Georgia Highlands College has been included in the 2012 Guide to America's Top Military-Friendly Colleges and Universities

Media release: Georgia Highlands College has been included in the 2012 Guide to America's Top Military-Friendly Colleges and Universities published by the Military Advanced Education Journal. GHC was listed as one of 300 institutions throughout the United States that implements policies to assist and support veterans. Eleven institutions from Georgia were included in the list, eight of which are University System of Georgia colleges and universities. Very few two-year or community colleges were included. GHC is the only one from Georgia.

The publication based inclusion on a number of criteria, and Georgia Highlands made the cut because it provides several key services to veteran students. The college has designated one person specifically to deal with veterans' affairs. Amy Wise, enrollment management specialist at the Cartersville campus, is completely versed in the benefits, scholarship possibilities and financial aid packages available for military personnel, veterans and their dependents. GHC also has a substantial distance learning program, creating more options for this population. There are counselors at each GHC site trained to deal with issues facing the military, and there's a liberal withdrawal policy when armed forces personnel are called to active duty or deployed. Add to this the attractive tuition rates and the fact that GHC waives mandatory fees for Georgia National Guard and reservists such as the student activity, institutional, data card, athletics, technology and parking fees as mandated by the Board of Regents, and the college offers a very attractive reason to choose Georgia Highlands.

In Georgia there are several financial aid and scholarship opportunities available for members and veterans of the armed services, especially for Georgia National Guard and military reservists. The HERO Scholarship is available through Georgia Student Finance to Georgia National Guard, reservists or their spouses and children. Recipients are eligible for up to $2,000 a year. The My Career Advancement Accounts, or MyCAA, is paid by the Department of Defense to spouses of members of the Georgia National Guard who have spent 181 consecutive days or longer in a combat zone. These awards amount to as much as $4,000 a year.

Other Georgia colleges and universities cites in the guide were North Georgia College and State University, Augusta State University, Valdosta State University, Darton College, Fort Valley State University, Georgia Southern University, Albany State University, Ashworth College, South University and Wiregrass Georgia Technical College.