EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — El Paso Community College has been recognized with a 2026-2027 Gold Military Friendly School designation, an honor that highlights the college’s efforts to support veterans, service members and their families.

EPCC received the designation from Viqtory in the Large Community College category, according to information released April 8.

Since its inception in 2003, the Military Friendly Schools list has aimed to set a standard for higher education institutions seeking to provide opportunities for veterans and their spouses.

El Paso Community College serves more than 3,000 service members, veterans and their families and works to help students meet their educational goals.

As a veteran, having EPCC recognized as a Gold Military Friendly College is confirmation that everyone in the College is working together to support our military-affiliated community,” said Dr. Paula Mitchell, associate vice president of instruction and student success. “Not only does it mean that our Veterans Resource Center is providing excellent service, but the Gold award also means that the entire TEAM is supporting our students and community. I’m very proud of everyone who takes that extra step to provide student service.

EPCC partners with Fort Bliss to offer in-person services in admissions, counseling and advising, and also offers several general education eight-week classes in the evenings at the College Center on base.

“Achieving Military Friendly Gold status is a clear validation of El Paso Community College’s commitment to those who have worn the uniform, and is, plain and simple, a mission accomplished,” said Carl B. Dwyer, EPCC Veterans Resource Center director. “This distinction goes beyond recognition—it reflects the disciplined, consistent work of our faculty, staff, and Veterans Resource Center team to build a true ‘safe harbor’ for our military-connected. At EPCC, we continue to strive daily to ensure the success of our veterans and their families that are enrolled.”

Institutions earning the Military Friendly Schools Awards designation were evaluated using public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey.

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More than 3,200 schools participated in the survey. Viqtory determined methodology, criteria and weightings with input from the Military Friendly Advisory Council of independent leaders in higher education. Schools were measured on their ability to meet thresholds for retention, graduation, job placement, repayment, persistence and loan default rates for all students and specifically for student veterans.

EPCC said it offers services for military-affiliated students through its Veterans Resource Centers, which serve active duty, retired, reservist or National Guard veterans, spouses of veterans and dependent children of service-disabled veterans. The college describes the Veterans Resource Center as a “one stop” service for veterans who want to pursue education.

EPCC also has staff at Fort Bliss in Building 641 on Taylor Road.

For information on Fort Bliss classes, the college said to call (915) 831-5511. More information on EPCC classes, registration and counseling on Fort Bliss is available at https://www.epcc.edu/Services/Military. The full Military Friendly Campus report on EPCC is available at www.militaryfriendly.com.

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