by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study sports studies. at the Bachelor’s Degree level, you’ve come to the right place. The list below highlights 20 schools that serve veteran sports studies. 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. To help you decide, College Factual analyzed 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.
Explore the best sports studies. colleges for veterans at a specific degree level:
Learn more about these veteran-friendly sports studies. colleges below:
Our analysis ranked East Carolina University the #1 college for veteran and military-affiliated students pursuing a degree in sports studies.. East Carolina University scores 88.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the sports studies. program at East Carolina University
National University is a great choice for veterans pursuing sports studies., landing the #2 spot this year. The school's overall veterans score is 82.8 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about sports studies. at National University
University of Iowa came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best sports studies. colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 81.1 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about sports studies. at University of Iowa
University of Massachusetts-Boston is a great choice for veterans pursuing sports studies., landing the #4 spot this year. The school's overall veterans score is 79.0 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about sports studies. at University of Massachusetts-Boston
A rank of #5 makes State University of New York at Cortland one of the top sports studies. colleges for veteran students. The school's overall veterans score is 77.2 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. More about the sports studies. program at State University of New York at Cortland
John Carroll University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best sports studies. colleges for veterans. It scores 75.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 55.2, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the sports studies. program at John Carroll University
Shenandoah University landed the #7 spot for veterans pursuing sports studies.. It scores 74.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 75.3, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the sports studies. program at Shenandoah University
United States Sports University placed #8 among the best sports studies. colleges for veterans. It scores 74.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3. Read more about sports studies. at United States Sports University
Western Kentucky University landed the #9 spot for veterans pursuing sports studies.. Western Kentucky University scores 73.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the sports studies. program at Western Kentucky University
Upper Iowa University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best sports studies. colleges for veterans. Upper Iowa University scores 73.5 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 studies. report for Upper Iowa University
Methodist University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best sports studies. colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 69.9 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 68.4, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the sports studies. program at Methodist University
University of Saint Mary ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best sports studies. colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 68.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 80.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. More about the sports studies. program at University of Saint Mary
University of Mary landed the #13 spot for veterans pursuing sports studies.. It scores 68.5 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 33.3. Read more about sports studies. at University of Mary
Lubbock Christian University placed #14 among the best sports studies. colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 68.1 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 99.3, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. Read more about sports studies. at Lubbock Christian University
St. Thomas Aquinas College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best sports studies. colleges for veterans. It scores 63.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 71.9, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. More about the sports studies. program at St. Thomas Aquinas College
Ottawa University-Surprise landed the #16 spot for veterans pursuing sports studies.. It scores 60.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 76.8, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. More about the sports studies. program at Ottawa University-Surprise
Southwestern College came in at #17 for veteran sports studies. students this year. Southwestern College scores 53.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 70.5, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full sports studies. report for Southwestern College
Bethel University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best sports studies. colleges for veterans. It scores 50.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 81.4, alongside a 0.0 veteran-support score. More about the sports studies. program at Bethel University
Manhattanville University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best sports studies. colleges for veterans. It scores 37.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 63.1, and veteran resources 33.3. See the full sports studies. report for Manhattanville University
Ottawa University-Ottawa landed the #20 spot for veterans pursuing sports studies.. Ottawa University-Ottawa scores 25.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Read more about sports studies. at Ottawa University-Ottawa
*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 studies.: 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
