Most Military-Friendly Colleges in the US (2023 Rankings)

Active-duty military service members, student veterans, and military dependents are entitled to several well-earned educational benefits. If you or a loved one fall into any of these categories, you've come to the right place to check out some of the best military-friendly schools in the U.S.

In no particular order, let's explore the best military-friendly colleges to earn a college degree while enjoying benefits like veteran resources, financial aid, and more.

Key benefits of military-friendly colleges

What methodology is used to define a military-friendly college? A big factor is military benefits, such as financial aid assistance programs, special tuition rates, or tuition discounts for student veterans.

We'll also look at schools with military support services, strong retention rates, and specialized programs for military-affiliated students. Some schools even let you college credits from your military training and experience.

Intro to GI bill benefits

If you're an active-duty service member, student veteran, or family member, the Department of Veterans Affairs can help determine your eligibility for various higher education programs. Here's a quick introduction to some tuition assistance programs available for military-affiliated students.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill

You may be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill if you enlisted after September 11, 2001, and:

• Served at least 90 days on active duty
• Served at least 30 continuous days and were honorably discharged due to a service-related disability
• Served for any amount of time and were honorably discharged with a Purple Heart (received on or after September 11, 2001)
• Are the dependent child of a qualifying service member who has transferred their benefits to you

The Yellow Ribbon Program

The Yellow Ribbon Program is designed for student veterans who fully qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill and meet at least one other eligibility requirement. The program provides additional financial aid for military students who attend private or out-of-state higher education institutions.

Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) program

You may be eligible for this financial aid program if you signed up for a six-year service obligation in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard, or Air National Guard after June 30, 1985. Additional Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve criteria must be met to qualify.

Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD) program

If you served at least two years of active duty after June 30, 1985, you may be eligible for Montgomery GI Active Duty military education benefits.

Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA)

If you're the spouse or dependent of a service member who was killed, captured, or injured in the line of duty, you may be eligible for college financial aid for survivors and dependents.

2023's top military-friendly schools

Whether you're interested in earning a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Engineering, or anything in between, the following colleges and their military benefits are all top options for veteran students

Arizona State University 

Location: Tempe, Arizona

Home of the Pat Tillman Veterans Center, Arizona State University offers tuition assistance programs for active-duty military members, student veterans, and military family members. Aside from its large Tempe campus, ASU boasts multiple in-state extension campuses and collectively offers over 400 undergraduate majors and programs.

Take advantage of the Student Success for Veterans program as you earn a degree from a first-class university. ASU also offers a highly-rated online program, which over 6,000 military students are currently using to pursue their degrees on their own schedule.

You might also like: University of North Texas - Denton, Texas

California State University 

Location: Over 20 locations throughout California

California State University (CSU) has over 20 different campuses throughout the state, each with its own Veteran Success Center. Each support center offers military personnel and family members information about financial aid, transfer credits, and more.

With nearly 20,000 military-connected students, CSU is dedicated to setting the standard for military support with its Troops to College program. From on-campus military organizations to internal and external veterans services partnerships, CSU has earned its reputation as a military-friendly college.

You might also like: Bronx Community College - Bronx, New York

Syracuse University 

Location: Syracuse, New York

Syracuse University is a Yellow Ribbon college with a proud military-friendly legacy. Not only did the university support the creation of the original GI Bill in 1944, but by 1947, half of its student body was veterans.

Today, Syracuse offers plenty of great programs for military students, including vet or military-specific admissions counseling, a state-of-the-art National Veterans Resource Center (NVRC), a Veterans Career Services program, and more. Undergraduate students will enjoy a choice of over 200 majors, 100 minors, and on-campus or online program options.

You might also like: University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

University of Florida 

Location: Gainesville, FL, or online

Florida is a very military-friendly state when it comes to higher education for veterans. Many of the state's schools offer excellent military benefits for military students and their families.

One of the biggest is the University of Florida, a large public research university with over 300 degree programs. As a Yellow Ribbon and GI Bill friendly university, its Office of Student Veteran Services connects students with various federal, state, and local agencies associated with veteran educational benefits.

You might also like: Bryant University - Smithfield, Rhode Island

George Washington University 

Location: Washington, D.C.

George Washington University is a prestigious private research university strongly committed to military service members, vets, and their families. The school's Military and Veterans Service Department explains everything you need to know to use your GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon, or Dependent Education benefits.

Consider enrollment in GW's Student Veterans of America (SVA) chapter, which is home to over 1,400 other GW military-affiliated students. Vets also enjoy access to the Military Community Center (MCC) on campus, scholarships, career opportunities, and more.

You might also like: Champlain College - Burlington, Vermont

Auburn University at Montgomery

Location: Montgomery, Alabama

Located near nine military installations and command posts, Auburn University is a great choice for military students and family members. At the college's Veteran & Military Resource Center (VMRC), you'll find advisors who are happy to help student veterans navigate their benefits and education.

Auburn also has several designated Green Zones on campus designed to offer military students additional support. Use your military experience for transfer credits and make connections at the campus Student Veterans of America chapter.

You might also like: Appalachian State University - Boone, North Carolina

University of Michigan

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Active duty military, reservists, and veterans who are accepted for enrollment at the University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus may be eligible for the school's Go Blue Guarantee. If you qualify, the university will cover the full cost of your undergraduate education for up to four years!

Earn your bachelor's degree in your choice of over 280 programs as you enjoy benefits like veteran peer advising, scholarship opportunities, and the Veteran and Military Services Program. You'll also enjoy spouse and family support programs as well as plenty of career and internship resources.

You might also like: University of Virginia - Charlottesville, Virginia

Online education for the military community

Would you prefer to earn your degree from a top online college? No problem! Here are some of the best online degree programs offering excellent benefits for service members and their families:

• Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) - At SNHU, you can use military education or job training to earn up to 90 transfer credits toward your online bachelor's degree. The school also offers a 30% tuition discount for both active duty service members and their spouses.
• Colorado Christian University (CCU) - Not only does CCU offer work with five base education services throughout Colorado, but 99% of all classes are available online. Fast-track your degree with accelerated degree programs and enjoy perks like access to financial aid counselors and military benefits advisors.
• University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) - UMGC offers award-winning online programs and benefits for active duty personnel, vets, and family members. Enjoy a reduced tuition rate, military-specific advising, or hybrid class options at over 170 locations worldwide.

Find the best military-friendly college with College Rover

The best military-friendly colleges help students transition from the U.S. Armed Forces to the classroom and provide support from application to graduation. Want to learn more about the best colleges for military service members, dependents, and student veterans? Whether you're interested in part-time or full-time learning, College Rover has you covered with all the tools you need to find, compare, and explore the best colleges for the next phase of your educational journey.

College Rover gets the majority of its data directly from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). The DOE publishing schedule "lags" the most current data which some colleges post on their official websites. This may cause there to be a difference in the data you see on College Rover and an individual college website. College Rover's website is updated as the DOE data becomes available and is configured for the College Rover website.