Moraine Park Technical College has earned the 2026-2027 Military Friendly® Schools Designation, recognized as a Gold 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.
“At Moraine Park, supporting our veteran population is not only part of our work—it’s part of our core mission,” Bonnie Baerwald, Moraine Park President, said. “I’m exceptionally proud of our continued work in this area and that we’ve earned this distinction for 16 consecutive years. We know that supporting our military veterans and their families is vital to their success here at the College and in their careers.”
Moraine Park has been designated as a Military Friendly School since 2010. The award recognizes the top colleges, universities and trade schools nationwide that embrace America’s veterans as students. This year is the first year the College earned a gold designation and an additional designation for being a Military Spouse Friendly School. Institutions that earn a gold award represent overall survey scores that fall above 41% or score at or above .41 and have five or more qualifying benchmarks.
“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, Military Friendly® Vice President of Memberships, said.
Moraine Park 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.
For more information, visit morainepark.edu.
Submitted by Moraine Park Technical College