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 1278 schools ranked on how well they support veterans in Southeast, 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. To help you decide, College Factual evaluated 1278 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.
Looking to pit your favorite colleges against each other? We built a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about these veteran-friendly colleges below:
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges for Veterans ranking in Southeast. It scores 92.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
James Madison University came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges for Veterans ranking in Southeast. James Madison University scores 89.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
A rank of #3 makes University of Alabama in Huntsville one of the best colleges for veterans in Southeast. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 89.5 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
University of Georgia came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges for Veterans ranking in Southeast. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 89.3 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Out of the 1278 colleges in Southeast in this year's ranking, William & Mary landed the #5 spot. It scores 89.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
University of Alabama at Birmingham landed the #6 spot in Southeast this year. It scores 87.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-resources score.
University of Virginia-Main Campus landed the #7 spot in Southeast this year. It scores 87.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Clemson University placed #8 among the best colleges for veterans in Southeast. It scores 86.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
University of Florida came in at #9 in this year's ranking. University of Florida scores 86.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-resources score.
Santa Fe College came in at #10 in this year's ranking. The school's overall veterans score is 86.3 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0.
Florida State College at Jacksonville placed #11 among the best colleges for veterans in Southeast. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 85.5 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
Citadel Military College of South Carolina placed #12 among the best colleges for veterans in Southeast. The school's overall veterans score is 85.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. It scores 84.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
University of Central Florida came in at #14 in this year's ranking. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 84.7 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 84.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
North Carolina State University at Raleigh ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 84.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Hillsborough Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 83.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
University of Mary Washington came in at #18 in this year's ranking. It scores 83.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College placed #19 among the best colleges for veterans in Southeast. It scores 83.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Mississippi Valley State University earned the #20 position in Southeast. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 83.0 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Broward College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 82.9 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Miami Dade College came in at #22 in this year's ranking. It scores 82.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Stillman College earned the #23 position in Southeast. The school's overall veterans score is 82.8 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Tallahassee State College placed #24 among the best colleges for veterans in Southeast. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 82.7 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
University of North Alabama ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. It scores 82.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
To learn more about the colleges below, just click on their names:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | University of Arkansas | 80.1 |
| 52 | Samford University | 80.0 |
| 53 | Eastern Kentucky University | 79.9 |
| 54 | Eastern Florida State College | 79.7 |
| 55 | University of Southern Mississippi | 79.5 |
| 56 | Florida Memorial University | 79.5 |
| 57 | Regent University | 79.2 |
| 58 | Columbus Technical College | 79.1 |
| 59 | Florida SouthWestern State College | 79.0 |
| 60 | DeVry University-Virginia | 78.9 |
| 61 | Georgia College & State University | 78.9 |
| 62 | Albany State University | 78.9 |
| 63 | University of North Florida | 78.8 |
| 64 | Longwood University | 78.8 |
| 65 | Central Georgia Technical College | 78.6 |
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 66 | Carolina College of Biblical Studies | 78.6 |
| 67 | Daytona State College | 78.5 |
| 68 | South University-Virginia Beach | 78.4 |
| 69 | Ogeechee Technical College | 78.3 |
| 70 | Southeastern Louisiana University | 78.3 |
| 71 | Northern Kentucky University | 78.2 |
| 72 | Alamance Community College | 78.2 |
| 73 | George Mason University | 78.2 |
| 74 | Radford University | 78.1 |
| 75 | Louisiana Tech University | 78.1 |
| 76 | University of Virginia’s College at Wise | 78.0 |
| 77 | North Carolina Central University | 78.0 |
| 78 | MyComputerCareer at Raleigh | 77.9 |
| 79 | Athens Technical College | 77.8 |
| 80 | Miles College | 77.8 |
| 81 | Winston-Salem State University | 77.7 |
| 82 | University of Central Arkansas | 77.6 |
| 83 | Winthrop University | 77.6 |
| 84 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | 77.5 |
| 85 | Hampton University | 77.5 |
| 86 | Indian River State College | 77.4 |
| 87 | University of South Carolina Aiken | 77.4 |
| 88 | University of West Florida | 77.2 |
| 89 | University of Louisville | 77.1 |
| 90 | American Public University System | 77.0 |
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 91 | Louisiana State University-Shreveport | 76.8 |
| 92 | Shelton State Community College | 76.7 |
| 93 | Liberty University | 76.7 |
| 94 | University of West Georgia | 76.5 |
| 95 | Savannah Technical College | 76.5 |
| 96 | Sullivan University | 76.5 |
| 97 | Arkansas State University | 76.5 |
| 98 | Shepherd University | 76.4 |
| 99 | Wiregrass Georgia Technical College | 76.3 |
| 100 | Southern Crescent Technical College | 76.3 |
| 101 | St Petersburg College | 76.3 |
| 102 | Tri-County Technical College | 76.1 |
| 103 | Jackson State Community College | 75.9 |
| 104 | Gwinnett Technical College | 75.9 |
| 105 | University of South Alabama | 75.6 |
| 106 | Coastal Carolina University | 75.6 |
| 107 | Pensacola State College | 75.5 |
| 108 | Arkansas Tech University | 75.5 |
| 109 | Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College | 75.5 |
| 110 | Fayetteville Technical Community College | 75.5 |
| 111 | Georgia State University-Perimeter College | 75.5 |
| 112 | University of the Cumberlands | 75.4 |
| 113 | College of Central Florida | 75.4 |
| 114 | Southern Regional Technical College | 75.3 |
| 115 | South University-Tampa | 75.3 |
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 166 | Herzing University-Atlanta | 73.0 |
| 167 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | 73.0 |
| 168 | Aviation Institute of Maintenance - Chesapeake | 72.9 |
| 169 | Virginia Military Institute | 72.9 |
| 170 | Mitchell Community College | 72.8 |
| 171 | Lincoln Memorial University | 72.8 |
| 172 | University of Louisiana at Monroe | 72.5 |
| 173 | Bishop State Community College | 72.3 |
| 174 | Charleston Southern University | 72.2 |
| 175 | Jones Technical Institute | 72.2 |
| 176 | Le Moyne-Owen College | 72.1 |
| 177 | Harding University | 72.1 |
| 178 | Gulf Coast State College | 72.0 |
| 179 | South Florida Bible College and Theological Seminary | 71.9 |
| 180 | Florida Gulf Coast University | 71.9 |
| 181 | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | 71.9 |
| 182 | Lake Technical College | 71.8 |
| 183 | Campbellsville University | 71.8 |
| 184 | Herzing University-Orlando | 71.8 |
| 185 | University of Montevallo | 71.8 |
| 186 | University of Memphis | 71.6 |
| 187 | Anderson University | 71.6 |
| 188 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette | 71.5 |
| 189 | Lipscomb University | 71.5 |
| 190 | Fayetteville State University | 71.4 |
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 191 | Georgia Southern University | 71.4 |
| 192 | Southeastern College-Columbia | 71.4 |
These colleges narrowly missed the top tiers:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 193 | North Carolina A & T State University | 71.4 |
| 194 | Virginia Wesleyan University | 71.4 |
| 195 | South University-West Palm Beach | 71.4 |
| 196 | South University-Richmond | 71.3 |
| 197 | Austin Peay State University | 71.3 |
| 198 | Midlands Technical College | 71.3 |
| 199 | Carson-Newman University | 71.2 |
| 200 | Centura College-Chesapeake | 71.2 |
| 201 | Southern Union State Community College | 71.1 |
| 202 | Emory & Henry University | 71.1 |
| 203 | Blue Ridge Community and Technical College | 71.1 |
| 204 | Auburn University | 71.0 |
| 205 | Patrick & Henry Community College | 71.0 |
| 206 | West Virginia University | 71.0 |
| 207 | University of North Carolina at Pembroke | 71.0 |
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 208 | ECPI University | 70.9 |
| 209 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Livingston | 70.9 |
| 210 | Riverside College of Health Careers | 70.9 |
| 211 | Washington University of Science and Technology | 70.9 |
| 212 | Surry Community College | 70.9 |
| 213 | Jacksonville University | 70.9 |
| 214 | University of Mississippi | 70.9 |
| 215 | Fairmont State University | 70.8 |
| 216 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Crossville | 70.8 |
| 217 | South University-Montgomery | 70.8 |
| 218 | Jackson State University | 70.7 |
| 219 | Nova Southeastern University | 70.7 |
| 220 | Georgia Gwinnett College | 70.6 |
| 221 | Oconee Fall Line Technical College | 70.6 |
| 222 | Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | 70.6 |
| 223 | Manna University | 70.5 |
| 224 | George C Wallace Community College-Dothan | 70.5 |
| 225 | Taylor College | 70.5 |
| 226 | University of North Georgia | 70.4 |
| 227 | University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff | 70.4 |
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 228 | Thomas University | 70.3 |
| 229 | Randolph Community College | 70.3 |
| 230 | Columbus State University | 70.3 |
| 231 | Oakwood University | 70.3 |
| 232 | Hinds Community College | 70.3 |
| 233 | Volunteer State Community College | 70.2 |
| 234 | University of North Carolina Asheville | 70.2 |
| 235 | Marshall University | 70.2 |
| 236 | Luther Rice College & Seminary | 70.1 |
| 237 | Columbia International University | 70.1 |
| 238 | Philander Smith University | 70.0 |
| 239 | Tuskegee University | 70.0 |
| 240 | Valdosta State University | 70.0 |
| 241 | Bossier Parish Community College | 70.0 |
| 242 | South University-Savannah | 69.9 |
| 243 | Southeastern Technical College | 69.9 |
| 244 | Methodist University | 69.9 |
| 245 | Coastal Pines Technical College | 69.9 |
| 246 | Tennessee State University | 69.9 |
| 247 | Georgia Highlands College | 69.8 |
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 248 | Arizona College of Nursing-Tampa | 69.8 |
| 249 | Enterprise State Community College | 69.8 |
| 250 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Morristown | 69.7 |
| 251 | Central Baptist College | 69.7 |
| 252 | Saint Leo University | 69.7 |
| 253 | Gateway Community and Technical College | 69.7 |
| 254 | Gaston College | 69.6 |
| 255 | Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College | 69.6 |
| 256 | SOWELA Technical Community College | 69.6 |
*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.
