---
title: "Qualification Guide: Military Friendly® Schools Survey"
description: Learn how the Military Friendly® Schools awards are determined. This guide covers the specific percentage thresholds for Gold (41%+), Silver (21-40%), and Bronze (20% or lower) designations, along with the mandatory benchmark requirements for each tier.
---
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1. [Military Friendly Surveys](https://account.militaryfriendly.com/knowledgebase?hsLang=en)
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3. [Military Friendly Schools](https://account.militaryfriendly.com/knowledgebase/reporting-metrics?hsLang=en#military-friendly-schools)
# Qualification Guide: Military Friendly® Schools Survey
## The Military Friendly® Schools survey is the premier standard for measuring an organization’s commitment, effort, and success in creating sustainable and meaningful benefits for the military community. Use this guide to determine if your institution qualifies to participate in the current cycle.
#### 1. Basic Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for a Military Friendly® designation, an institution must meet the following baseline criteria:
- **Accreditation:** Must be an approved institution for [VA education benefits](https://www.militaryfriendly.com/survey-schools-guide/) (G.I. Bill®).
- **Federal Standing:** Must not be currently under a federal "Caution Flag" or exclusion from participating in federal student aid programs.
- **Data Availability:** The institution must have verifiable data within the **Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)** or other relevant public data sets used for benchmarking.
#### 2. Participation Categories
Schools are grouped into categories to ensure they are compared against like institutions. Your qualification and eventual award will fall into one of these buckets:
- **Public/Private:** Tier 1 & 2 Research, Small/Large Public, Private (offering/not offering Doctorate).
- **Community Colleges:** Divided by enrollment size (Small/Large).
- **Non-Traditional:** Includes Graduate Schools, Online, and Vocational schools.
#### 3. Mandatory Benchmarks for Awards
Simply completing the survey does not guarantee an award. Institutions must meet or exceed minimum thresholds in these six key areas:
1. **Academic Policies & Compliance**
2. **Admissions & Orientation**
3. **Culture & Commitment**
4. **Financial Aid & Assistance**
5. **Graduation & Career Outcomes**
6. **Military Student Support & Retention**
| **Award Level** | **Score Requirement (% Achieved)** | **Benchmark Requirement** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Top Ten** | Highest category scores | 5+ benchmarks met |
| **Gold** | 41% or higher | 5+ benchmarks met |
| **Silver** | 21% – 40% | 3+ benchmarks met |
| **Bronze** | 20% or lower | 3+ benchmarks met |
| **Designated** | Based on Public Data | 3+ benchmarks met |
> **Note:** [Gold, Silver, and Bronze](https://www.militaryfriendly.com/survey-schools-guide/) levels are determined by how many standard deviations a school’s score falls above the mean and their ability to meet specific "Qualifying Benchmarks" (e.g., Gold requires 5+ benchmarks).
#### 4. Key Deadlines
To remain qualified for the Award status, schools must adhere to the following timeline:
- **Final Survey Deadline:** 3rd Wed in June.
- **Hard Close:** This is the absolute cutoff for the Cycle 3.
- **Registration:** Schools must provide their **IPEDS number**, **OPEID**, and **EIN** during registration for data verification.
---
### Comparison of Award Qualifications Need Further Assistance?
- **Not sure of your IPEDS?** Check your school's official registration or the [National Center for Education Statistics](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/).
- **Survey Preview:** You can [Download a Blank Survey PDF](https://www.militaryfriendly.com/survey-schools-guide/) for internal review before starting the digital application.
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