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. at the Bachelor’s Degree level, you’ve come to the right place. We have ranked 531 schools that serve veteran sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. 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).
Want to compare schools head to head? Check out our College Combat to build custom comparisons on the factors you care about most.
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Learn more about these veteran-friendly sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. colleges below:
University of Delaware tops our 2026 ranking of the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. colleges for veterans. It scores 91.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. program at University of Delaware
Veteran students seeking a strong sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. program will find one at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which ranked #2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill scores 90.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. report for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Ohio State University-Main Campus is a great choice for veterans pursuing sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness., landing the #3 spot this year. The school's overall veterans score is 89.9 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. Read more about sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. at Ohio State University-Main Campus
James Madison University is a great choice for veterans pursuing sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness., landing the #4 spot this year. It scores 89.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. at James Madison University
A rank of #5 makes University of Michigan-Ann Arbor one of the top sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. colleges for veteran students. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor scores 89.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. program at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
University of Georgia placed #6 among the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. colleges for veterans. University of Georgia scores 89.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. program at University of Georgia
William & Mary came in at #7 for veteran sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. students this year. William & Mary scores 89.2 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 sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. program at William & Mary
Rutgers University-New Brunswick placed #8 among the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. colleges for veterans. Rutgers University-New Brunswick scores 88.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. report for Rutgers University-New Brunswick
East Carolina University came in at #9 for veteran sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. students this year. It scores 88.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. program at East Carolina University
The University of Texas at Arlington landed the #10 spot for veterans pursuing sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness.. The school's overall veterans score is 87.9 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. report for The University of Texas at Arlington
San Diego State University placed #11 among the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. colleges for veterans. It scores 87.8 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 sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. program at San Diego State University
University of Nevada-Las Vegas came in at #12 for veteran sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. students this year. University of Nevada-Las Vegas scores 87.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. program at University of Nevada-Las Vegas
University of Virginia-Main Campus came in at #13 for veteran sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 87.5 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. report for University of Virginia-Main Campus
California State University-Long Beach placed #14 among the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. colleges for veterans. California State University-Long Beach scores 86.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. report for California State University-Long Beach
University of Florida placed #15 among the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. colleges for veterans. University of Florida scores 86.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. program at University of Florida
Winona State University placed #16 among the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. colleges for veterans. It scores 86.3 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. at Winona State University
Citadel Military College of South Carolina came in at #17 for veteran sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. students this year. It scores 85.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. program at Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Western Michigan University came in at #18 for veteran sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. students this year. It scores 85.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. at Western Michigan University
University of Arkansas ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. colleges for veterans. It scores 85.3 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 sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. program at University of Arkansas
University of Alabama in Huntsville ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 85.2 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. Read more about sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. at University of Alabama in Huntsville
University of Maryland-College Park placed #21 among the best sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 85.1 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. at University of Maryland-College Park
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse landed the #22 spot for veterans pursuing sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness.. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse scores 85.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. report for University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Texas Tech University came in at #23 for veteran sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. students this year. It scores 84.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. at Texas Tech University
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee landed the #24 spot for veterans pursuing sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness.. It scores 84.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo came in at #25 for veteran sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 84.6 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. program at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
These sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness. colleges also placed near the top this year:
To learn more, click any college name below:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | University of Minnesota-Duluth | 81.93 |
| 52 | Georgia Southern University | 81.92 |
| 53 | North Dakota State University-Main Campus | 81.77 |
| 54 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | 81.57 |
| 55 | Grand Valley State University | 81.50 |
| 56 | Middle Tennessee State University | 81.24 |
| 57 | University of Iowa | 81.08 |
| 58 | Minnesota State University-Mankato | 81.08 |
| 59 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | 80.92 |
| 60 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus | 80.92 |
These schools also stood out:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | Towson University | 80.91 |
| 62 | Minnesota State University Moorhead | 80.77 |
| 63 | Belmont University | 80.68 |
| 64 | California State University-Sacramento | 80.65 |
| 65 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | 80.63 |
| 66 | Ball State University | 80.63 |
| 67 | Mississippi State University | 80.59 |
| 68 | Appalachian State University | 80.49 |
| 69 | Samford University | 80.46 |
| 70 | Oregon State University | 80.46 |
| 71 | Augusta University | 80.45 |
| 72 | Texas Woman’s University | 80.41 |
| 73 | California State University-Fullerton | 80.34 |
| 74 | Bowling Green State University-Main Campus | 80.30 |
| 75 | Sonoma State University | 80.28 |
| 76 | University of Illinois Chicago | 80.19 |
| 77 | University of Wisconsin-Platteville | 80.16 |
| 78 | Eastern Kentucky University | 79.91 |
| 79 | Carroll University | 79.73 |
| 80 | Park University | 79.58 |
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
Our ranking weighs the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness.: 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.
