1
Our analysis found University of Kentucky to be the #1 college for veterans in Kentucky. It scores 80.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. 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. We have ranked 73 schools that stand out for serving veterans in Kentucky, 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. So you can compare your options, College Factual analyzed 73 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:
Our analysis found University of Kentucky to be the #1 college for veterans in Kentucky. It scores 80.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
Veteran and military students will find strong support at Eastern Kentucky University, which ranked #2 this year. Eastern Kentucky University scores 79.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-resources score.
Northern Kentucky University came in at #3 on this year's Best Colleges for Veterans ranking in Kentucky. It scores 78.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
University of Louisville earned the #4 place in Kentucky. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 77.1 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
A rank of #5 makes Sullivan University one of the best colleges for veterans in Kentucky. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 76.5 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
University of the Cumberlands placed #6 among the best colleges for veterans in Kentucky. It scores 75.4 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.
Morehead State University earned the #7 position in Kentucky. It scores 75.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Bellarmine University earned the #8 position in Kentucky. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 74.6 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 57.5, and veteran resources 66.7.
Western Kentucky University earned the #9 position in Kentucky. The school's overall veterans score is 73.9 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Bluegrass Community and Technical College landed the #10 spot in Kentucky this year. It scores 73.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
Murray State University earned the #11 position in Kentucky. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 73.0 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Campbellsville University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 71.8 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Gateway Community and Technical College placed #13 among the best colleges for veterans in Kentucky. The school's overall veterans score is 69.7 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Jefferson Community and Technical College came in at #14 in this year's ranking. The school's overall veterans score is 69.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Spalding University landed the #15 spot in Kentucky this year. Spalding University scores 68.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 97.4, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Thomas More University landed the #16 spot in Kentucky this year. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 68.2 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 70.6, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College came in at #17 in this year's ranking. The school's overall veterans score is 67.2 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
MedQuest College came in at #18 in this year's ranking. The school's overall veterans score is 66.9 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
Simmons College of Kentucky came in at #19 in this year's ranking. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 66.2 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Asbury University came in at #20 in this year's ranking. It scores 65.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 80.6, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
Midway University earned the #21 position in Kentucky. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 64.9 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
Ashland Community and Technical College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. It scores 64.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Hopkinsville Community College came in at #23 in this year's ranking. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 64.1 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Maysville Community and Technical College landed the #24 spot in Kentucky this year. It scores 62.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Hazard Community and Technical College came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Hazard Community and Technical College scores 62.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
These colleges also placed near the top this year:
*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.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
See our data sources and methodologies.
