by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study criminal justice and corrections. at the Bachelor’s Degree level, you’ve come to the right place. This ranking highlights 531 programs that stand out for veteran criminal justice and corrections. students, using our 2026 methodology.
This ranking is based 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 analyzed 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.
Explore the best criminal justice and corrections. colleges for veterans at a specific degree level:
Explore the leading criminal justice and corrections. colleges for veterans below:
Leading the list is University of Georgia, our #1 criminal justice and corrections. college for veterans. It scores 89.3 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 criminal justice and corrections. program at University of Georgia
Veteran students seeking a strong criminal justice and corrections. program will find one at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, which ranked #2. It scores 88.8 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 criminal justice and corrections. at Rutgers University-New Brunswick
East Carolina University is a great choice for veterans pursuing criminal justice and corrections., landing the #3 spot this year. East Carolina University scores 88.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about criminal justice and corrections. at East Carolina University
The University of Texas at Arlington is a great choice for veterans pursuing criminal justice and corrections., landing the #4 spot this year. The University of Texas at Arlington scores 87.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. Read more about criminal justice and corrections. at The University of Texas at Arlington
A rank of #5 makes San Diego State University one of the top criminal justice and corrections. colleges for veteran students. It scores 87.8 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 criminal justice and corrections. at San Diego State University
University of Alabama at Birmingham placed #6 among the best criminal justice and corrections. colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 87.7 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about criminal justice and corrections. at University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Nevada-Las Vegas came in at #7 for veteran criminal justice and corrections. students this year. University of Nevada-Las Vegas scores 87.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about criminal justice and corrections. at University of Nevada-Las Vegas
California State University-Long Beach landed the #8 spot for veterans pursuing criminal justice and corrections.. The school's overall veterans score is 86.7 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about criminal justice and corrections. at California State University-Long Beach
Winona State University came in at #9 for veteran criminal justice and corrections. 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, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full criminal justice and corrections. report for Winona State University
Rutgers University-Newark came in at #10 for veteran criminal justice and corrections. students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 86.1 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about criminal justice and corrections. at Rutgers University-Newark
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus landed the #11 spot for veterans pursuing criminal justice and corrections.. 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. Read more about criminal justice and corrections. at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Citadel Military College of South Carolina placed #12 among the best criminal justice and corrections. colleges for veterans. Citadel Military College of South Carolina 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. More about the criminal justice and corrections. program at Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Western Michigan University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice and corrections. colleges for veterans. 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 criminal justice and corrections. at Western Michigan University
Franklin University came in at #14 for veteran criminal justice and corrections. students this year. It scores 85.4 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 66.7. More about the criminal justice and corrections. program at Franklin University
University of Arkansas placed #15 among the best criminal justice and corrections. colleges for veterans. University of Arkansas scores 85.3 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 criminal justice and corrections. program at University of Arkansas
University of New Mexico-Main Campus placed #16 among the best criminal justice and corrections. colleges for veterans. University of New Mexico-Main Campus scores 85.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about criminal justice and corrections. at University of New Mexico-Main Campus
State University of New York at Oswego placed #17 among the best criminal justice and corrections. colleges for veterans. State University of New York at Oswego scores 84.9 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 criminal justice and corrections. report for State University of New York at Oswego
Rhode Island College landed the #18 spot for veterans pursuing criminal justice and corrections.. Rhode Island College scores 84.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the criminal justice and corrections. program at Rhode Island College
Boise State University landed the #19 spot for veterans pursuing criminal justice and corrections.. Boise State University scores 84.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the criminal justice and corrections. program at Boise State University
University of Central Florida landed the #20 spot for veterans pursuing criminal justice and corrections.. University of Central Florida scores 84.7 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 criminal justice and corrections. report for University of Central Florida
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee came in at #21 for veteran criminal justice and corrections. students this year. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee scores 84.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full criminal justice and corrections. report for University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
University of Maryland Global Campus placed #22 among the best criminal justice and corrections. colleges for veterans. It scores 84.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full criminal justice and corrections. report for University of Maryland Global Campus
Iowa State University placed #23 among the best criminal justice and corrections. colleges for veterans. Iowa State University scores 84.5 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 criminal justice and corrections. at Iowa State University
Ohio University-Main Campus landed the #24 spot for veterans pursuing criminal justice and corrections.. The school's overall veterans score is 84.1 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about criminal justice and corrections. at Ohio University-Main Campus
University of Southern Indiana placed #25 among the best criminal justice and corrections. colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 83.8 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full criminal justice and corrections. report for University of Southern Indiana
These criminal justice and corrections. colleges also placed near the top this year:
Click a college name to learn more:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Middle Tennessee State University | 81.24 |
| 52 | Wayne State University | 81.19 |
| 53 | Minnesota State University-Mankato | 81.08 |
| 54 | University of Colorado Colorado Springs | 80.97 |
| 55 | Columbia Southern University | 80.94 |
| 56 | Oakland University | 80.84 |
| 57 | Salem State University | 80.80 |
| 58 | Minnesota State University Moorhead | 80.77 |
| 59 | University of Toledo | 80.75 |
| 60 | California State University-Sacramento | 80.65 |
These schools also stood out:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | 80.63 |
| 62 | Ball State University | 80.63 |
| 63 | ECPI University | 80.49 |
| 64 | Appalachian State University | 80.49 |
| 65 | Augusta University | 80.45 |
| 66 | Texas Woman’s University | 80.41 |
| 67 | California State University-Fullerton | 80.34 |
| 68 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | 80.34 |
| 69 | Bowling Green State University-Main Campus | 80.30 |
| 70 | Sonoma State University | 80.28 |
| 71 | University of Alaska Anchorage | 80.21 |
| 72 | University of Illinois Chicago | 80.19 |
| 73 | University of Wisconsin-Platteville | 80.16 |
| 74 | Jacksonville State University | 80.10 |
| 75 | University of Dayton | 79.91 |
| 76 | Eastern Kentucky University | 79.91 |
| 77 | Carroll University | 79.73 |
| 78 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell | 79.65 |
| 79 | Park University | 79.58 |
| 80 | University of Southern Mississippi | 79.54 |
*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 criminal justice and corrections.: 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.
