Jefferson Ranks Among Nation’s Top 10 Military Friendly® Small Community Colleges

Jefferson Community College (JCC) has once again been recognized for its exceptional support of the military community, earning a spot among the Top 10 Gold-Level 2025 Military Friendly® Schools in the small community colleges category, as well as the 2025 Military Spouse Friendly® School designation from VIQTORY, publisher of G.I. Jobs® and Military Spouse® magazines. 

This recognition highlights Jefferson’s long-standing commitment to providing sustainable and meaningful education pathways for service members, veterans, and their families. The College first earned the Military Friendly® designation in 2011 and received its first Military Spouse Friendly® School designation in 2022.

Daniel J. Dupee, II, College President, says, “We’re honored to earn the distinctions of Military Friendly and Military Spouse Friendly School once again. Supporting those who serve, both in uniform and on the home front, is not just part of our mission, it’s part of who we are. These recognitions affirm our continued commitment to creating an inclusive, flexible, and supportive educational environment for military-connected students.”

Joanna Brislan, Director of Community Services, says, “These designations highlight our strong partnership with Fort Drum and affirm the impact of our programs for the military community. They reflect our ongoing commitment to supporting military affiliated students and their families with meaningful education.”

VIQTORY determines Military Friendly® ratings based on public data, proprietary survey results, and feedback from student veterans. The scoring methodology, developed with guidance from an independent Military Friendly® Advisory Council, evaluates institutions across several benchmarks: military student support and retention, admissions and orientation, culture and commitment, financial aid and loan repayment, graduation and career outcomes, academic policies, and compliance.

The Military Spouse Friendly® designation reflects Jefferson’s ability to provide quality educational experiences tailored to the needs of military spouses. This includes flexible learning options, mentoring programs, career counseling, and degree continuity services that accommodate deployments, relocations, and transitions.

“At Jefferson, our mission is to Educate, Inspire, and Empower our students, and that includes the dedicated spouses and families who serve alongside our nation’s military,” says President Dupee. “We recognize the unique challenges military spouses face in pursuing higher education. Whether they are starting fresh or continuing their academic journey through the demands of military life, we’re here to ensure they have the support, resources, and opportunities needed to succeed, wherever their path leads.”

During the Fall 2024 semester, approximately 355 veterans, active-duty military members, spouses, and dependents were enrolled at JCC—representing nearly 15% of the student body.

The 2025 Military Friendly® Schools list will be published in G.I. Jobs® Magazine and is available online. 

Learn more about Jefferson’s military and veterans programs.