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.

The rankings showcase U.S. universities and colleges committed to supporting military service members, veterans and their families through targeted programs, student-veteran communities and financial support. 

CSUSM ranked 27th out of 357 institutions overall.  

Institutions included in the Military Times rankings are evaluated on academic quality, affordability, student support services and outcomes for veterans, including graduation and retention rates. This year, institutions examined a surge in both online and hybrid program options for active-duty students, as well as growth in dedicated veteran resource centers.   

CSUSM was also ranked in additional categories for Military Times: 

• Fifth in the West
• 20th among traditional institutions
• 22nd among public institutions
• 26th in general education 

With one in nine CSUSM students being military affiliated, the university has long been dedicated to providing them with the environment and support needed to succeed in higher education. 

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Interim assistant director of editorial and external affairs
ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

A month into his first semester at CSUSM, King left to try community college instead. But he decided that wasn’t for him, either. 

“College felt pretty difficult because I come from a single-parent family household,” King said. “But I’m glad I came back. I was just very confused at the time. I didn't understand how financial aid worked. I didn't have structure in my life. I didn't really have any guidance during that time. I was all over the place. I didn't feel good about coming to school because I didn't see the resources that were available to me.”  

King joined the Marine Corps in 2018 to find the structure he desired. While serving at Twentynine Palms in Southern California’s High Desert, he attended Marine Corps Communication Electronics school to become a telephone systems personal computer repairer. 

“I was coming back from Twentynine Palms, and I was trying to figure out what my next step would be," he said. “Do I want to do the job that I'm doing in the Marines outside of the Marines? And after looking at it, it wasn't really what I wanted to do. I was more interested in finding a way to help other people.” 

King decided the best way to do that was to return to college and focus on a career helping veterans while maintaining a close connection to the military by joining the Marine Corps Reserve. That plan is coming to fruition, as he graduates this month from CSUSM with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

King thrived in his return to higher education. He earned his associate degree in psychology at MiraCosta in 2021 before transferring back to CSUSM. King built a community at the Epstein Family Veterans Center, where he has met other students who have faced similar challenges. As a reservist, King often has had to put his classes on hold. 

“There have been times where I’ve been called to do training and I’ll have to be gone for maybe almost a month,” King said. “Then I’ll think about the exams and school I have to miss, so I have to email my professors to try to figure out something.” 

King is the undergraduate peer advising case management intern for Veterans to Energy Careers (VTEC), which is a grant-funded program from the Office of Naval Research, under the Department of the Navy. This national program based at CSUSM helps student veterans translate their military experience into sustainable energy careers through internships and professional development.

King helps student veterans with their resumes, career planning and coaching. One of the mentors he worked closely with during his internship is Joshua Loop, the VTEC technical programs manager. 

“David's passion and curiosity for the military-affiliated community was obvious from the moment he walked into the Veterans Center, and the students that are easiest to mentor are those who are passionate and curious," Loop said. “We are excited to watch him grow and make an impact in his community.”

King has certainly shown resilience throughout his academic journey. He plans to pursue a master’s degree in social work at CSUSM next fall and continue working for VTEC. 

“I would give student veterans the advice of coming down to the Veterans Center and learning about all the resources that are available to them,” King said. “I never really set foot in the Veterans Center until I started working here. But there's so much that they can do, so many programs, so many clubs and things that they can do to help them out with their professional development.” 

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist

ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

CSUSM is home to nearly 500 student veterans, the highest percentage per capita of any California State University campus. CSUSM also serves close to 2,000 military-connected students, comprising 12% of the campus population. For the week of Veterans Day, Veterans Services also is placing 2,000 flags at Forum Plaza to represent the university's military-connected students.

CSUSM invites the campus community to participate in the following events: 

Veterans Day Celebration 

Thursday, Nov. 9, noon, Veterans Center 

Stop by the Epstein Family Veterans Center outdoor deck during U-hour to commemorate Veterans Day. Food and drinks will be served. Attendees can RSVP on the Veterans Services website. 

Stars & Stripes Movie Night 

Thursday, Nov. 16, 6:30 p.m., Forum Plaza, USU Arcade, USU Amphitheater 

Associated Students, Inc., will show the movie “Top Gun: Maverick” to honor military-affiliated students. There will be food served and an opportunity to win free swag.

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist
ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

10,170 students have registered for classes so far.  The last day to add/drop a class is Monday, Jan. 27.

University Student Union Opens

CSUSM’s new student union, built to LEED Gold certification standards, opened to students for the first time today. The new four-story, 89,283-square-foot building is located near the center of campus, adjacent to Cesar Chavez Circle, with the fourth floor entrance opening onto Kellogg Plaza. Features include an outdoor amphitheater with seating for 400; an activity center with a game lounge; six new food options; a 3,000-square-foot green roof with outdoor seating areas; and a 9,000-square-foot ballroom. The outdoor pavilions and rooftop patio add an additional nearly 10,000 sq. ft. of useable space. The $43.9 million project was funded through student fees.

A formal grand opening ceremony is planned for Tuesday, Apr. 15.

On-going Construction Update

Construction continues for the University’s new Student Health and Counseling Services (SHCS) building with the installation of the roof at the end of this month. The new 20,000-square-foot, two-story building will be located adjacent to Parking Structure One and across the street from the University Student Union, on the corner of Campus Way and Campus View Drive. The Center is returning to campus after being housed across from campus in the Palomar Pomerado Health Building for the last 17 years. Construction is scheduled to be completed in fall 2014. The SHCS Building will feature clinical and counseling offices, a group conference/library room, a laboratory, waiting areas, health education spaces and a pharmacy. The $9.5 million project is funded through student fees.

The new stand-alone Veterans Center will start to take shape this semester. The new 1,000-square-foot house, donated by the Stevens Institute of Technology, will be constructed on a currently empty lot to the west of Markstein Hall and behind Science Hall 1, replacing a much smaller facility that opened in Craven Hall in 2008. The center will include an office, a conference room, a kitchen and a lounge and event space.  Unique technological features and innovations include solar shingles; a rainwater harvesting system with green wall and green roof; and energy-saving and water-saving heating, cooling and plumbing systems.

In support of CSUSM’s School of Nursing, renovation of an entire floor (approximately 11,000 square-feet) in University Hall will begin in February. The School of Nursing was established in 2006 in a medical office building across from campus. This project will allow the School of Nursing to be located on campus for the first time. The $2.5 million project is funded through the CSU Chancellor’s Office. Construction is expected to be completed in October 2014, with the opening scheduled for January 2015. The renovated floor includes art skills labs, simulation labs, mock exam rooms and administrative spaces.

Student Health Finds a New Home on Campus

Construction continues for the University's new Student Health and Counseling Services (SHCS) building with the installation of the roof at the end of January. The new 20,000 sq. ft., two-story building will be located adjacent to Parking Structure One and across the street from the University Student Union, on the corner of Campus Way and Campus View drive.The Center is returning to campus after being housed across the street in the Palomar Pomerado Health Building for the last 17 years. The SHCS Building will feature clinical and counseling offices, a group conference / library room, a laboratory, waiting areas, health education spaces and a pharmacy. Construction is scheduled to be completed in fall 2014.

An Eco-Friendly Space for Veterans

The new stand-alone  Veterans Center  will start to take shape this semester. The new 1,000 sq. ft. house, donated by the Stevens Institute of Technology, will makes it home on a hört empty lot to the west of Markstein Hall and behind Science Hall 1, and will replace a much smaller facility That opened in Craven Hall in 2008. The center will include an office, a conference room, a kitchen and a lounge and event space.

The Veteran's center was originally created by a team of interdisciplinary students at Stevens to be a net zero energy solar house. The facility is expected to retain many of its unique features and technological innovations,-including solar shingles; a rain water harvesting system with green wall and green roof; and energy-saving and water-saving heating, cooling and plumbing systems. It is anticipated to be in use in fall 2014.

Renovation for the School of Nursing

In support of CSUSM's School of Nursing, renovation of an entire floor (approximately 11,000 sq. Ft.) In University Hall will start in February. The School of Nursing was established in 2006 in a medical office building across from campus. This project will allow the School of Nursing to be located on campus for the first time.Construction is expected to be completed in October 2014, with the opening scheduled for January 2015. The renovated third floor will include art skills labs, simulation labs, mock exam rooms and administrative spaces.

Ecohabit, which won fourth place in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, will support CSUSM’s commitment to serving its significant student veteran population.

“We take great pride at Cal State San Marcos in serving our military and supporting those people who have served us so well,” said President Karen Haynes. “Today puts us right over the top in terms of excitement about this facility and how it will continue to help us serve our veteran and active duty students and their dependents. This new building will be a hallmark on this campus. It will be a place for coming together, for conversations, for support and for celebration.”

CSUSM: A Veteran-Friendly Approach to Higher Education

Cal State San Marcos, founded in 1989, was the first university to be built in the United States in 20 years from the ground up. A young, vibrant institution created for the modern era, CSUSM prides itself on its mission to serve the students of the region, particularly those most educationally at-risk, including veterans and military-affiliated students.

“Today we celebrate breaking ground on our tenth building in ten years. Over 40 percent of our graduating students for years have been first-generation college students and one in ten current Cal State San Marcos students is a veteran, active-duty or dependent,” said Haynes.

The University's veteran-friendly approach to higher education—supported by such initiatives as the War at Home and Abroad digital history archive project, the Veterans Student Support Fund, and veteran specific scholarships—has consistently ranked the campus in the top 15 percent nationally for veterans education by Military Times Edge since 2010.

“And we are not done,” emphasized Haynes. “We will continue to create new programs. We are now going to hire our first-ever Veterans Center director and we just completed our Veterans and Active Duty Strategic Plan."

An Eco-Friendly Center, a Bi-Coastal Partnership

The new CSUSM Veterans Center will be built on campus across from Markstein Hall, replacing a smaller facility which opened in Craven Hall in 2008. Expected to be in use by fall 2014, the 1,000-square-foot facility will retain much of Ecohabit’s emerging green technologies and design innovations. 

“The opportunity to turn Ecohabit into a functioning facility for returning veterans made the Solar Decathlon competition a truly meaningful experience for our students,” said Dr. Michael Bruno, dean of the Charles V. Schaefer, Jr. School of Engineering and Science at Stevens.

Featuring an office, conference room, kitchen, lounge and event space, the Center will be a place where military-affiliated students can receive support in achieving their academic and career goals with services tailored to their unique needs. Staff will assist students to navigate the admissions process, access their GI benefits, register for courses, access campus resources and get involved in leadership and social activities.

“The Veterans Center will also provide a bridge to help civilian students learn more about vets, dispel misconceptions and raise awareness of the advantages that student veterans bring to our community,” said Vice President of Student Affairs Lorena Meza.

In addition, the Veterans Center will advance knowledge of energy efficient design, directly supporting CSUSM’s commitment to sustainability and green building. CSUSM students will collaborate with Stevens students to monitor and analyze data on energy use, weather and temperature and the effect they have on energy efficiency.

“There is a hope and a promise here,” said Bruno. “We hope this is the first step in a long-term collaboration between our two campuses, driven by our students: the users of the facility and the students back at Stevens in Hoboken, N.J. Our hope is to exchange data and improve on the system as we go forward so that it is a living laboratory. Our promise is that we will be strong partners and will provide guidance, input and share the learning as we move forward.”

Investing in Veterans

Although Ecohabit was donated by SIT, Cal State San Marcos must raise funds to support the costs of moving the building to campus and installing it on-site, repurposing the interior spaces and furnishing the Center to best support the CSUSM community.

To that end, The Patriots Initiative of the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation has already provided a $10,000 donation this summer.  

At the groundbreaking ceremony, President Haynes announced that Joshua Pack, managing director of Fortress Investment Group and member of the CSUSM Foundation Board, has generously donated $55,000 to support both the Veterans Center and the Lt. Col. AJ Pack Veterans Scholarship, which Pack created in honor of his father to support veteran students at Cal State San Marcos.

“We thank Joshua Pack and The Patriots Initiative of the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation for your service, leadership and generosity in supporting Veteran students at Cal State San Marcos,” said Haynes. “I invite others to follow their lead. Help us make this Center not only a reality but robust with services and support for our students.”

For more information on how you can support veteran students and the Veterans Center at CSUSM, contact University Advancement at 760-750-4400.

CSUSM’s new Veterans Center was built and designed by 60 Stevens students for the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2013 Solar Decathlon in October, a biannual competition in which university teams from around the globe compete to design energy-efficient solar homes. The Stevens team took fourth place with their home, named Ecohabit, competing against 18 other universities from the Czech Republic, Canada, Austria and the United States.

A Commitment to Veterans

CSUSM, located close to Camp Pendleton and several other military installations, has the highest percentage of student veterans per capita of any California State University (CSU) campus. One of every ten Cal State San Marcos students is a veteran, service member, reservist or dependent, and that number is expected to grow as more military personnel retire or discharge and seek opportunities in the civilian world. The new 1,000-square-foot Veterans Center will go a long way toward strengthening CSUSM’s relationships with its military partners and ensuring the success of military-affiliated students at the University.

CSUSM opened its first Veterans Center on the third floor of Craven Hall in 2008. At the time it was only the second center of its kind in the CSU system assisting students get their GI benefits, navigate the admission process and register for courses. The center also helps them access campus resources, get involved in leadership activities and transition into the civilian work world.

“The Veterans Center will provide a bridge to help civilian students learn more about vets, dispel misconceptions and raise awareness of the advantages that student veterans bring to our community,” said Vice President of Student Affairs Lorena Meza.

“We always knew we wanted to donate Ecohabit to a deserving owner and put the house to a good use after the completion,” said Mark Pollock, Industry assistant professor at Stevens, faculty project manager for Ecohabit and a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces. “We felt strongly about its potential as a place for returning veterans or military personnel, given Stevens’ history and longstanding relationships within the defense industry. When we found out CSUSM was in need of a new space for its veteran students, we felt it was a perfect fit.”

“The opportunity to turn Ecohabit into a functioning facility for deserving veterans has made the Solar Decathlon competition a truly meaningful experience for our students,” added Dr. Michael Bruno, dean of the Charles V. Schaefer, Jr. School of Engineering and Science at Stevens.

Bigger, Better, Greener Veterans Center

Slated to be in use by fall 2014, the new center will feature many unique technological features and innovations and will include an office, a conference room and a lounge and event space.

Most distinguishing is that intelligence will be embedded into every component of the facility. With a central control system which collects and analyzes sensor data from each system to maximize efficiency, the center will automatically adapt to the use patterns of its occupants and teach them how to maintain a greener, more sustainable lifestyle.

Ecohabit’s “smart house” design is in line with CSUSM’s commitment to sustainability, conservation of resources and green building design. The University has striven to make LEED Gold its standard for all new buildings and has been recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency for its nearly 83 percent recycle rate during the annual RecycleMania competition.

The new Veterans Center will also be an excellent vehicle for advancing knowledge of energy use patterns and weather and temperature influences to maximize energy-efficiency. In addition to directly serving veteran students, CSUSM has the opportunity to engage its science and technology students in data monitoring, collection and analysis, working with their Stevens counterparts to study how technology, design and engineering can drive sustainability.

“Almost all of the emerging green technologies and design innovations built into Ecohabit will fully function when it is transitioned into the Veterans Center at CSUSM,” said Pollock. “This represents a tremendous opportunity for Stevens and CSUSM to further test these systems and continually learn from the data collected.”

“We are honored to be selected as the recipient of the Stevens Institute of Technology Solar Decathlon home,” said CSUSM President Karen Haynes. “Our student veterans, active duty personnel, reservists and their family members have contributed so much to our campus community and to the defense and security of our country. This new facility will further enhance our ability to serve those who have served us.  A point of pride, the new Veterans Center won’t be just an office but a place where military-affiliated students can find and build community while receiving services and assistance to meet their complex and unique needs.”

Who: CSUSM President Haynes; Michael Bruno, Dean of the Schaefer School of Engineering at the Stevens Institute of Technology; Patrick O’Rourke, director of Active Duty and Veterans Affairs from the CSU Office of the Chancellor; CSUSM student veterans, staff, faculty and members of the general public.

What: Groundbreaking ceremony for new eco-friendly CSUSM Veterans Center

When: Friday, Nov. 8 at 11 a.m.; program will begin at approximately 11:15 a.m.

Where: California State University San Marcos, 333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Rd., San Marcos located on the dirt lot adjacent to Science Hall 1 and Markstein Hall. For more information on parking and directions, visit www.csusm.edu/guide.