by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study parks recreation fitness at the Bachelor’s Degree level, you’ve come to the right place. The list below highlights 501 schools ranked on how well they support veterans pursuing parks recreation fitness, 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 reviewed colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Narrow this ranking to a degree level below:
Here are the top-ranked parks recreation fitness colleges for veterans:
No school served veteran parks recreation fitness students better than University of Delaware this year. It scores 91.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full parks recreation fitness report for University of Delaware
A rank of #2 makes University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill one of the top parks recreation fitness colleges for veteran students. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill scores 90.4 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. See the full parks recreation fitness report for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
A rank of #3 makes Ohio State University-Main Campus one of the top parks recreation fitness colleges for veteran students. It scores 89.9 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. See the full parks recreation fitness report for Ohio State University-Main Campus
James Madison University is a great choice for veterans pursuing parks recreation fitness, landing the #4 spot this year. The school's overall veterans score is 89.6 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about parks recreation fitness at James Madison University
Veteran students seeking a strong parks recreation fitness program will find one at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, which ranked #5. 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. More about the parks recreation fitness program at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
University of Georgia ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best parks recreation fitness 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, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about parks recreation fitness at University of Georgia
William & Mary placed #7 among the best parks recreation fitness colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 89.2 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about parks recreation fitness at William & Mary
Rutgers University-New Brunswick placed #8 among the best parks recreation fitness colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 88.8 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about parks recreation fitness at Rutgers University-New Brunswick
East Carolina University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best parks recreation fitness colleges for veterans. It scores 88.2 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 parks recreation fitness at East Carolina University
The University of Texas at Arlington came in at #10 for veteran parks recreation fitness students this year. It scores 87.9 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. See the full parks recreation fitness report for The University of Texas at Arlington
San Diego State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best parks recreation fitness colleges for veterans. San Diego State University scores 87.8 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 parks recreation fitness report for San Diego State University
University of Nevada-Las Vegas ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best parks recreation fitness colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 87.6 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the parks recreation fitness program at University of Nevada-Las Vegas
University of Virginia-Main Campus ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best parks recreation fitness colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 87.5 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full parks recreation fitness report for University of Virginia-Main Campus
California State University-Long Beach came in at #14 for veteran parks recreation fitness students this year. California State University-Long Beach scores 86.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full parks recreation fitness report for California State University-Long Beach
University of Florida landed the #15 spot for veterans pursuing parks recreation fitness. It scores 86.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the parks recreation fitness program at University of Florida
Winona State University came in at #16 for veteran parks recreation fitness students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 86.3 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about parks recreation fitness at Winona State University
Citadel Military College of South Carolina ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best parks recreation fitness colleges for veterans. Citadel Military College of South Carolina scores 85.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full parks recreation fitness report for Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Western Michigan University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best parks recreation fitness colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 85.4 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full parks recreation fitness report for Western Michigan University
University of Arkansas placed #19 among the best parks recreation fitness colleges for veterans. University of Arkansas scores 85.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. Read more about parks recreation fitness at University of Arkansas
University of Alabama in Huntsville came in at #20 for veteran parks recreation fitness students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 85.2 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full parks recreation fitness report for University of Alabama in Huntsville
University of Maryland-College Park landed the #21 spot for veterans pursuing parks recreation fitness. The school's overall veterans score is 85.1 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the parks recreation fitness program at University of Maryland-College Park
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse placed #22 among the best parks recreation fitness colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 85.0 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full parks recreation fitness report for University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Texas Tech University landed the #23 spot for veterans pursuing parks recreation fitness. Texas Tech University scores 84.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the parks recreation fitness program at Texas Tech University
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee landed the #24 spot for veterans pursuing parks recreation 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 parks recreation fitness at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo came in at #25 for veteran parks recreation fitness students this year. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo scores 84.6 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 parks recreation fitness report for California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
Not far behind, these parks recreation fitness colleges also rank among the best for veterans this year:
Explore the rest of the top 15% below:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | North Dakota State University-Main Campus | 81.77 |
| 52 | Clemson University | 81.75 |
| 53 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | 81.57 |
| 54 | Grand Valley State University | 81.50 |
| 55 | Middle Tennessee State University | 81.24 |
| 56 | Minnesota State University-Mankato | 81.08 |
| 57 | University of Iowa | 81.08 |
| 58 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus | 80.92 |
| 59 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | 80.92 |
| 60 | Towson University | 80.91 |
These parks recreation fitness colleges also rank near the top for veterans this year:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | Minnesota State University Moorhead | 80.77 |
| 62 | Belmont University | 80.68 |
| 63 | California State University-Sacramento | 80.65 |
| 64 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | 80.63 |
| 65 | Ball State University | 80.63 |
| 66 | Mississippi State University | 80.59 |
| 67 | Appalachian State University | 80.49 |
| 68 | Samford University | 80.46 |
| 69 | Oregon State University | 80.46 |
| 70 | Augusta University | 80.45 |
| 71 | Texas Woman’s University | 80.41 |
| 72 | California State University-Fullerton | 80.34 |
| 73 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | 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 | Jacksonville State University | 80.10 |
| 79 | Eastern Kentucky University | 79.91 |
| 80 | University of Dayton | 79.91 |
*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 parks recreation 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
