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 256 institutions ranked on how well they support veterans in Florida, 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 analyzed 256 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.
Want to compare schools head to head? Check out College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter most to you.
Here are the top-ranked colleges for veterans:
No school served veteran and military students better than University of Florida this year in Florida. University of Florida scores 86.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0.
A rank of #2 makes Santa Fe College one of the best colleges for veterans in Florida. Santa Fe College scores 86.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
Florida State College at Jacksonville earned the #3 place in Florida. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 85.5 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-resources score.
Veteran and military students will find strong support at University of Central Florida, which ranked #4 this year. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 84.7 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Hillsborough Community College came in at #5 on this year's Best Colleges for Veterans ranking in Florida. The school's overall veterans score is 83.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Broward College came in at #6 in this year's ranking. The school's overall veterans score is 82.9 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Miami Dade College placed #7 among the best colleges for veterans in Florida. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 82.8 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Tallahassee State College landed the #8 spot in Florida this year. It scores 82.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Florida State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. 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.
Valencia College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. It scores 81.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide placed #11 among the best colleges for veterans in Florida. It scores 81.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Florida Atlantic University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 81.2 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Seminole State College of Florida ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 80.7 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
University of South Florida ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. University of South Florida scores 80.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
Palm Beach State College earned the #15 position in Florida. It scores 80.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Eastern Florida State College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. It scores 79.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Florida Memorial University landed the #17 spot in Florida this year. Florida Memorial University scores 79.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Florida SouthWestern State College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. Florida SouthWestern State College scores 79.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
University of North Florida earned the #19 position in Florida. University of North Florida scores 78.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Daytona State College landed the #20 spot in Florida this year. Daytona State College scores 78.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Indian River State College placed #21 among the best colleges for veterans in Florida. It scores 77.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
University of West Florida came in at #22 in this year's ranking. The school's overall veterans score is 77.2 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-resources score.
St Petersburg College earned the #23 position in Florida. It scores 76.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Pensacola State College landed the #24 spot in Florida this year. It scores 75.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
College of Central Florida landed the #25 spot in Florida this year. College of Central Florida scores 75.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Not far behind, these colleges also rank among the best for veterans this year:
These schools also stood out:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Chamberlain University-Florida | 69.0 |
| 52 | Arizona College of Nursing-Fort Lauderdale | 68.9 |
*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.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
