College of Professional Studies Leads the Way for Military-Connected Student Support

*Originally published on https://news.syr.edu/, Nov 11th, 2025*

Under its nationally recognized military advising model, the College of Professional Studies has achieved skyrocketing persistence and graduation rates.

The College of Professional Studies (CPS) plays a leading role in the University’s support for veterans and military-connected students, offering flexible degree pathways and innovative military credit evaluation.

As of the Fall 2025 semester, 19% of all currently serving military students attending Syracuse University are enrolled in CPS degree programs. Currently serving military students are service members on active duty, National Guard or reserve status.

This leadership is driven by the College of Professional Studies’ innovative and progressive work to standardize the University’s military credit evaluation, which evaluates military technical training and professional military education for academic credit.

“Bachelor of professional studies [BPS] degrees are designed specifically for individuals like currently serving members of the armed forces juggling service obligations and life responsibilities with their educational goals,” says Michael Frasciello, dean of the College of Professional Studies. “We offer an accessible combination of flexibility, applied and focused career preparation, progressive credit transfer [up to 90 credits], and recognition of military experience and training.”

Currently serving military students admitted to the College of Professional Studies’ BPS programs are being recommended and awarded an average of 30 equivalency credits for their military technical training and professional military education.

Diverse Support for Military-Connected Students

The College of Professional Studies supports 33% of all military-connected students at Syracuse University, including active duty, veterans and military dependents. Through its nationally recognized military advising model, CPS has achieved skyrocketing persistence and graduation rates.

Persistence Rate

• College of Professional Studies: 93%
• National average: 45%

Graduation Rate

• College of Professional Studies: 70%
• National average: 20%

“Our ability to successfully support one-third of the University’s military-connected students is only possible because of our advisors who are specifically trained to understand the unique challenges military-connected students face,” says Liz Green, executive director of the student experience for Online Student Success. “This success starts with a recognition that military-connected students are non-traditional, adult learners with distinct needs.”

The college provides holistic support that proactively addresses academic, administrative and military service-related challenges, such as deployment interruptions, VA benefits navigation, credit transfer from military training and work-life-study balance, in an integrated way.

Coupled with its national ranking as the No. 3 Best Online Bachelors Programs for Veterans among private universities, CPS is at the forefront of Syracuse University’s commitment to being the Best Place for Veterans.

To learn more about military-connected support, visit professionalstudies.syracuse.edu/info-for/veterans-military.