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 Master’s Degree level, you’ve come to the right place. The list below highlights 152 programs that stand out for veteran protective security safety services students, 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. So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ready to build your own comparison? Try our College Combat to build custom comparisons on the factors you care about most.
Explore the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans at a specific degree level:
Here are the top-ranked protective security safety services colleges for veterans:
East Carolina University tops our 2026 ranking of the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. It scores 88.2 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 protective security safety services report for East Carolina University
Veteran students seeking a strong protective security safety services program will find one at The University of Texas at Arlington, which ranked #2. It scores 87.9 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 protective security safety services at The University of Texas at Arlington
University of Alabama at Birmingham came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best protective security safety services 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 protective security safety services at University of Alabama at Birmingham
California State University-Long Beach is a great choice for veterans pursuing protective security safety services, landing the #4 spot this year. It scores 86.7 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 protective security safety services at California State University-Long Beach
Veteran students seeking a strong protective security safety services program will find one at Rutgers University-Newark, which ranked #5. It scores 86.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full protective security safety services report for Rutgers University-Newark
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus placed #6 among the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. University of Cincinnati-Main Campus scores 85.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. 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 Cincinnati-Main Campus
University of Central Florida placed #7 among the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 84.7 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 University of Central Florida
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee placed #8 among the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. It scores 84.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the protective security safety services program at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
University of Maryland Global Campus ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 84.6 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full protective security safety services report for University of Maryland Global Campus
University of Nebraska at Omaha landed the #10 spot for veterans pursuing protective security safety services. University of Nebraska at Omaha scores 83.5 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 Nebraska at Omaha
Southern New Hampshire University came in at #11 for veteran protective security safety services students this year. Southern New Hampshire University scores 83.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. 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 Southern New Hampshire University
Illinois State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. Illinois State University scores 83.0 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 protective security safety services report for Illinois State University
Texas State University came in at #13 for veteran protective security safety services students this year. Texas State University scores 83.0 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 protective security safety services report for Texas State University
National University came in at #14 for veteran protective security safety services students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 82.8 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the protective security safety services program at National University
Hilbert College landed the #15 spot for veterans pursuing protective security safety services. It scores 82.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 84.3, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full protective security safety services report for Hilbert College
University of North Alabama ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 82.7 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the protective security safety services program at University of North Alabama
Florida State University landed the #17 spot for veterans pursuing protective security safety services. Florida State University scores 82.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full protective security safety services report for Florida State University
George Mason University came in at #18 for veteran protective security safety services students this year. It scores 82.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full protective security safety services report for George Mason University
Georgia State University landed the #19 spot for veterans pursuing protective security safety services. Georgia State University scores 82.0 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 protective security safety services report for Georgia State University
Colorado State University Global ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best protective security safety services colleges for veterans. Colorado State University Global scores 81.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full protective security safety services report for Colorado State University Global
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus came in at #21 for veteran protective security safety services students this year. Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus scores 81.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 75.7, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about protective security safety services at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus
University of South Carolina-Columbia landed the #22 spot for veterans pursuing protective security safety services. The school's overall veterans score is 81.6 out of 100. 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 University of South Carolina-Columbia
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide came in at #23 for veteran protective security safety services students this year. It scores 81.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about protective security safety services at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide
Grand Valley State University came in at #24 for veteran protective security safety services students this year. It scores 81.5 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. See the full protective security safety services report for Grand Valley State University
Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #25 spot for veterans pursuing protective security safety services. Virginia Commonwealth University scores 81.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the protective security safety services program at Virginia Commonwealth University
These protective security safety services colleges also placed near the top this year:
*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.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
