AdobeStock 473578507 Editorial Use Only

2023 Best Colleges for Veterans Top 100 Consensus Ranked Military-Friendly Colleges & Uni­ver­si­ties 2023

Ready to start your journey?

BEST COLLEGES FOR VETERANS

The College Consensus ranking of the Best Colleges for Veterans is built to be thorough, combining perspectives from trusted ranking agencies and reputable student reviews. For generations now, military veterans have looked to America’s colleges and universities – with the help of the GI Bill – to expand their career options after service by earning a degree. Our Best Colleges for Veterans shows prospective students the highest quality, best-reviewed military-friendly colleges available. If you’re interested in an online degree, check out our ranking of the Best Online Colleges for Veterans.

Since the US government instituted the GI Bill (technically called the Serviceman’s Readjustment Act of 1944), one important measure of how a college does its job is what kinds of support it provides for veterans. The GI Bill was originally intended to help veterans readjust to civilian life, with mortgage support, business loans, and, of course, education expenses. Today, the expanded 9/11 GI Bill has helped a new generation of veterans return to school. College Consensus aims to help guide veterans and military personnel to the colleges and universities that will give them the strongest support and best opportunities for academic and professional transformation.

How Did We Create Our Ranking of the Best Military-Friendly Colleges for Veterans?

College Consensus rankings combine the results of the most respected college ranking systems with the averaged ratings of thousands of real student reviews from around the web to create a unique college meta-ranking. This approach offers a comprehensive and holistic perspective missing from other college rankings. Visit our about page for information on which rankings and review sites were included in this year’s consensus rankings.

The Military-Friendly Colleges for Veterans category is limited to schools that 1.) are Servicemember Opportunity Colleges members, 2.) have a recognized Student Veteran Organization, 3.) are Yellow Ribbon Program participants, 4.) employ a dedicated support contact for veterans, servicemembers, and families, and 5.) offer credit for military training.

Recommended Online Colleges & Universities

Visit sites to learn more about enrollment, tuition, and aid

What’s Different About the College Consensus Ranking?

College Consensus’ unique aggregate method provides prospective students with a cleaner, clearer way of comparing colleges. Sure, you could compare all of the rankings out there, or you could let College Consensus do that work for you, providing one straightforward, aggregate score based on all of them. College Consensus cuts through all of the confusion and biases of the many rankings out there by getting down to the numbers – just the numbers. The perspective of experts and real students are given equal weight, making Consensus the only ranking that takes in everyone’s point of view.

The Top Consensus Ranked Military-Friendly Colleges for Veterans are listed in descending order by their Consensus score. In the event of ties, schools are ranked in alphabetical order with the same rank number.

93.4
College Consensus
87.1
Student Consensus
99.7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
88.4
College Consensus
83.6
Student Consensus
93.2
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
88.1
College Consensus
84.5
Student Consensus
91.7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
86.9
College Consensus
82.8
Student Consensus
90.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
86.3
College Consensus
80.6
Student Consensus
91.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

Recommended Online Colleges & Universities

Visit sites to learn more about enrollment, tuition, and aid

86.1
College Consensus
81.5
Student Consensus
90.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
85.9
College Consensus
76.1
Student Consensus
95.7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
85
College Consensus
84.8
Student Consensus
85.2
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
83.3
College Consensus
80.7
Student Consensus
85.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
83
College Consensus
82.8
Student Consensus
83.2
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

Recommended Online Colleges & Universities

Visit sites to learn more about enrollment, tuition, and aid

82.1
College Consensus
79.5
Student Consensus
84.7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
80.8
College Consensus
82.6
Student Consensus
78.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
80.7
College Consensus
81.4
Student Consensus
79.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
79.4
College Consensus
80.7
Student Consensus
78.1
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
78.3
College Consensus
78.5
Student Consensus
78.2
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
77.9
College Consensus
83.9
Student Consensus
71.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
77.8
College Consensus
79.6
Student Consensus
76
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
77.3
College Consensus
81
Student Consensus
73.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
77
College Consensus
78.9
Student Consensus
75.2
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
77
College Consensus
77.2
Student Consensus
76.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
76.1
College Consensus
82.3
Student Consensus
69.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
75.8
College Consensus
81
Student Consensus
70.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
75
College Consensus
78.8
Student Consensus
71.3
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
74.3
College Consensus
75.9
Student Consensus
72.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
73.8
College Consensus
81.5
Student Consensus
66
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

Recommended Online Colleges & Universities

Visit sites to learn more about enrollment, tuition, and aid

73
College Consensus
79.7
Student Consensus
66.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
73
College Consensus
80.5
Student Consensus
65.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
72.8
College Consensus
82
Student Consensus
63.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
72.6
College Consensus
81.8
Student Consensus
63.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
72
College Consensus
83.1
Student Consensus
60.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
71.3
College Consensus
79.1
Student Consensus
63.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
70.8
College Consensus
77.3
Student Consensus
64.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
70.6
College Consensus
75.8
Student Consensus
65.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
70.5
College Consensus
79.4
Student Consensus
61.7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
70.1
College Consensus
83.6
Student Consensus
56.7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
69.9
College Consensus
76.1
Student Consensus
63.7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
69.8
College Consensus
71
Student Consensus
68.7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
69.6
College Consensus
77.7
Student Consensus
61.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
69
College Consensus
75.5
Student Consensus
62.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
69
College Consensus
76.9
Student Consensus
61.1
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
68.9
College Consensus
79.9
Student Consensus
58
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
68.7
College Consensus
70
Student Consensus
67.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
68.6
College Consensus
78.7
Student Consensus
58.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
68.5
College Consensus
78.1
Student Consensus
58.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
68.4
College Consensus
80
Student Consensus
56.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
68.2
College Consensus
81
Student Consensus
55.3
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
67.9
College Consensus
81.7
Student Consensus
54
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
67.4
College Consensus
82
Student Consensus
52.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
67.3
College Consensus
75.7
Student Consensus
58.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
67.2
College Consensus
76.9
Student Consensus
57.5
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

Recommended Online Colleges & Universities

Visit sites to learn more about enrollment, tuition, and aid

67
College Consensus
82.5
Student Consensus
51.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
66.7
College Consensus
79.1
Student Consensus
54.3
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
66.7
College Consensus
75.7
Student Consensus
57.7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
66.5
College Consensus
84.8
Student Consensus
48.2
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
66.4
College Consensus
79.3
Student Consensus
53.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
66.1
College Consensus
75.8
Student Consensus
56.3
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
66
College Consensus
75.5
Student Consensus
56.5
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
65.7
College Consensus
69.1
Student Consensus
62.2
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
65.2
College Consensus
74.4
Student Consensus
55.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
64.7
College Consensus
76.6
Student Consensus
52.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
64.5
College Consensus
81.3
Student Consensus
47.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
64.5
College Consensus
79.6
Student Consensus
49.5
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
64.3
College Consensus
79.8
Student Consensus
48.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
64.2
College Consensus
82
Student Consensus
46.5
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
63.8
College Consensus
74.5
Student Consensus
53.2
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
63.8
College Consensus
76.9
Student Consensus
50.7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
63.7
College Consensus
75
Student Consensus
52.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
63.3
College Consensus
76.8
Student Consensus
49.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
63.2
College Consensus
66.2
Student Consensus
60.2
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
63.2
College Consensus
73
Student Consensus
53.3
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
62.9
College Consensus
75.4
Student Consensus
50.3
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
62.7
College Consensus
79.5
Student Consensus
45.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
62.5
College Consensus
74.3
Student Consensus
50.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
62.5
College Consensus
83.7
Student Consensus
41.2
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
62.3
College Consensus
74.8
Student Consensus
49.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
61.6
College Consensus
78.6
Student Consensus
44.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
61.3
College Consensus
68.3
Student Consensus
54.2
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
61.1
College Consensus
80.5
Student Consensus
41.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
61
College Consensus
78.1
Student Consensus
43.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
60.5
College Consensus
82.3
Student Consensus
38.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
60.5
College Consensus
75.9
Student Consensus
45.1
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
60.4
College Consensus
73.4
Student Consensus
47.3
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
60
College Consensus
81.4
Student Consensus
38.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
60
College Consensus
71.8
Student Consensus
48.1
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
59.9
College Consensus
78.9
Student Consensus
40.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
59.7
College Consensus
76.7
Student Consensus
42.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
59.5
College Consensus
76.3
Student Consensus
42.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
59.4
College Consensus
81.8
Student Consensus
37.1
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
59.3
College Consensus
80.9
Student Consensus
37.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
59.1
College Consensus
76
Student Consensus
42.3
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
58.8
College Consensus
76.6
Student Consensus
41.1
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
58.7
College Consensus
74.9
Student Consensus
42.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
58.6
College Consensus
77.3
Student Consensus
39.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
58.5
College Consensus
70.2
Student Consensus
46.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
58.5
College Consensus
68.9
Student Consensus
48
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
58.3
College Consensus
73.2
Student Consensus
43.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
58.3
College Consensus
78
Student Consensus
38.7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
58.3
College Consensus
69
Student Consensus
47.5
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
58.1
College Consensus
79.4
Student Consensus
36.7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
57.8
College Consensus
79.6
Student Consensus
36
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

Recommended Online Colleges & Universities

Visit sites to learn more about enrollment, tuition, and aid

Is College Really Free for Veterans?

If you are wondering is college really free for veterans, that depends on where the veteran is located. The best colleges for military members are typically those who are included in the free college for veterans offerings within their states.  Backed by the GI Bill, many veterans can attend college free of charge in the following states:

  • Connecticut: The laws in Connecticut state that may be waived for qualified veterans who attend any state university or one of the 12 Connecticut Community College/Technical Colleges.
  • Florida: Florida law allows veterans to attend undergraduate programs at state universities and community colleges. The educational benefits in Florida state are intended for those who have received Purple Hearts.
  • Illinois: Illinois provides veterans with as well as the payment of selected fees. This is provided that they have served for a minimum of one year, honorable discharge, have Illinois listed as the home of record, and they have returned to Illinois within six months of leaving the service.
  • Indiana: Indiana allows free tuition for veterans for up to 124 credit hours in a state-sponsored college or university. Veterans must be a recipient of the Purple Heart Medal, have a permanent home address in Indiana, and must have been honorably discharged.
  • Massachusetts: The state of Massachusetts waives tuition at state institutions to resident veterans who have not defaulted on student loans.
  • Montana: The state of Montana offers free college courses to veterans at state schools provided that they were honorably discharged, served in a warzone, and were awarded a Campaign or Expeditionary medal.
  • New Mexico: New Mexico offers free tuition to those who have been a resident of New Mexico for 10 years and those who were awarded the Southwest Asia Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, or any those who were awarded medals for service in support of any US Military campaign or armed conflict that took place after August 1, 1990. Alternatively, free tuition is also offered to those who have been a resident for at least 10 years, served in the Vietnam War, and has been issued the Vietnam Campaign or Service Medal.
  • New York: New York State offers free tuition for the full cost of tuition at any State Univesity of New York.
  • South Dakota: South Dakota offers free tuition to veterans who were honorably discharged, who qualify for in-state tuition, who have served in active duty since August 2, 1990.
  • Texas: The state of Texas offers tuition exemption to veterans who served more than 180 days in active duty service, were honorably discharged, and have not defaulted on their student loans.
  • Utah: Utah offers many programs to veterans and their dependents. These programs are available to those who have received purple hearts or those who are surviving dependents of those who were killed in action on or in the aftermath of September 11th, under certain conditions. Moreover, they also offer free tuition to military members the last year of education at a State University, under certain circumstances.
  • Washington: The state of Washington offers free tuition to veterans who are residents of Washington, to those who have fought in a war or conflict overseas, who were dishonorably discharged, or children/ surviving spouses of an eligible veteran or national guard member.
  • Wisconsin: Wisconsin offers free tuition to veterans under the GI Bill benefits. Which means they full waivers of tuition for up to 128 credit hours. These veterans must be honorably discharged, must have been a state resident while serving, or those who were residents for five consecutive years before enrolling in their school of choice.

How are GI Bill Benefits and the Yellow Ribbon Program Related?

As mentioned, the GI Bill was created to allow veterans to receive free college tuition. GI Bill benefits vary from state to state. However, those who comply with this bill offer free tuition to certain colleges, provided that the applicant meets a certain criteria. The Yellow Ribbon Program is a provision of the post-911 GI Bill that allows free tuition to those who have served for at least 36 months after the 9/11 tragedy, those who were honorably discharged for a service-connected injury and 30 days after September 10, 2001, and their dependents, or those who are using the Fry Scholarship. The best Yellow Robbin Schools comply with this bill.

Do Veterans Get Accepted to College Easier?

While there are no guarantees in terms of college admissions, maturity, determination, and honor that most veterans possess makes it somewhat easier to gain acceptance into certain colleges. The best colleges for military veterans are those who support the GI Bill.

How Do the Best Colleges for Active Duty Military Help My Dependents?

As mentioned, there are plenty of VA education benefits for dependents, depending on where you live and what your circumstances are. The details on how does the gi bill work for dependents are listed above.

Related: 

Best Online Colleges for Veterans

College Options for Disabled Veterans

10 Education Support Resources for Disabled Veteran Students

Best Online Degrees for Veterans and Active Duty Personnel

Biggest Scholarships for Veterans and their Families

Ready to start your journey?

Ready to start your journey?