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 491 colleges that stand out for serving veterans in Southwest, using our 2026 methodology.
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. So you can compare your options, College Factual analyzed 491 colleges, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Not every veteran weighs these factors the same way. Refine the list by location, or explore our other rankings below.
Ready to build your own comparison? Check out College Combat to build custom comparisons using the factors most important to you.
Learn more about these veteran-friendly colleges below:
The University of Texas at Arlington earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges for Veterans ranking in Southwest. The University of Texas at Arlington scores 87.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0.
Out of the 491 colleges in Southwest in this year's ranking, Sonoran Desert Institute landed the #2 spot. Sonoran Desert Institute scores 85.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Out of the 491 colleges in Southwest in this year's ranking, University of New Mexico-Main Campus landed the #3 spot. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 85.0 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
Texas Tech University earned the #4 place in Southwest. Texas Tech University scores 84.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Out of the 491 colleges in Southwest in this year's ranking, Northern Arizona University landed the #5 spot. Northern Arizona University scores 83.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Collin County Community College District ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. Collin County Community College District scores 83.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Arizona State University Campus Immersion landed the #7 spot in Southwest this year. The school's overall veterans score is 82.6 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Texas A&M University-College Station landed the #8 spot in Southwest this year. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 82.5 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
University of Houston placed #9 among the best colleges for veterans in Southwest. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 82.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Houston Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 81.8 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
The University of Texas at Dallas came in at #11 in this year's ranking. It scores 80.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Texas Woman's University placed #12 among the best colleges for veterans in Southwest. The school's overall veterans score is 80.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
GateWay Community College landed the #13 spot in Southwest this year. It scores 80.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Pima Community College landed the #14 spot in Southwest this year. The school's overall veterans score is 80.2 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Dallas College landed the #15 spot in Southwest this year. It scores 80.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Mesa Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. Mesa Community College scores 80.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Austin Community College District placed #17 among the best colleges for veterans in Southwest. Austin Community College District scores 79.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
DeVry University-Arizona placed #18 among the best colleges for veterans in Southwest. It scores 78.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Grand Canyon University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 78.7 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
South Texas College landed the #20 spot in Southwest this year. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 78.6 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Tarrant County College District landed the #21 spot in Southwest this year. Tarrant County College District scores 78.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Northwest Vista College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. Northwest Vista College scores 78.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Lee College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 78.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
University of Arizona ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 78.0 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Arizona Western College landed the #25 spot in Southwest this year. The school's overall veterans score is 77.5 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Not far behind, these colleges also rank among the best for veterans this year:
Click any college name below to learn more:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Scottsdale Community College | 73.8 |
| 52 | Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology | 73.7 |
| 53 | Mohave Community College | 73.6 |
| 54 | Texas Christian University | 73.5 |
| 55 | Huston-Tillotson University | 73.2 |
| 56 | Southern Nazarene University | 73.1 |
| 57 | University of North Texas | 73.0 |
| 58 | University of Advancing Technology | 72.9 |
| 59 | Rio Salado College | 72.8 |
| 60 | Our Lady of the Lake University | 72.6 |
| 61 | Arizona College - Mesa | 72.6 |
| 62 | The University of Texas at El Paso | 72.3 |
| 63 | St Philip’s College | 72.3 |
| 64 | Houston Christian University | 72.2 |
| 65 | American InterContinental University System | 72.1 |
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 66 | Parker University | 72.1 |
| 67 | Estrella Mountain Community College | 71.9 |
| 68 | Southern Methodist University | 71.9 |
| 69 | Clary Sage College | 71.9 |
| 70 | University of Central Oklahoma | 71.8 |
| 71 | Weatherford College | 71.8 |
| 72 | University of Phoenix-Arizona | 71.8 |
| 73 | New Mexico State University-Main Campus | 71.3 |
| 74 | West Coast University-Texas | 71.2 |
These colleges also rank near the top for veterans this year:
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 75 | Dallas Baptist University | 71.0 |
| 76 | The University of Texas at Tyler | 70.9 |
| 77 | Oral Roberts University | 70.8 |
| 78 | Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi | 70.7 |
| 79 | Arizona College of Nursing-Phoenix | 70.7 |
| 80 | Sessions College for Professional Design | 70.5 |
| 81 | Texas State University | 70.5 |
| 82 | Del Mar College | 70.3 |
| 83 | Grayson College | 70.3 |
| 84 | New Mexico State University-Alamogordo | 70.1 |
| 85 | Texas Lutheran University | 70.1 |
| 86 | Cameron University | 70.1 |
| 87 | San Juan College | 69.9 |
| 88 | Rice University | 69.9 |
| 89 | Oklahoma Christian University | 69.8 |
| Rank | College | Veterans Score |
|---|---|---|
| 90 | Northland Pioneer College | 69.8 |
| 91 | Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus | 69.8 |
| 92 | Miller-Motte College-Arizona Automotive Institute | 69.8 |
| 93 | Strayer University-Texas | 69.6 |
| 94 | South University-Austin | 69.6 |
| 95 | Texas A&M University-Central Texas | 69.5 |
| 96 | Yavapai College | 69.4 |
| 97 | Community Care College | 69.3 |
| 98 | Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center-El Paso | 69.3 |
| 99 | Saint Edward’s University | 69.1 |
*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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
