Stephens College named 2026–2027 Military Friendly® School, Ranked No. 1 Among Private Institutions Without Doctorates
Stephens College has been named a 2026-2027 Military Friendly® School, ranking No. 1 among private institutions not offering doctoral programs, which recognizes the college’s commitment to serving military-connected students.
The designation reflects Stephens’ deep-rooted mission to empower women to build lives of purpose and independence, a commitment that extends to veterans, service members and their families.
“This is an extraordinary honor,” said Stephens College President, Dr. Shannon Lundeen. “Our work with military-connected students is a natural extension of our mission.”
Board of Trustees member and alumna, Vice Admiral Nancy E. Brown ’73, said the recognition is deeply meaningful and well-deserved.
“Being named a Military Friendly® School at a national level signals that Stephens is not only honoring service in principle, but delivering in practice,” said Brown.
A COORDINATED APPROACH TO VETERAN SUPPORT
That recognition is rooted in years of intentional investment to expand services and programs to provide all-encompassing support to veterans and service members.
These services extend far beyond the classroom, supporting a smooth transition from military to college life. Stephens provides personalized academic advising, mental health and counseling services, and guidance navigating financial aid and scholarships – all while building a supportive community of peers and allies.
Stephens also offers dedicated spaces for veterans and service members, including the Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education and opened in 2023, the center is home to Mission Promise Kept, a program focused on supporting women veterans and service members, and provides space to study, connect and build community.
“We’ve been very intentional and very specific in building and expanding our support systems for veterans and their families,” said Lundeen. “Including Mission Promise Kept, the first comprehensive college program designed to meet the needs of women veterans and service members.”
Elizabeth Herrera, Executive Director of Mission Promise Kept and a leader of veteran and service member-centered initiatives at Stephens, said the college’s approach is intentionally built as a connected system of support.
“Stephens takes a coordinated, relationship-driven approach,” said Herrera. “Through the Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success, we provide comprehensive support for all veterans and service members across the institution. Within that structure, Mission Promise Kept offers a targeted model for women veterans and women service members, recognizing that their experiences and barriers can differ.”
Herrera emphasized that the model is designed to ensure students are never navigating college alone.
“What distinguishes this approach is that it is intentionally designed as a system rather than a collection of services,” said Herrera. “Students are part of a connected community where support is visible, accessible and aligned.”
Stephens has growing partnerships with community organizations, including the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital, the University of Missouri School of Law Veterans Clinic, Access Arts, Student Veteran America, the Vet Center, as well as Combat Boots and High Heels and many others.
“What makes Stephens especially unique is that we understand that supporting those who wore the uniform means supporting their whole life,” said Lundeen. “Our campus is pet and family friendly. We have affordable on-campus childcare through our Children’s School and proximity to excellent public schools, and we have on-site advocates that help coordinate everything from healthcare to legal services.”
WHY THIS MATTERS
For Stephens, the impact of these programs is best seen in the stories of its students. One recent graduate, Ashley Inez ‘25, arrived on campus eight months pregnant, unsure if completing a degree was possible. Through Mission Promise Kept, she found childcare support, a strong sense of community and faculty who met her where she was. She graduated in 2025 with a degree in Business Administration and has since launched her own business in Columbia –an outcome leaders say reflects the purpose behind the college’s veteran-centered approach.
Brown said the Mission Promise Kept is “designed to address the unique challenges faced by women veterans – an area where higher education has historically fallen short.”
“From a military perspective, I know that the transition from service to civilian life can be complex,” said Brown. “Stephens has stepped forward with a comprehensive, thoughtful approach that meets veterans where they are and equips them for long-term success. As an alumna, it reinforces what I have always believed: Stephens leads with purpose and continues to evolve in ways that truly change lives.”
For Herrera, the recognition is especially meaningful because it reflects measurable impact.
“Veterans and service members are often navigating one of the most significant transitions of their lives when they enter higher education,” she said. “Being ranked number one nationally validates that we’ve built a model that not only supports them but also improves persistence, completion and long-term success.”
She added that supporting veterans and service members requires institutions to recognize the full scope of that transition.
“Transitioning from the military to college is not just an academic shift; it’s a shift in identity, structure and community,” Herrera said. “When institutions respond with coordinated support, students are far more likely to complete their degrees and successfully move into the next phase of their lives.”
ABOUT THE MILITARY FRIENDLY® SCHOOL RANKING
Military Friendly® is a rating program that evaluates institutions using a data-driven, rules-based algorithm informed by public data and organizational surveys. Schools progress from initial designation to award levels, including Top Ten, Gold, Silver and Bronze.
Stephens earned a Top Ten Designation – ranking No. 1 among private institutions not offering doctorates, a Gold-level distinction.
This is the organization’s 17th annual list, and as of March 1, 878 schools have received the designation as a 2026-2027 Military Friendly® School. During the most recent cycle, 3,200 school participated, according to 2026-2027 Military Friendly® Schools Data Snapshot.
“This ranking is affirming, but it’s not the finish line – it’s a mandate to keep going,” said Lundeen. “We want Stephens to be the model for how colleges and universities can serve women veterans and service members, building the kind of wrap-around support that helps veteran students not just persist, but thrive.”
