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 67 colleges that stand out for serving veterans in Alabama, 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 analyzed 67 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. Drill down by location, or explore our other rankings below.
Want to compare schools head to head? We built a tool called College Combat to build custom comparisons using the factors most important to you.
Learn more about these veteran-friendly colleges below:
Our analysis found University of Alabama in Huntsville to be the #1 college for veterans in Alabama. It scores 89.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0.
University of Alabama at Birmingham came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges for Veterans ranking in Alabama. The school's overall veterans score is 87.7 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
Stillman College came in at #3 on this year's Best Colleges for Veterans ranking in Alabama. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 82.8 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Out of the 67 colleges in Alabama in this year's ranking, University of North Alabama landed the #4 spot. The school's overall veterans score is 82.7 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
A rank of #5 makes The University of Alabama one of the best colleges for veterans in Alabama. The school's overall veterans score is 82.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0.
Columbia Southern University placed #6 among the best colleges for veterans in Alabama. Columbia Southern University scores 80.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Jacksonville State University landed the #7 spot in Alabama this year. The school's overall veterans score is 80.1 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Samford University landed the #8 spot in Alabama this year. The school's overall veterans score is 80.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 71.1, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Miles College came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Miles College scores 77.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
Shelton State Community College landed the #10 spot in Alabama this year. The school's overall veterans score is 76.7 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
University of South Alabama ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 75.6 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Gadsden State Community College placed #12 among the best colleges for veterans in Alabama. It scores 75.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Lurleen B Wallace Community College came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Lurleen B Wallace Community College scores 75.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Herzing University-Birmingham landed the #14 spot in Alabama this year. Herzing University-Birmingham scores 75.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3.
United States Sports University earned the #15 position in Alabama. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 74.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3.
Lawson State Community College landed the #16 spot in Alabama this year. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 73.6 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Bishop State Community College landed the #17 spot in Alabama this year. It scores 72.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
University of Montevallo ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. University of Montevallo scores 71.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Southern Union State Community College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Southern Union State Community College scores 71.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Auburn University came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Auburn University scores 71.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
South University-Montgomery ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. It scores 70.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
George C Wallace Community College-Dothan earned the #22 position in Alabama. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 70.5 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
Oakwood University placed #23 among the best colleges for veterans in Alabama. It scores 70.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3.
Tuskegee University came in at #24 in this year's ranking. The school's overall veterans score is 70.0 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3.
Enterprise State Community College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 69.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Not far behind, these colleges also rank among the best for veterans 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
See our data sources and methodologies.
