1
Leading the list is Rhode Island College, our #1 best college for veterans in Rhode Island. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 84.9 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
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 20 institutions that stand out for serving veterans in Rhode Island, 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, 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 20 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. Narrow your list by location, or explore our other rankings below.
Looking to pit your favorite colleges against each other? Try our tool College Combat to weigh schools on the factors you care about most.
Learn more about these veteran-friendly colleges below:
Leading the list is Rhode Island College, our #1 best college for veterans in Rhode Island. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 84.9 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
University of Rhode Island came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges for Veterans ranking in Rhode Island. It scores 76.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Community College of Rhode Island came in at #3 on this year's Best Colleges for Veterans ranking in Rhode Island. Community College of Rhode Island scores 75.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Brown University earned the #4 place in Rhode Island. Brown University scores 74.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 39.8, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
A rank of #5 makes Providence College one of the best colleges for veterans in Rhode Island. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 72.4 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 44.6, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Roger Williams University came in at #6 in this year's ranking. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 69.5 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 63.6, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Salve Regina University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. It scores 66.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 56.6, and veteran resources 33.3.
Johnson & Wales University-Providence landed the #8 spot in Rhode Island this year. Johnson & Wales University-Providence scores 65.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 67.1, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
Lincoln Technical Institute - Lincoln ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. It scores 65.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 89.1, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
Bryant University placed #10 among the best colleges for veterans in Rhode Island. Bryant University scores 63.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 53.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
IYRS School of Technology & Trades placed #11 among the best colleges for veterans in Rhode Island. IYRS School of Technology & Trades scores 53.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
New England Institute of Technology earned the #12 position in Rhode Island. It scores 52.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 76.1, and veteran resources 33.3.
Paul Mitchell the School Rhode Island came in at #13 in this year's ranking. It scores 50.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 0.0.
Empire Beauty School-Warwick placed #14 among the best colleges for veterans in Rhode Island. Empire Beauty School-Warwick scores 48.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3.
Roger Williams University School of Law earned the #15 position in Rhode Island. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 47.3 out of 100.
New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Rhode Island placed #16 among the best colleges for veterans in Rhode Island. It scores 46.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 0.0.
College Unbound placed #17 among the best colleges for veterans in Rhode Island. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 41.6 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 0.0 veteran-resources score.
Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Cranston came in at #18 in this year's ranking. The school's overall veterans score is 39.8 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 0.0 veteran-resources score.
MotoRing Technical Training Institute earned the #19 position in Rhode Island. The school's overall veterans score is 39.6 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 0.0.
Rhode Island School of Design placed #20 among the best colleges for veterans in Rhode Island. The school's overall veterans score is 38.1 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 45.4, alongside a 0.0 veteran-resources score.
*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: 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
See our data sources and methodologies.
