by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. at the Master’s Degree level, you’ve come to the right place. This ranking highlights 34 colleges that serve veteran sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. students especially well, using our 2026 methodology.
We measure this ranking on 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. So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Want to compare schools head to head? Check out our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Narrow this ranking to a degree level below:
Learn more about these veteran-friendly sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. colleges below:
Leading the list is Ohio State University-Main Campus, our #1 sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. college for veterans. Ohio State University-Main Campus scores 89.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. report for Ohio State University-Main Campus
A rank of #2 makes James Madison University one of the top sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. colleges for veteran students. The school's overall veterans score is 89.6 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. at James Madison University
Veteran students seeking a strong sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. program will find one at California State University-Long Beach, which ranked #3. California State University-Long Beach scores 86.7 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. More about the sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. program at California State University-Long Beach
A rank of #4 makes Ohio University-Main Campus one of the top sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. colleges for veteran students. The school's overall veterans score is 84.1 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. program at Ohio University-Main Campus
A rank of #5 makes University of Nebraska at Omaha one of the top sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. colleges for veteran students. The school's overall veterans score is 83.5 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. program at University of Nebraska at Omaha
Illinois State University landed the #6 spot for veterans pursuing sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general.. Illinois State University scores 83.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. report for Illinois State University
California State University-Northridge placed #7 among the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. colleges for veterans. California State University-Northridge scores 82.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. at California State University-Northridge
California State University-Fullerton came in at #8 for veteran sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 80.3 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. at California State University-Fullerton
San Francisco State University landed the #9 spot for veterans pursuing sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general.. It scores 78.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. report for San Francisco State University
Westfield State University landed the #10 spot for veterans pursuing sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general.. The school's overall veterans score is 77.6 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. report for Westfield State University
University of West Florida came in at #11 for veteran sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. students this year. University of West Florida scores 77.2 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. Read more about sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. at University of West Florida
Central Washington University landed the #12 spot for veterans pursuing sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general.. The school's overall veterans score is 77.0 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. report for Central Washington University
American Public University System placed #13 among the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. colleges for veterans. It scores 77.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. report for American Public University System
California State University-Fresno placed #14 among the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. colleges for veterans. It scores 76.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. report for California State University-Fresno
North Carolina Central University placed #15 among the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. colleges for veterans. It scores 75.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. at North Carolina Central University
California State University-Chico ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. colleges for veterans. California State University-Chico scores 75.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. program at California State University-Chico
Austin Peay State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. colleges for veterans. Austin Peay State University scores 75.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. program at Austin Peay State University
University of the Cumberlands placed #18 among the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 75.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. Read more about sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. at University of the Cumberlands
Tennessee Technological University landed the #19 spot for veterans pursuing sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general.. The school's overall veterans score is 75.1 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. report for Tennessee Technological University
Plymouth State University placed #20 among the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. colleges for veterans. Plymouth State University scores 75.1 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 sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. at Plymouth State University
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus placed #21 among the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. colleges for veterans. It scores 74.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. at Oklahoma State University-Main Campus
Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 74.0 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. at Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus
California State University-Los Angeles placed #23 among the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 72.7 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. report for California State University-Los Angeles
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #24 for veteran sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. students this year. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville scores 72.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. report for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Canisius University came in at #25 for veteran sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. students this year. Canisius University scores 72.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 82.9, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. More about the sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. program at Canisius University
Not far behind, these sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general. colleges also rank among the best for veterans this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
We measure this ranking on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness, general.: 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.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
