DENTON (UNT), Texas – For the second year in a row, the University of North Texas has been selected among  the best 4-year schools for student veterans by Military Times EDGE, which recently released a "Best for Vets: Colleges 2011" list.

For the rankings, Military Times EDGE, part of Military Times Newspapers  polled more than 500 student veterans on what they consider the most important school services for vets. The rankings emphasize the university staff's knowledge of veterans' issues, central veterans' offices and academic accreditation.

This wasn't the first time that UNT was recognized as a superior school for veterans. Earlier this year, the University of North Texas was selected for inclusion in G.I. Jobs magazine's list of Military Friendly Schools for 2012.

This year, UNT will meet the needs of about 2,500 veterans and their family members as they pursue degrees after serving the country. In an effort to better serve this large population, UNT opened a Veterans Center in the fall of 2009. UNT also has an active Student Veteran's Association and offers emotional support through the Disability and Well-being Consortium.

"We continue to strive for excellence in enrollment, persistence and graduation for our military community and that is our standard," said Dr. Mona Hicks, Assistant Vice President for Campus Life and founding director of the UNT Veterans Center.  "The mission of the UNT Veterans Center is simply three pillars: to help remove barriers student veterans through an emphasis on transition support through campus life; to provide connection to resources both on and off campus to assist student veterans; and to give due recognition of the service members in our UNT community through programs and scholarship."

Military Times EDGE is dedicated to showing members of the armed services the practical and positive actions that can make their lives and careers better – both in the military and beyond. The print edition of Military Times EDGE is published 10 times a year.