Idaho State Earns Top Veterans School Recognition

U.S. Veterans Magazine named Idaho State University a 2026 Top Veterans School, and GI Jobs ranked it third among Tier 2 research institutions.

Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Military Jobs

Bold flat-color vector editorial illustration of a brass compass on stone steps before a sagebrush plain, evoking veteran support recognition. — Idaho State University was named a 2026 Top Veterans School by U.S. Veterans Magazine and ranked third among Tier 2 research institutions by GI Jobs Magazine. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Idaho State University was recognized by U.S. Veterans Magazine as a 2026 Top Veterans School. The university also placed third among Tier 2 Research Institutions in the 2026-2027 Military Friendly Schools ratings by GI Jobs Magazine and Viqtory Media.

Why it matters

The recognitions point to support services for student veterans and military families in Pocatello and across Idaho. The university's ties to the military date to 1917, when a federal contract helped keep the institution open.

The institution placed third among Tier 2 Research Institutions in the 2026-2027 Military Friendly Schools ratings, and it was also recognized as a Military Spouse Friendly School. The source does not disclose the total number of institutions rated in the tier or the specific scoring methodology.

The players

Idaho State University

A public university in Pocatello, Idaho, whose veteran services and military history date back more than a century.

U.S. Veterans Magazine

A publication focused on veterans' issues that issues an annual list of top schools for veterans.

GI Jobs Magazine

A military-focused career and education publication that co-publishes the Military Friendly Schools ratings with Viqtory Media.

The details

The Veteran Student Services Center connects students with academic resources, military education benefits assistance, transition support, career development, peer mentoring and community services. The university's military connection began in 1917, when enrollment at Idaho Technical Institute fell by about 50 percent in a few months before a federal contract established a Student Army Training Corps.

1917: Enrollment dropped by about 50 percent, and a federal contract established a Student Army Training Corps.
December 1941: The University of Idaho Southern Branch began the V-1 two-year naval training program.
2019: The Master of Science in Clinical Psychopharmacology launched.
2026-2027: Idaho State placed third among Tier 2 Research Institutions in the Military Friendly Schools ratings.

Market Landscape

Veteran-friendly rankings such as the Military Friendly Schools list have become a competitive signal for universities seeking to attract students who use federal education benefits. Idaho State's placement reflects how institutions now compete on veteran services as a recruitment factor.

Student veterans and military spouses considering Idaho State can use the Veteran Student Services Center for help with education benefits, transition support and career development. Prospective students can weigh the university's ratings alongside their own benefit eligibility when comparing schools.

The takeaway

Veterans and military spouses evaluating colleges can use third-party ratings as one input, but should confirm how their specific education benefits apply at each school before enrolling.