by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking for a college that has your back, you’ve come to the right place. This list highlights 695 schools that stand out for serving veterans in Far Western US, 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, 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 695 colleges, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Not every veteran weighs these factors the same way. Refine the list by location, or explore our other rankings below.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our tool College Combat to weigh schools on the factors you care about most.
Here are the top-ranked colleges for veterans:
San Diego State University tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges for veterans in Far Western US. The school's overall veterans score is 87.8 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-resources score.
California State University-Long Beach came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges for Veterans ranking in Far Western US. It scores 86.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-resources score.
A rank of #3 makes California Institute of Arts & Technology one of the best colleges for veterans in Far Western US. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 86.0 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Out of the 695 colleges in Far Western US in this year's ranking, University of California-Santa Barbara landed the #4 spot. University of California-Santa Barbara scores 85.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Out of the 695 colleges in Far Western US in this year's ranking, Saddleback College landed the #5 spot. The school's overall veterans score is 85.5 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-resources score.
University of California-Santa Cruz landed the #6 spot in Far Western US this year. It scores 85.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
University of Washington-Seattle Campus came in at #7 in this year's ranking. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 84.7 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo placed #8 among the best colleges for veterans in Far Western US. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 84.6 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
San Francisco State University earned the #9 position in Far Western US. The school's overall veterans score is 83.8 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Portland State University earned the #10 position in Far Western US. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 83.6 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-resources score.
Citrus College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. It scores 83.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
California State University-Northridge landed the #12 spot in Far Western US this year. It scores 82.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
San Jose State University earned the #13 position in Far Western US. San Jose State University scores 82.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Southwestern College earned the #14 position in Far Western US. Southwestern College scores 81.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
University of Nevada-Reno placed #15 among the best colleges for veterans in Far Western US. University of Nevada-Reno scores 81.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
National University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. The school's overall veterans score is 81.1 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
California State University-Sacramento earned the #17 position in Far Western US. The school's overall veterans score is 80.7 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
California State University-Fullerton earned the #18 position in Far Western US. It scores 80.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
University of Alaska Anchorage came in at #19 in this year's ranking. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 80.3 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0.
Golden Gate University placed #20 among the best colleges for veterans in Far Western US. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 80.3 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 86.8, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Sonoma State University earned the #21 position in Far Western US. The school's overall veterans score is 80.3 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
University of Nevada-Las Vegas placed #22 among the best colleges for veterans in Far Western US. The school's overall veterans score is 80.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
College of San Mateo placed #23 among the best colleges for veterans in Far Western US. It scores 79.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Lake Washington Institute of Technology came in at #24 in this year's ranking. It scores 79.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
University of California-Los Angeles earned the #25 position in Far Western US. University of California-Los Angeles scores 79.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
These colleges also placed near the top this year:
Click any college name below to learn more:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | American College of Healthcare Sciences | 77.1 |
| 52 | Central Washington University | 77.0 |
| 53 | California State University-San Bernardino | 76.9 |
| 54 | Azusa Pacific University | 76.8 |
| 55 | Moorpark College | 76.6 |
| 56 | Santa Barbara City College | 76.6 |
| 57 | Allan Hancock College | 76.5 |
| 58 | Washington State University | 76.5 |
| 59 | Academy of Art University | 76.5 |
| 60 | Columbia Basin College | 76.4 |
| 61 | The Chicago School at Los Angeles | 76.4 |
| 62 | Golden West College | 76.2 |
| 63 | Crafton Hills College | 76.1 |
| 64 | Oregon State University | 76.1 |
| 65 | Oregon Institute of Technology | 76.1 |
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 66 | Santiago Canyon College | 76.1 |
| 67 | Loyola Marymount University | 76.0 |
| 68 | San Joaquin Delta College | 75.9 |
| 69 | University of Hawaii at Manoa | 75.7 |
| 70 | Concordia University-Irvine | 75.6 |
| 71 | University of California-San Diego | 75.6 |
| 72 | Mt San Antonio College | 75.3 |
| 73 | West Coast University-Orange County | 75.2 |
| 74 | Stanford University | 75.1 |
| 75 | Solano Community College | 74.9 |
| 76 | University of Massachusetts Global | 74.8 |
| 77 | Mayfield College | 74.7 |
| 78 | Eastern Oregon University | 74.7 |
| 79 | Modesto Junior College | 74.6 |
| 80 | Biola University | 74.6 |
| 81 | San Diego Global Knowledge University | 74.5 |
| 82 | Green River College | 74.5 |
| 83 | Bellevue College | 74.4 |
| 84 | Alliant International University-San Diego | 74.3 |
| 85 | Ventura College | 74.3 |
| 86 | Eastern Washington University | 74.2 |
| 87 | California Miramar University | 74.0 |
| 88 | Pierce College District | 73.9 |
| 89 | Los Angeles City College | 73.8 |
| 90 | University of Redlands | 73.8 |
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 91 | United States University | 73.7 |
| 92 | Seattle University | 73.6 |
| 93 | California State University-Fresno | 73.6 |
| 94 | University of California-Berkeley | 73.4 |
| 95 | The Fab School | 73.1 |
| 96 | Chabot College | 73.0 |
| 97 | Bakersfield College | 73.0 |
| 98 | Southern California University of Health Sciences | 72.9 |
| 99 | California Lutheran University | 72.9 |
| 100 | Whitworth University | 72.8 |
| 101 | Great Basin College | 72.8 |
| 102 | Western Washington University | 72.7 |
| 103 | Southern Oregon University | 72.7 |
| 104 | San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia | 72.7 |
| 105 | California State University-Los Angeles | 72.7 |
These colleges also rank near the top for veterans this year:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 106 | Shoreline Community College | 72.6 |
| 107 | California State University-East Bay | 72.6 |
| 108 | Irvine Valley College | 72.5 |
| 109 | East Los Angeles College | 72.5 |
| 110 | Butte College | 72.5 |
| 111 | University of Alaska Fairbanks | 72.3 |
| 112 | Riverside City College | 72.3 |
| 113 | Renton Technical College | 72.2 |
| 114 | Victor Valley College | 72.2 |
| 115 | Palo Alto University | 72.2 |
| 116 | Truckee Meadows Community College | 71.9 |
| 117 | California State University-Channel Islands | 71.7 |
| 118 | California Baptist University | 71.7 |
| 119 | Santa Ana College | 71.7 |
| 120 | Vanguard University of Southern California | 71.7 |
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 121 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt | 71.7 |
| 122 | California State University-Dominguez Hills | 71.6 |
| 123 | West Valley College | 71.6 |
| 124 | Westcliff University | 71.5 |
| 125 | Concorde Career College-Portland | 71.4 |
| 126 | San Diego Miramar College | 71.4 |
| 127 | Santa Rosa Junior College | 71.4 |
| 128 | Cuyamaca College | 71.1 |
| 129 | UEI College-Riverside | 71.1 |
| 130 | California State University-Stanislaus | 71.0 |
| 131 | City College of San Francisco | 71.0 |
| 132 | Pacific Union College | 70.9 |
| 133 | University of Southern California | 70.9 |
| 134 | Aviation Institute of Maintenance - Las Vegas | 70.8 |
| 135 | Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas | 70.8 |
| 136 | The Master’s University and Seminary | 70.8 |
| 137 | University of Hawaii-West Oahu | 70.7 |
| 138 | Mission College | 70.7 |
| 139 | Folsom Lake College | 70.6 |
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
Our ranking weighs the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students: affordability and veteran financial benefits, academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
