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Fitchburg State University tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges for veterans in Massachusetts. The school's overall veterans score is 80.6 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
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 123 colleges for veteran and military-affiliated students in Massachusetts, 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. To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 123 colleges, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Your ideal fit depends on your goals and benefits. Drill down by location, or explore our other rankings below.
Want to compare schools head to head? Check out College Combat to build custom comparisons using the factors most important to you.
Here are the top-ranked colleges for veterans:
Fitchburg State University tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges for veterans in Massachusetts. The school's overall veterans score is 80.6 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Out of the 123 colleges in Massachusetts in this year's ranking, Bridgewater State University landed the #2 spot. The school's overall veterans score is 78.2 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology earned the #3 place in Massachusetts. It scores 77.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 45.1, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Westfield State University came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges for Veterans ranking in Massachusetts. Westfield State University scores 77.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Boston College came in at #5 on this year's Best Colleges for Veterans ranking in Massachusetts. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 77.2 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 40.1, and veteran resources 66.7.
Wentworth Institute of Technology placed #6 among the best colleges for veterans in Massachusetts. It scores 76.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 66.1, and veteran resources 66.7.
Salem State University placed #7 among the best colleges for veterans in Massachusetts. The school's overall veterans score is 76.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Suffolk University earned the #8 position in Massachusetts. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 75.0 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 59.8, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Endicott College came in at #9 in this year's ranking. It scores 74.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 69.2, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Bunker Hill Community College placed #10 among the best colleges for veterans in Massachusetts. The school's overall veterans score is 74.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
University of Massachusetts-Amherst placed #11 among the best colleges for veterans in Massachusetts. The school's overall veterans score is 74.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
Framingham State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. Framingham State University scores 74.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
North Shore Community College placed #13 among the best colleges for veterans in Massachusetts. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 74.1 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Anna Maria College came in at #14 in this year's ranking. The school's overall veterans score is 74.0 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 63.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
Worcester State University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. It scores 73.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3.
Massachusetts Maritime Academy landed the #16 spot in Massachusetts this year. It scores 73.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3.
Bristol Community College came in at #17 in this year's ranking. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 73.6 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
University of Massachusetts-Boston ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 73.6 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 71.8 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Boston University came in at #20 in this year's ranking. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 71.4 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 41.6, and veteran resources 66.7.
Harvard University placed #21 among the best colleges for veterans in Massachusetts. The school's overall veterans score is 71.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 45.9, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Middlesex Community College landed the #22 spot in Massachusetts this year. The school's overall veterans score is 70.8 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
University of Massachusetts-Lowell landed the #23 spot in Massachusetts this year. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 70.6 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Springfield Technical Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. Springfield Technical Community College scores 70.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Quinsigamond Community College landed the #25 spot in Massachusetts this year. Quinsigamond Community College scores 70.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
These 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: 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.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
