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. The ranking below was designed to help you find 186 colleges that stand out for serving veterans in Rocky Mountains, 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 help you decide, College Factual analyzed 186 colleges, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
The right college for a veteran depends on what matters most to you. Refine the list by location, or explore our other rankings below.
Looking to pit your favorite colleges against each other? We built a tool called College Combat to weigh schools on the factors you care about most.
Learn more about these veteran-friendly colleges below:
Salt Lake Community College earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges for Veterans ranking in Rocky Mountains. Salt Lake Community College scores 86.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
A rank of #2 makes Colorado School of Mines one of the best colleges for veterans in Rocky Mountains. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 85.2 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
University of Colorado Boulder earned the #3 place in Rocky Mountains. It scores 84.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Out of the 186 colleges in Rocky Mountains in this year's ranking, Boise State University landed the #4 spot. The school's overall veterans score is 84.7 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-resources score.
Colorado State University-Fort Collins came in at #5 on this year's Best Colleges for Veterans ranking in Rocky Mountains. The school's overall veterans score is 84.2 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Front Range Community College placed #6 among the best colleges for veterans in Rocky Mountains. Front Range Community College scores 82.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Western Governors University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. The school's overall veterans score is 82.3 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Colorado State University Global ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. Colorado State University Global scores 81.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
University of Colorado Colorado Springs earned the #9 position in Rocky Mountains. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 81.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
University of Utah ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 80.5 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Montana Technological University earned the #11 position in Rocky Mountains. It scores 80.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
The University of Montana placed #12 among the best colleges for veterans in Rocky Mountains. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 79.6 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Weber State University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Weber State University scores 79.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-resources score.
University of Wyoming landed the #14 spot in Rocky Mountains this year. The school's overall veterans score is 78.4 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs landed the #15 spot in Rocky Mountains this year. The school's overall veterans score is 78.1 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Utah State University earned the #16 position in Rocky Mountains. It scores 77.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Community College of Denver ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. Community College of Denver scores 77.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Red Rocks Community College came in at #18 in this year's ranking. The school's overall veterans score is 76.7 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Pikes Peak State College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 76.0 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Pueblo Community College came in at #20 in this year's ranking. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 76.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Colorado School of Trades ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. Colorado School of Trades scores 75.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 0.0 veteran-resources score.
Lewis-Clark State College earned the #22 position in Rocky Mountains. It scores 75.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
University of Idaho came in at #23 in this year's ranking. University of Idaho scores 75.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
North Idaho College earned the #24 position in Rocky Mountains. North Idaho College scores 74.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
University of Providence ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. It scores 74.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 93.5, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
These colleges also placed near the top this year:
*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
More about our data sources and methodologies.
