by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study protective security safety services at the Associate’s Degree level, you’ve come to the right place. The list below highlights 294 programs ranked on how well they support veterans pursuing protective security safety services, 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. So you can compare your options, College Factual analyzed colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ready to build your own comparison? Check out 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 protective security safety services colleges for veterans:
Leading the list is Salt Lake Community College, our #1 protective security safety services college for veterans. It scores 86.0 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 protective security safety services at Salt Lake Community College
Veteran students seeking a strong protective security safety services program will find one at Florida State College at Jacksonville, which ranked #2. Florida State College at Jacksonville scores 85.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full protective security safety services report for Florida State College at Jacksonville
A rank of #3 makes Hillsborough Community College one of the top protective security safety services colleges for veteran students. The school's overall veterans score is 83.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full protective security safety services report for Hillsborough Community College
A rank of #4 makes Southern New Hampshire University one of the top protective security safety services colleges for veteran students. Southern New Hampshire University scores 83.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about protective security safety services at Southern New Hampshire University
Collin County Community College District is a great choice for veterans pursuing protective security safety services, landing the #5 spot this year. It scores 83.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the protective security safety services program at Collin County Community College District
Broward College landed the #6 spot for veterans pursuing protective security safety services. It scores 82.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about protective security safety services at Broward College
Nassau Community College came in at #7 for veteran protective security safety services students this year. Nassau Community College scores 82.9 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 protective security safety services program at Nassau Community College
Miami Dade College landed the #8 spot for veterans pursuing protective security safety services. It scores 82.8 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 66.7. See the full protective security safety services report for Miami Dade College
Valencia College came in at #9 for veteran protective security safety services students this year. It scores 81.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the protective security safety services program at Valencia College
Southwestern College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 81.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full protective security safety services report for Southwestern College
Houston Community College landed the #11 spot for veterans pursuing protective security safety services. Houston Community College scores 81.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the protective security safety services program at Houston Community College
Wake Technical Community College placed #12 among the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. Wake Technical Community College scores 81.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the protective security safety services program at Wake Technical Community College
Columbia Southern University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. It scores 80.9 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. More about the protective security safety services program at Columbia Southern University
Seminole State College of Florida placed #14 among the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 80.7 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the protective security safety services program at Seminole State College of Florida
Palm Beach State College placed #15 among the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 80.6 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full protective security safety services report for Palm Beach State College
Gateway Technical College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. Gateway Technical College scores 80.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about protective security safety services at Gateway Technical College
Pima Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. It scores 80.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full protective security safety services report for Pima Community College
Dallas College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 80.2 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full protective security safety services report for Dallas College
Mesa Community College placed #19 among the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. It scores 80.1 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 protective security safety services report for Mesa Community College
Austin Community College District came in at #20 for veteran protective security safety services students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 79.9 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full protective security safety services report for Austin Community College District
Eastern Florida State College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 79.7 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full protective security safety services report for Eastern Florida State College
Park University landed the #22 spot for veterans pursuing protective security safety services. It scores 79.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about protective security safety services at Park University
Weber State University placed #23 among the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. Weber State University scores 79.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the protective security safety services program at Weber State University
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College came in at #24 for veteran protective security safety services students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 79.1 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the protective security safety services program at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
Honolulu Community College came in at #25 for veteran protective security safety services students this year. It scores 79.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. More about the protective security safety services program at Honolulu Community College
These protective security safety services colleges also placed near the top this year:
These schools also stood out:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Arkansas Tech University | 75.85 |
| 52 | McLennan Community College | 75.84 |
| 53 | Phoenix College | 75.81 |
| 54 | Waukesha County Technical College | 75.62 |
| 55 | Milwaukee Area Technical College | 75.55 |
| 56 | Southeast Technical College | 75.52 |
| 57 | Des Moines Area Community College | 75.48 |
| 58 | Glendale Community College | 75.08 |
| 59 | Delaware Technical Community College-Terry | 75.06 |
*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 protective security safety services: 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
