by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering, you’ve come to the right place. The list below highlights 70 colleges that serve veteran aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering students especially well, using our 2026 methodology.
Our ranking weighs the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students: affordability and veteran financial benefits (including GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon support), 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 evaluated colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat to build custom comparisons on the factors you care about most.
Explore the best aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering colleges for veterans at a specific degree level:
Explore the leading aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering colleges for veterans below:
Leading the list is Missouri University of Science and Technology, our #1 aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering college for veterans. Missouri University of Science and Technology scores 91.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology
Veteran students seeking a strong aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering program will find one at Ohio State University-Main Campus, which ranked #2. It scores 89.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering report for Ohio State University-Main Campus
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering colleges for veterans. It scores 89.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Veteran students seeking a strong aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering program will find one at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, which ranked #4. It scores 88.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering program at Rutgers University-New Brunswick
A rank of #5 makes Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University one of the top aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering colleges for veteran students. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University scores 88.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
More about the aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
5
The University of Texas at Arlington came in at #6 for veteran aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering students this year. The University of Texas at Arlington scores 87.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering at The University of Texas at Arlington
San Diego State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 87.8 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering program at San Diego State University
University of Virginia-Main Campus came in at #8 for veteran aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering students this year. It scores 87.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering report for University of Virginia-Main Campus
California State University-Long Beach landed the #9 spot for veterans pursuing aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering. The school's overall veterans score is 86.7 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering report for California State University-Long Beach
University of Florida ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 86.4 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score.
Read more about aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering at University of Florida
10
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering colleges for veterans. University of Cincinnati-Main Campus scores 85.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Western Michigan University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering colleges for veterans. It scores 85.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering program at Western Michigan University
University of Washington-Seattle Campus placed #13 among the best aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering colleges for veterans. University of Washington-Seattle Campus scores 85.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering report for University of Washington-Seattle Campus
University of Alabama in Huntsville placed #14 among the best aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering colleges for veterans. It scores 85.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering at University of Alabama in Huntsville
University of Maryland-College Park ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering colleges for veterans. University of Maryland-College Park scores 85.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Read more about aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering at University of Maryland-College Park
15
University of Central Florida ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering colleges for veterans. University of Central Florida scores 84.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering program at University of Central Florida
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo placed #17 among the best aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering colleges for veterans. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo scores 84.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering program at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
Iowa State University placed #18 among the best aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 84.5 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering report for Iowa State University
University of Kansas landed the #19 spot for veterans pursuing aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering. It scores 84.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering program at University of Kansas
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus placed #20 among the best aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering colleges for veterans. It scores 83.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
See the full aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering report for Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
20
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities landed the #21 spot for veterans pursuing aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities scores 83.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering program at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Texas A&M University-College Station placed #22 among the best aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 82.5 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering report for Texas A&M University-College Station
The University of Alabama placed #23 among the best aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering colleges for veterans. It scores 82.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering at The University of Alabama
University of South Carolina-Columbia landed the #24 spot for veterans pursuing aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering. It scores 81.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering program at University of South Carolina-Columbia
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering colleges for veterans. It scores 81.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide
Not far behind, these aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering colleges also rank among the best for veterans this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is based on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical/space engineering: affordability and veteran financial benefits (GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon), 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
