THIBODAUX – When young military service members finish their first four to eight years of duty, they face a massive choice: where to build their post-military career.
According to recent data, a striking number of them are choosing Louisiana.
The Department of Veterans Affairs Annual Benefits Report reveals that the number of people using veteran education benefits in Louisiana grew by 9.5% last year. To put that into perspective, the national average growth rate was just 3.6%. Louisiana is seeing student veteran growth at nearly triple the speed of the rest of the country.
At the same time, the state’s overall appeal to military families is rising. The website WalletHub published its 2026 Best States for Military Retirees rankings, and Louisiana jumped seven spots to No. 19 overall. It also scored the No. 14 spot for veteran quality of life.
While the study mentions retirees, the main factors driving that high score, like affordability, low taxes and strong local communities, are exactly what younger, 20-something veterans look for when they separate from the military and start a second career.
For Nicholls State University, Louisiana’s veteran student population growth doesn’t require a change in strategy. Instead, it highlights the strength of the system Nicholls already has in place.
“The numbers show that Louisiana is a top destination for younger veterans who want to go to college immediately after leaving the military,” says Gilberto Burbante, coordinator for Veterans Services at Nicholls. “Our campus doesn’t need to change what it’s doing to meet this trend. Nicholls already has a proven, one-stop system that helps these students use their GI Bill benefits and complete their degrees successfully.”
That existing system includes the Office of Veterans Services, which manages the complex federal GI Bill and financial aid paperwork so students don’t have to navigate the process alone.
On campus, military students also have access to a dedicated veterans lounge in Shaver Gym and the peer-led Nicholls Veterans Organization, giving them a familiar community the moment they step onto campus.
As more young veterans choose Louisiana to launch their post-service lives, Nicholls stands ready with the exact tools they need to turn their military experience into a college degree.
The transition from the military to the classroom doesn’t have to be a solo journey. Veterans, active-duty personnel, and their families can map out their next chapter by visiting www.nicholls.edu/veterans or by calling 985-448-4208 to speak with the campus support team.