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 Bachelor’s Degree level, you’ve come to the right place. The list below highlights 504 schools ranked on how well they support veterans pursuing protective security safety services, 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).
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Here are the top-ranked protective security safety services colleges for veterans:
University of Georgia tops our 2026 ranking of the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. University of Georgia scores 89.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the protective security safety services program at University of Georgia
Rutgers University-New Brunswick came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. Rutgers University-New Brunswick scores 88.8 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 protective security safety services report for Rutgers University-New Brunswick
A rank of #3 makes East Carolina University one of the top protective security safety services colleges for veteran students. The school's overall veterans score is 88.2 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full protective security safety services report for East Carolina University
A rank of #4 makes The University of Texas at Arlington one of the top protective security safety services colleges for veteran students. It scores 87.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. Read more about protective security safety services at The University of Texas at Arlington
Veteran students seeking a strong protective security safety services program will find one at San Diego State University, which ranked #5. The school's overall veterans score is 87.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about protective security safety services at San Diego State University
University of Alabama at Birmingham placed #6 among the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. University of Alabama at Birmingham scores 87.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about protective security safety services at University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Nevada-Las Vegas landed the #7 spot for veterans pursuing protective security safety services. The school's overall veterans score is 87.6 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full protective security safety services report for University of Nevada-Las Vegas
California State University-Long Beach came in at #8 for veteran protective security safety services students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 86.7 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full protective security safety services report for California State University-Long Beach
Winona State University came in at #9 for veteran protective security safety services students this year. 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. See the full protective security safety services report for Winona State University
Rutgers University-Newark placed #10 among the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. Rutgers University-Newark scores 86.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full protective security safety services report for Rutgers University-Newark
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 85.6 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about protective security safety services at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Florida State College at Jacksonville placed #12 among the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. It scores 85.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full protective security safety services report for Florida State College at Jacksonville
Citadel Military College of South Carolina came in at #13 for veteran protective security safety services students this year. Citadel Military College of South Carolina scores 85.4 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 Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Western Michigan University came in at #14 for veteran protective security safety services students this year. Western Michigan University scores 85.4 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 protective security safety services report for Western Michigan University
Franklin University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. Franklin University 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 protective security safety services report for Franklin University
University of Arkansas landed the #16 spot for veterans pursuing protective security safety services. The school's overall veterans score is 85.3 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full protective security safety services report for University of Arkansas
University of New Mexico-Main Campus landed the #17 spot for veterans pursuing protective security safety services. The school's overall veterans score is 85.0 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the protective security safety services program at University of New Mexico-Main Campus
State University of New York at Oswego landed the #18 spot for veterans pursuing protective security safety services. The school's overall veterans score is 84.9 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 State University of New York at Oswego
Rhode Island College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. It scores 84.9 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 protective security safety services at Rhode Island College
Boise State University placed #20 among the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 84.7 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about protective security safety services at Boise State University
University of Central Florida ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. University of Central Florida scores 84.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about protective security safety services at University of Central Florida
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee came in at #22 for veteran protective security safety services students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 84.7 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full protective security safety services report for University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
University of Maryland Global Campus landed the #23 spot for veterans pursuing protective security safety services. The school's overall veterans score is 84.6 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full protective security safety services report for University of Maryland Global Campus
Iowa State University landed the #24 spot for veterans pursuing protective security safety services. The school's overall veterans score is 84.5 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the protective security safety services program at Iowa State University
Ohio University-Main Campus landed the #25 spot for veterans pursuing protective security safety services. It scores 84.1 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. Read more about protective security safety services at Ohio University-Main Campus
Not far behind, these protective security safety services colleges also rank among the best for veterans this year:
Click a college name to learn more:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Grand Valley State University | 81.50 |
| 52 | Virginia Commonwealth University | 81.35 |
| 53 | Middle Tennessee State University | 81.24 |
| 54 | Wayne State University | 81.19 |
| 55 | Minnesota State University-Mankato | 81.08 |
| 56 | University of Colorado Colorado Springs | 80.97 |
| 57 | Columbia Southern University | 80.94 |
| 58 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus | 80.92 |
| 59 | Oakland University | 80.84 |
| 60 | Salem State University | 80.80 |
These protective security safety services colleges also rank near the top for veterans this year:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | Minnesota State University Moorhead | 80.77 |
| 62 | University of Toledo | 80.75 |
| 63 | California State University-Sacramento | 80.65 |
| 64 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | 80.63 |
| 65 | Ball State University | 80.63 |
| 66 | Appalachian State University | 80.49 |
| 67 | ECPI University | 80.49 |
| 68 | Augusta University | 80.45 |
| 69 | Texas Woman’s University | 80.41 |
| 70 | California State University-Fullerton | 80.34 |
| 71 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | 80.34 |
| 72 | Bowling Green State University-Main Campus | 80.30 |
| 73 | Sonoma State University | 80.28 |
| 74 | University of Alaska Anchorage | 80.21 |
| 75 | University of Illinois Chicago | 80.19 |
| 76 | University of Wisconsin-Platteville | 80.16 |
| 77 | Jacksonville State University | 80.10 |
| 78 | Eastern Kentucky University | 79.91 |
| 79 | University of Dayton | 79.91 |
| 80 | Carroll University | 79.73 |
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is based 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.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
