By Cooper Smith
Suffolk County Community College has once again been recognized for its commitment to serving veterans and military-connected students, earning a 2025-2026 Military Friendly® School silver designation.
The honor, awarded by MilitaryFriendly.com, follows a national evaluation of more than 1,800 colleges and universities. Suffolk was among 830 institutions recognized for exceeding basic standards in supporting military students. This marks the sixth straight year the college has earned the Military Friendly® School designation.
“Suffolk County Community College has a proud history of helping veterans and military-connected students pursue their educational goals,” said Dr. Edward Bonahue, president of the college.
The Military Friendly® Schools list assesses institutions based on key performance metrics such as student retention, graduation rates, job placement, loan repayment, and persistence. The evaluation considers outcomes for both the general student population and specifically for student veterans.
Suffolk offers a wide range of support services through its Veterans Resource Centers, located on each of its campuses. These centers are staffed by experts in military and veteran benefits and provide assistance both in person and virtually to active-duty service members, National Guard members, reservists, veterans, and their dependents. The college also waives application fees for currently serving military members, veterans, and their families.
“Suffolk County Community College provides service members, veterans, and military families with the flexibility and convenience needed to excel,” said Shannon O’Neill, director of veteran services at the college.