PRESS RELEASE: MARCH 26, 2026

SJR State Earns 2026-2027 Military Friendly^® School Designation

SJR State earned the 2026-2027 Military Friendly® Schools Designation Spouse School recognized as a Silver School.

2026-2027 Military Friendly® Schools Designation Spouse School

St. Johns River State College announced today that it has earned the 2026-2027 Military Friendly® Schools Designation recognized as a Silver School.

Institutions earning the Military Friendly Schools® designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. Over 3,200 companies participated in the Military Friendly® survey. Methodology, criteria, and weightings were determined by Military Friendly®, 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.

According to SJR State President Joe Pickens, SJR State is committed to connecting military service members, veterans and their families with the services and resources they need to reach their personal and academic goals.

“At SJR State, we understand the unique challenges Veterans face when returning to civilian life and the importance of investing in their future,” Pickens said. “We recognize their service and strive daily to match that level of commitment as they transition into higher education and develop their strengths and skills into a new career path.”

For more information about SJR State’s student veteran programs, visit https://www.sjrstate.edu/veterans.

“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. 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.” — Kayla Lopez, Vice President of Memberships, Military Friendly®

St. Johns River State College 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. 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 3,200 organizations compete annually for the Military Friendly Schools® 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 at https://www.militaryfriendly.com

Since 1958, St. Johns River State College has built a solid reputation as a full-service college dedicated to meeting the educational and workforce training needs of its Northeast Florida district. With campuses in Orange Park, Palatka and St. Augustine, SJR State is truly the community’s college, enriching a diverse population of students ranging in age from 16 to 60 and beyond. SJR State offers the Associate in Arts (transfer) degree, 10 bachelor’s degrees and more than 40 Associate in Science degrees and career certificates.