Cleary University Retains Gold Veteran-Friendly Status
The institution met all seven state-mandated criteria to secure the designation for the fifth consecutive year.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Military Jobs
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The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency has granted Cleary University Gold Level Veteran-Friendly School status for the fifth consecutive year. The designation highlights the institution's commitment to supporting military-connected learners through specific academic and career services.
Why it matters
For institutions competing for student enrollment, official veteran-friendly designations serve as a key differentiator in attracting military-connected talent. This status reflects a strategic investment in specialized support infrastructure that meets state-mandated benchmarks for academic and transition success.
Cleary University met all 7 state criteria for the award, sustaining a top-four ranking among Michigan's private colleges for veteran enrollment. The university further supports these students with a 50 percent tuition match program for eligible candidates.
The players
Cleary University
A private university based in Michigan that serves as the fourth-largest private institution for veterans in the state.
Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency
The state authority responsible for overseeing veteran-related resources and awarding educational status designations.
The details
To achieve Gold Level status, institutions must fulfill at least six requirements, including the provision of veteran-specific student clubs, dedicated career services, and clear student identification processes. Cleary University meets these operational standards by integrating career support with a 50 percent tuition match through the Yellow Ribbon Enhancement program, a mechanism designed to bridge funding gaps for eligible military students.
Timeline
2015: The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency established the VFS program.
October 15, 2026: The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency awarded Cleary University the designation.
Market Landscape
The Gold Level designation operates within the established framework of the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency VFS program, which has tracked school support standards since 2015. This consistent recognition places Cleary University among the state's primary providers for the military-connected demographic.
Operators of educational or training programs should track these state-level certification criteria as a roadmap for aligning services with military-connected student needs. Reviewing these requirements can help institutions improve service delivery and leverage state-backed branding to boost recruitment.
The takeaway
Institutions seeking to capture this demographic should audit their current career service and identification offerings against the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency seven-point framework. Monitoring these annual requirements ensures that institutional support structures remain consistent with state-level Gold certification standards.
Further reading
For more on educational opportunities for service members, see Military Jobs.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WHMI 93.5 FM.
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