LC State Earns Military Friendly Gold Status for Third Straight Year

Lewis-Clark State College recognized for its commitment to serving student veterans and their families.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 7:32pm

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A vibrant, high-contrast silkscreen print featuring a repeated pattern of military-themed objects like dog tags and combat boots, rendered in a bold, pop art style.LC State's third consecutive Gold-level Military Friendly designation celebrates the college's commitment to supporting the educational goals of active duty personnel, veterans, and their families.Lewiston Today

For the third consecutive year, Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho has received the prestigious Gold-level Military Friendly School designation, an honor reserved for the top 10% of institutions outside the Top 10 category for small public colleges. This recognition highlights LC State's dedication to supporting active duty military, veterans, and their families through specialized services, resources, and a student-first approach.

Why it matters

The Military Friendly designation is an important validation of LC State's ongoing efforts to create a welcoming and supportive environment for the growing number of student veterans and military-connected individuals pursuing higher education. As more service members and their families seek out colleges that understand their unique needs, this award helps position LC State as a preferred destination for this population.

The details

To earn the Gold-level Military Friendly status, LC State was evaluated across several key areas, including military student support and retention, graduation and career outcomes, financial aid and loan repayment, campus culture and commitment, academic policies, and the admissions process. The school's dedicated Veterans Services office works closely with students to maximize their GI Bill and other military education benefits, while also providing access to a specialized resource center on campus.

  • LC State first received the Military Friendly designation in 2020.
  • The school earned Gold-level status in 2024 and 2025.
  • The 2026 Gold-level designation marks the third consecutive year LC State has received this honor.

The players

Lewis-Clark State College

A public college located in Lewiston, Idaho that has been recognized for three straight years as a top Military Friendly institution, providing specialized support and resources for student veterans and their families.

Cynthia Pemberton

The president of Lewis-Clark State College, who expressed pride in the school's commitment to serving military-connected students.

Viqtory

The organization that evaluates and designates Military Friendly schools based on public data sources and a proprietary survey.

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What they’re saying

“LC State is proud to serve students who have served our country. As this designation indicates, our small campus, dedicated staff, and student-first approach are a good fit for military members and their families.”

— Cynthia Pemberton, President, Lewis-Clark State College

What’s next

LC State will continue to build upon its military-friendly initiatives and resources to support the growing number of student veterans and their families enrolling at the college.

The takeaway

Lewis-Clark State College's third consecutive Gold-level Military Friendly designation underscores its unwavering commitment to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for active duty personnel, veterans, and their dependents pursuing higher education. This recognition solidifies LC State's reputation as a preferred destination for military-connected students seeking a small, personalized college experience.