investing in military-connected students is both a moral imperative and a standard for educational excellence.”
CSUSM will be showcased in the 2026-27 Guide to Military Friendly Schools® in the April issue of Military Friendly G.I. Jobs® magazine and on MilitaryFriendly.com.
For more information about CSUSM's student veteran programs, visit the Veterans Services website.
About Military Friendly® Schools
Military Friendly® is the standard that measures an organization’s commitment, effort and success in creating sustainable and meaningful benefits for the military community. Over 2,900 organizations compete annually for the Military Friendly® designation. Military Friendly® is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business. Military Friendly® is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or the federal government. Results are produced via a rules-based algorithm. The data-driven Military Friendly® lists and methodology can be found online.