COSTA MESA, CA - Orange Coast College has earned the 2026-2027 Military Friendly® Schools Designation and is recognized as a Gold Level School.
This honor of 2026-2027 Military Friendly® School Gold and 2026-2027 Military Spouse Friendly School validates the work of the specially trained staff in our Veterans Services department, who go beyond assisting the veteran community in achieving their educational goals. The journey begins with utilizing VA education benefits to earn an associate degree, certificate of achievement or transfer to a four-year university. It continues with support for community and on-campus resources. Students become part of a community that understands this path and opportunity requires unique support. Our military population receives one-on-one support with a veteran counselor, priority registration and access to the Veterans Resource Center (VRC), which provides student veterans and their dependents a place to study and connect with each other..
"We are proud to serve those who have served us. I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to our veteran community—students, faculty, classified professionals, and managers—for their service to our country," says Dr. Angelica L. Suarez, President of Orange Coast College.
"OCC is committed to supporting our student veteran community through numerous services and resources including our Veterans Resource Center space, dedicated counseling support, and referrals to on- and off-campus resources."
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.
"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®
OCC 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 www.militaryfriendly.com
Please find Orange Coast College's full press release for additional information.
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