Embry-Riddle Worldwide Ranked No. 1 in the Nation by Military Friendly Schools for Second Straight Year

Student veteran in gown and cap in auditorium
Embry-Riddle Worldwide has been named the top online program in the Military Friendly Schools survey. Here, a student veteran walks the stage at a 2025  commencement ceremony. (Photo: Embry-Riddle/Daryl LaBello)

Seth Robbins /

Mar 31, 2026, 9:41 AM

For the second consecutive year, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Worldwide Campus was named the top online program in the Military Friendly Schools survey of higher education institutions across the United States.

The 2026-27 Military Friendly Schools rankings — published on the MilitaryFriendly.com website — grouped institutions in several categories and award levels: Top Ten, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Top Ten status represented the highest distinction.

Both the Worldwide Campus and the Daytona Beach, Florida, campus secured Top Ten status in their respective categories. The Worldwide Campus earned the No. 1 rank among Non-Traditional/Online Only/Vocational institutions, while the Daytona Beach Campus ranked No. 8 among Tier 2 Research institutions. The Prescott, Arizona, campus earned Gold status in the Private University Not Offering a Doctorate category.

“Serving those who serve has always been at the heart of Embry-Riddle’s mission,” said Embry‑Riddle President P. Barry Butler, Ph.D. “As we celebrate our centennial, it is an honor to be recognized for providing exceptional higher education experiences to our service members wherever they are in the U.S. and around the world.”

The Military Friendly Schools Survey evaluates colleges and universities using public data sources and survey responses. Weighted criteria include academic policies and compliance; graduation and career outcomes; culture and commitment; military support and retention; admissions and orientation; and financial aid and loan repayment.

Embry-Riddle has repeatedly ranked highly in the Military Friendly Schools survey. In the 2024-25 rankings, all three Embry‑Riddle campuses secured Top Ten status.

Publications such as U.S. News & World Report and the Military Times have also consistently named Embry‑Riddle as among the best universities for veterans, active-duty military personnel and their families.

“The Worldwide Campus deeply understands the unique demands our service members face as they balance academic goals with military duty and other responsibilities,” said Embry-Riddle Worldwide Chancellor Dr. John R. Watret. “We are dedicated to strengthening their educational experiences and providing them with degrees that help them to succeed in their military service or future civilian careers.”

In 1970, Embry-Riddle opened its first remote education site at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Now, the Worldwide Campus operates sites on 88 military installations globally. More than 15,600 students affiliated with the military are currently enrolled in the Worldwide Campus, pursuing their degrees through distance education and a combination of modalities that let them complete their programs anywhere in the world.

Students are supported by experienced and knowledgeable student advisors at military sites and have access to a dedicated Military and Veteran Student Affairs Department. The Worldwide Campus also offers a deeply reduced military tuition rate.