Southern Wesleyan University Earns Military Friendly® Gold Designation for 2026-2027
Apr 8, 2026 | Awards and recognitions | Military Appreciation
Central, SC — Southern Wesleyan University has once again been recognized for its commitment to military students by earning the Military Friendly® gold designation for the 2026-2027 academic year.
This distinction places SWU among the top-performing institutions nationwide, with Gold status awarded to schools ranking within the top 10 percent of institutions in their category. The designation reflects the University’s continued investment in creating a supportive, flexible, and mission-driven environment for veterans, active-duty service members, and their families.
“At SWU, serving military and veteran students is more than a program—it’s a calling,” said Donna Pittman, Co-Director of the Warriors CARE Center. “Each student brings a unique story and set of experiences, and we are committed to walking alongside them as they pursue their academic and personal goals. We are honored to be recognized again with the Military Friendly® Gold designation and proud to be a place they can call home.”
Supporting Those Who Serve: The Warriors CARE Center
At the center of SWU’s efforts is the Warriors CARE Center, a dedicated resource for student veterans and military dependents—both on campus and online. CARE stands for Courage, Academic Success, Respect, and Empowerment, guiding the Center’s approach to student support.
Through the CARE Center, students have access to:
- Assistance with VA education benefits
- Academic and career counseling
- Tutoring and life skills development
- A welcoming community space for connection and support
This integrated approach ensures that military-connected students are equipped not only to succeed academically, but also to thrive personally and professionally. For more details, visit the Warriors CARE Center webpage.
About Military Friendly® Schools
The Military Friendly® Schools list is compiled annually based on extensive research using public data sources for more than 8,800 institutions, input from student veterans, and responses to a comprehensive survey administered to participating schools.
Organizations are evaluated and grouped by category, with awards recognizing performance relative to peer institutions. Gold designation is reserved for those demonstrating exceptional commitment and outcomes for military-connected students, ranking within 10 percent of the top institutions in their category. Criteria for consideration can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com.
About Southern Wesleyan University
Southern Wesleyan University is a Christ-centered, student-focused, faith-filled community that offers inventive learning experiences. The university endeavors to prepare its students to be dedicated scholars and servant-leaders who impact the world for Christ. For details about degree programs, go online to www.swu.edu.
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