KCC recognized as Military Friendly® in 2026

Kankakee Community College is one of 71 small community colleges across the nation with a gold ranking in the 2026 Guide to Military Friendly Schools, published in conjunction with “G.I. Jobs” magazine.

KCC has had 37 veterans enroll during the 2025-26 school year, according to the college’s Office of Financial Aid. There have been 49 military-connected students utilizing Veteran’s Administration Education benefits this school year.

“We are proud to serve veterans, and to be designated as a Military Friendly® School,” said Megan Ponton, assistant director of financial aid at KCC. “The college is dedicated to supporting veterans and active-duty military personnel, alongside their families, in their transition to higher education. We facilitate access to federal and state VA educational benefits and financial aid. We also provide comprehensive assistance tailored to individual academic, professional, and personal aspirations.”

Throughout Illinois, there are only 12 community colleges which achieved a Military Friendly® designation this year. Community colleges were categorized as “small” or “large.” A total of 288 community colleges earned the Military Friendly® designation.

“Earning the Military Friendly® designation is more than a badge of honor; it is a reflection of an institution’s deep-rooted values and strategic commitment to those who served.” said Kayla Lopez, vice president of memberships for Military Friendly. “These schools don’t just open doors for veterans and military spouses, they build sustainable pathways for academic success and long-term impact. Their support is transformative, proving that investing in military-connected students is both a moral imperative and a standard for educational excellence”

Methodology, criteria, and weightings were determined by Military Friendly, in consultation with the Military Friendly Advisory Council, a group of independent leaders in the military community. Final ratings were determined by combining an organization’s survey score, public data, and an assessment of the institution’s ability to meet and exceed thresholds for student recruitment, retention, academic progress, graduation rates, career placement, and support services for veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses.

KCC will be included in the 2026-2027 Guide to Schools® in the April issue of Military Friendly G.I. Jobs® magazine and on MilitaryFriendly.com.

More information about KCC’s educational benefits for military veterans, spouses and dependents is at www.kcc.edu/veterans. Community members and prospective students can request information at veterans.kcc.edu, email finaid@kcc.edu, or phone 815-802-8550.

Military-friendly attributes of Kankakee Community College

• Full-time advisers on staff, including career advising
• Priority registration
• Career Services
• Scholarships for military-connected students
• Veteran’s Resource Center, which is staffed and offers dedicated resources
• The KCC Veterans Association is an approved chapter of the Student Veterans of America and SALUTE Veterans National Honors Society.
• Military students called to active service return without penalty
• In-district tuition for VA education beneficiaries
• Awards credit for College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and/or DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) exams
• Accepts the ACE recommendations for awarding credit for CLEP and/or DSST
• Gives college credit for military training and experience
• Annual Veteran Recognition Ceremony
• Honorary Veteran Stole for graduating service members
• Disability Services
• Tutoring Services

About Military Friendly

Military Friendly® is the standard that measures an organization’s commitment, effort, and success in creating sustainable and meaningful benefits for the military community. Over 2,900 organizations compete annually for the Military Friendly® designation. Military Friendly is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business. Military Friendly is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or the federal government. Results are produced via a rules-based algorithm. The data-driven Military Friendly® lists and methodology can be found at https://www.militaryfriendly.com.