Penn announced a new partnership to support veteran and military-affiliated applicants last week.
The collaboration between Penn Admissions and Service to School — a nonprofit organization that provides free college counseling services to military-affiliated applicants — will expand guidance for veterans applying to Penn. According to a March 11 press release, Service to School will provide application counseling, mentorship, and networking opportunities to veterans and service members hoping to attend Penn.
“Penn decided to partner with Service to School because we understand that veterans not only bring unique perspectives to our undergraduate population, but also that they face unique challenges in navigating the college application process,” Vice Provost and Dean of Admissions Whitney Soule wrote in a statement to The Daily Pennsylvanian. “We want them to hear loud and clear that Penn could be an option for them!”
Soule added that veterans who went straight from high school to military service might have “different questions and different perspectives” on what they are looking for in higher education.
According to Soule, Penn has been working with Service to School since the fall of 2025. Penn is now one of seven Ivy League universities to partner with Service to School through its VetLink program.
“Service to School is proud to partner with Penn to expand opportunity for veterans and service members pursuing higher education,” Service to School Chief Executive Officer Sydney Matthes wrote in the press release. “Penn offers the kind of rigorous academic environment where veterans’ leadership, resilience, and global perspective can translate into meaningful impact both on campus and beyond.”
The move comes after the Pentagon considered eliminating tuition aid for active-duty service members planning to attend elite universities, including Penn.
Despite appearing on the shortlist, the University was not among the schools targeted in the Department of Defense’s final memo. The official list of eliminated programs, published on Feb. 27, included all Ivy League institutions except Penn, Dartmouth College, and Cornell University.
Pentagon considers barring tuition aid for active-duty military graduate students at Penn
Penn to 'comply' with Department of Education foreign funding policies amid ongoing investigation
Penn’s Student Registration and Financial Services webpage states that the University is “committed to supporting our veteran and military-affiliated students.” According to the website, active duty members, veterans, and military-affiliated dependents are “eligible for education benefits offered through the Department of Veterans Affairs.”
Pentagon considers barring tuition aid for active-duty military graduate students at Penn
Penn to 'comply' with Department of Education foreign funding policies amid ongoing investigation
Senior reporter Arti Jain covers state and local politics and can be reached at jain@thedp.com. At Penn, she studies economics and political science. Follow her on X @arti_jain_.
