by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study mechanical engineering. at the Bachelor’s Degree level, you’ve come to the right place. We have ranked 318 schools that serve veteran mechanical engineering. students especially well, using our 2026 methodology.
Our ranking weighs the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students: affordability and veteran financial benefits (including GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon support), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community. To help you decide, College Factual evaluated colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ready to build your own comparison? Check out our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Explore the best mechanical engineering. colleges for veterans at a specific degree level:
Learn more about these veteran-friendly mechanical engineering. colleges below:
Our analysis ranked University of Nebraska-Lincoln the #1 college for veteran and military-affiliated students pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering.. It scores 91.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the mechanical engineering. program at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Missouri University of Science and Technology is a great choice for veterans pursuing mechanical engineering., landing the #2 spot this year. The school's overall veterans score is 91.1 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the mechanical engineering. program at Missouri University of Science and Technology
Veteran students seeking a strong mechanical engineering. program will find one at University of Delaware, which ranked #3. The school's overall veterans score is 91.1 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the mechanical engineering. program at University of Delaware
Ohio State University-Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best mechanical engineering. colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 89.9 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the mechanical engineering. program at Ohio State University-Main Campus
A rank of #5 makes University of Michigan-Ann Arbor one of the top mechanical engineering. colleges for veteran students. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor scores 89.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full mechanical engineering. report for University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
University of Georgia placed #6 among the best mechanical engineering. colleges for veterans. University of Georgia scores 89.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the mechanical engineering. program at University of Georgia
University of South Florida ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best mechanical engineering. colleges for veterans. It scores 89.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full mechanical engineering. report for University of South Florida
Rutgers University-New Brunswick ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best mechanical engineering. colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 88.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about mechanical engineering. at Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best mechanical engineering. colleges for veterans. It scores 88.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the mechanical engineering. program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
The University of Texas at Arlington came in at #10 for veteran mechanical engineering. students this year. The University of Texas at Arlington scores 87.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the mechanical engineering. program at The University of Texas at Arlington
San Diego State University placed #11 among the best mechanical engineering. colleges for veterans. It scores 87.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full mechanical engineering. report for San Diego State University
University of Alabama at Birmingham landed the #12 spot for veterans pursuing mechanical engineering.. University of Alabama at Birmingham scores 87.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about mechanical engineering. at University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Nevada-Las Vegas placed #13 among the best mechanical engineering. colleges for veterans. It scores 87.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the mechanical engineering. program at University of Nevada-Las Vegas
University of Virginia-Main Campus landed the #14 spot for veterans pursuing mechanical engineering.. University of Virginia-Main Campus scores 87.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about mechanical engineering. at University of Virginia-Main Campus
Stony Brook University came in at #15 for veteran mechanical engineering. students this year. Stony Brook University scores 87.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full mechanical engineering. report for Stony Brook University
California State University-Long Beach ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best mechanical engineering. colleges for veterans. It scores 86.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about mechanical engineering. at California State University-Long Beach
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best mechanical engineering. colleges for veterans. It scores 86.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full mechanical engineering. report for South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
University of Florida came in at #18 for veteran mechanical engineering. students this year. University of Florida scores 86.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full mechanical engineering. report for University of Florida
Binghamton University placed #19 among the best mechanical engineering. colleges for veterans. Binghamton University scores 85.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full mechanical engineering. report for Binghamton University
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus landed the #20 spot for veterans pursuing mechanical engineering.. University of Cincinnati-Main Campus scores 85.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full mechanical engineering. report for University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Citadel Military College of South Carolina came in at #21 for veteran mechanical engineering. students this year. Citadel Military College of South Carolina scores 85.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about mechanical engineering. at Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Western Michigan University placed #22 among the best mechanical engineering. colleges for veterans. It scores 85.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about mechanical engineering. at Western Michigan University
University of Washington-Seattle Campus placed #23 among the best mechanical engineering. colleges for veterans. University of Washington-Seattle Campus scores 85.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about mechanical engineering. at University of Washington-Seattle Campus
University of Arkansas landed the #24 spot for veterans pursuing mechanical engineering.. It scores 85.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about mechanical engineering. at University of Arkansas
University of Alabama in Huntsville placed #25 among the best mechanical engineering. colleges for veterans. University of Alabama in Huntsville scores 85.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full mechanical engineering. report for University of Alabama in Huntsville
Not far behind, these mechanical engineering. colleges also rank among the best for veterans this year:
These mechanical engineering. colleges also rank near the top for veterans this year:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Florida State University | 82.43 |
| 52 | The University of Alabama | 82.38 |
| 53 | George Mason University | 82.15 |
| 54 | Rowan University | 82.13 |
| 55 | University of Minnesota-Duluth | 81.93 |
| 56 | Georgia Southern University | 81.92 |
| 57 | North Dakota State University-Main Campus | 81.77 |
| 58 | Clemson University | 81.75 |
| 59 | University of Nevada-Reno | 81.70 |
| 60 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | 81.57 |
| 61 | Grand Valley State University | 81.50 |
| 62 | Virginia Commonwealth University | 81.35 |
| 63 | Wayne State University | 81.19 |
| 64 | University of Iowa | 81.08 |
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is based on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying mechanical engineering.: affordability and veteran financial benefits (GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
