Community College of Philadelphia earns 2025-2026 Military Friendly School designation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2025

CCP is one of just 830 schools nationwide earning special awards for going above the standard

PHILADELPHIA — Community College of Philadelphia is proud to announce it has earned the 2025-2026 Military Friendly School Silver designation. Institutions earning this designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey.

“Only select institutions earn the honor of being named a Military Friendly School,” said CCP interim President Dr. Alycia Marshall, “and we are proud that Community College of Philadelphia has been recognized for providing an environment that holistically supports our veteran students. The College’s Veterans Resource Center goes above and beyond to ensure veterans have access to key services that empower them to achieve their academic and professional goals.”

“It’s an honor to see Community College of Philadelphia recognized for our dedication to our veterans,” said Dr. Darren Lipscomb, associate vice president of Enrollment Management at CCP and combat veteran of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. “The Military Friendly School designation offers proof to veterans interested in enrolling at CCP that we make a point of supporting our student veterans at every step of their educational experience, in the classroom and beyond.”

More than 1,800 schools participated in the 2025−2026 survey, with 830 earning special awards for going above the standard. The 2025-2026 Military Friendly Schools list will be published in the May and October issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and found at militaryfriendly.com.

“Being named a Military Friendly School sends a message to veterans and their families that we understand the unique experiences of those who have served and how those experiences can impact an education,” said Christina Kinlaw, coordinator for Veteran Programming at CCP and a United States Marine Corps veteran. “The Veterans Resource Center at CCP provides empathetic care and resources to our students, creating an environment that supports veterans on a personal level.”

Methodology, criteria, and weightings were determined by Viqtory with input from the Military Friendly Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community. Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the institution’s ability to meet thresholds for Student Retention, Graduation, Job Placement, Loan Repayment, Persistence (Degree Advancement or Transfer) and Loan Default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.

“Military Friendly is committed to transparency and providing consistent data-driven standards in our designation process,” said Kayla Lopez, vice president of Military Friendly. “Our standards provide a benchmark that promotes positive outcomes and support services that better the educational landscape and provide opportunity for the Military Community. This creates a competitive atmosphere that encourages Institutions to evolve and invest in their programs consistently. Schools who achieve awards designation show true commitment in their efforts, exceeding the standard.”

For more information about our student veteran programs, visit our Veterans Resource Center webpage.

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About Military Friendly Schools
The Military Friendly® Schools list is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources from more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans, and responses to the proprietary, data-driven Military Friendly® Schools survey from participating institutions. The survey questions, methodology, criteria and weighting were developed with the assistance of an independent research firm and an advisory council of educators and employers. The survey is administered for free and is open to all postsecondary schools that wish to participate. Criteria for consideration can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com.

About Community College of Philadelphia

Community College of Philadelphia is the largest public institution of higher education in the City of Philadelphia. With an open admissions policy, the College serves all who may benefit – regardless of age, income, or ability. For more than 50 years, the College has lived up to its mission and goals by providing educational access for over 700,000 Philadelphians, setting families, businesses and neighborhoods on the path of shared prosperity and opportunity. For information on the College's degree and certificate programs, workforce development strategies, and community engagement initiatives, visit ccp.edu and follow us on social media @CCPedu.

About Viqtory
Founded in 2001, VIQTORY is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) that connects the military community to civilian employment, educational and entrepreneurial opportunities through its G.I. Jobs® and Military Friendly® brands. VIQTORY and its brands are not a part of or endorsed by the U.S. Dept of Defense or any federal government entity. Learn more about VIQTORY at www.viqtory.com.