SANFORD - Central Carolina Community College announced that it has been designated a 2016 Military Friendly(R) School by Victory Media, the leader in successfully connecting the military and civilian worlds, and publisher of G.I. Jobs(R), STEM JobsSM and Military Spouse. Now in its seventh year, the original, premier Military Friendly(R) Schools designation provides service members and their families with transparent, data-driven ratings about post-military education and career opportunities.

Institutions competed for the elite Military Friendly(R) School title by completing a survey of over 100 questions covering 10 categories, including military support on campus, graduation and employment outcomes, and military spouse policies. Survey responses were scored against benchmarks across these key indicators of success. In addition, data was independently tested by Ernst & Young based upon the weightings and methodology established by Victory Media with guidance from an independent advisory board of higher education and recruiting professionals. A full list of board members can be found at MilitaryFriendly.com/advisory-board.

The Military Friendly(R) Schools designation is awarded to the top colleges, universities, community colleges, and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace military students, and to dedicate resources to ensure their success both in the classroom and after graduation. The methodology used for making the Military Friendly(R) Schools list has changed the student veteran landscape to one much more transparent, and has played a significant role over the past seven years in capturing and advancing best practices to support military students across the country.

"We are proud to be known as a Military Friendly(R) School and provide many resources to veterans that other places do not have," said CCCC President T.E. Marchant.

Tracey Gross, CCCC's Veterans Affairs Coordinator, is a retired First Sergeant who served 26 years in the U.S. Army.

"I personally feel that the 2016 Military Friendly(R) Schools award recognition highlights what Central Carolina Community College is all about," Gross said. "We are certainly one of the top ranked community colleges in this state and we are a host to the Fort Bragg community, as well as the surrounding communities, which have many veterans who attend CCCC.

"The Military Friendly(R) designation means that we care about our service members, their dependents and veteran students - and this shows in their numbers here and in the many programs' success rate which they attend," Gross said.

"We have created an environment that allows any student to succeed and this also translates in to a smooth college transition when service members depart the service - and, also, the camaraderie that exists here between other service members and dependents is unparalleled," Gross said. "Those potential student veterans, service members, and dependents who are looking for a community college want a military friendly environment where the faculty and staff are aware and understand the military lifestyle and this it what we provide."

"Post-secondary institutions earning the 2016 Military Friendly(R) School award have exceptionally strong programs for transitioning service members and spouses," said Daniel Nichols, Chief Product Officer of Victory Media and Navy Reserve veteran. "Our Military Friendly(R) Schools are truly aligning their military programs and services with employers to help students translate military experience, skills and training into successful careers after graduation."

For more information about Central Carolina Community College's commitment to attracting and supporting military students, visit CCCC's website at www.cccc.edu/admissions/audience/military.

Central Carolina Community College will be showcased along with other 2016 Military Friendly(R) Schools in the annual Guide to Military Friendly(R) Schools, special education issues of G.I. Jobs(R) and Military Spouse Magazine, and on MilitaryFriendly.com.

About Military Friendly Schools

The Military Friendly(R) Schools designation process includes extensive research and a data-driven survey of thousands of schools nationwide approved for Post-9/11 GI Bill funding. The school survey, methodology, criteria and weightings are developed with the assistance of an independent advisory board comprised of educators and HR, diversity, and recruitment professionals from schools across the country. The survey is administered for free and open to all post-secondary schools that wish to participate. Criteria for consideration can be found on the website, www.militaryfriendly.com.

About Central Carolina Community College

Central Carolina Community College offers a wide variety of programs at its three campus locations and multiple instructional locations throughout Chatham, Harnett, and Lee counties. Within these programs, students can earn associate degrees or college transfer credits, diplomas, or certificates. Some programs are offered entirely, or in part, via online distance education. CCCC is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. BestColleges.com has ranked CCCC ninth among the two-year schools in the Best Colleges in North Carolina rankings and ninth among the online associate degree programs in the Most Affordable Online Colleges in the United States rankings in 2015. CCCC is one of only four of North Carolina's 58 community colleges to have met or exceeded the excellence level in at least four areas of the 2015 Performance Measures for Student Success report announced in June by the N.C. Community College System. To learn more about Central Carolina Community College, visit www.cccc.edu.

About Victory Media

Based in Pittsburgh, Victory Media is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business that connects classrooms to careers for the nation's next generation of professionals. Its data-driven ratings are published in G.I. Jobs(R), Military Spouse, Vetrepreneur(R) and STEM JobsSM media, and featured in national media including USA Today, Wall Street Journal, FORTUNE, Bloomberg, NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, CNBC, Fox News, and others. Learn more about Victory Media Media, Training and Ratings solutions at victorymedia.com, and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.